As of the week of August 10th, 2020:
The United States has just over 4.2 % of the world’s population. It also has over 20% of the world’s COVID-19 deaths.
Read that and tell me that nothing is wrong.
In case it didn’t sink in the first time, I’ll repeat: the United States has just over 4.2 % of the world’s population. It also has over 20% of the world’s COVID-19 deaths. No, the data is not pristine, and it won’t be. That doesn’t matter — the data we have is enough, the numbers speak.
Now, tell me that nothing is wrong.
We all get dealt a bad hand sometimes. That’s life. We can cry in our beers all we want, but at the end of the day we have to play our hand as best we can. Sometimes that’s not enough, but in the end we will be judged on how we played those tough hands. Can we now look at ourselves — at our country — and say that we as a people, as a culture, as a nation played our hand well? From the bottom to the top — I see much to be desired. And I see no reason to look away and pretend otherwise.
But we still own our decisions. We own our actions. What shall we do now? What should we give?
Try to tell me that nothing is wrong.
I dare you.