If I could take a minute and sidestep from my normal comic reviews for a moment and shed some light and perspective on the current COVID-19 Pandemic with a little bit of a comic book twist – this COVID-19 Pandemic is really not about the young or healthy as I understand it. We will be fine as long as we do what we’re asked to do (wash our hands, don’t touch our face, isolate ourselves for a bit, etc.). But guys, this is about the rest of humanity… our friends, colleagues, and neighbors who are elderly or with unforeseen health problems. If it was your parents, your spouse battling cancer, your newborn, or your child with an autoimmune disease, you’d want others to obey the warnings and fulfill the guidelines being exercised to strive to minimize the impact of this virus on those most susceptible to it.
Sure, sporting events, businesses, churches, malls, colleges, and many functions are being postponed or suspended with recent developments and certainly, more will come. And yes, this angers many so much so that the vile, hate-filled words being written on social media about those who decided to cancel these events, and about those who are on the fence about how the virus will impact themselves or their loved ones, just sickens me at times. To use some harsh words, this virus really does suck! However, publicly lashing out amidst what the World Health Organization has named a Pandemic is absolutely ridiculous and childish. Maybe we all need to check our priorities, myself included?
This is out of our control now. And alarm, uncertainty, or hostility won’t change anything nor will attacking the individuals in charge of mistakes made in hindsight. However, the guidelines set forth by the World Health Organization will help NOW… if we follow them that is. I have always surmised that it is crucial to handle the things that are within our influence well and to discover a way to create something beneficial out of each situation that is out of our control. If we are ultimately told to stay home, I urge you to do it.
How frequently do we have time to be at home and really just appreciate each other’s company? Maybe this is a simple sign for all of us to slow down and finally relax for once in our busy lives? Maybe it’s a call to just sit back and bask in the elegance of creation? Maybe it’s a suggestion to recall what life is all about and to support us as we exit the other side respecting each other a little more and unearthing faults with each other a little less? Heck, Spring is such a beautiful time of year… why don’t you go outside and watch life bloom with those closest to you? Better yet, if you’re struggling to find something to do, here is a list of ideas:
1. Read a book. Download HOOPLA and read from home! Maybe finally take the time to read the Bible?
2. Read a comic, graphic novel, or trade. If you don’t have any, get the Marvel Unlimited App or the DC Universe App and get tons of comics without leaving your home! Order some Comics through my links below!
3. Watch Netflix, HULU, DC Universe, Amazon Prime, or Disney Plus. Catch up on old series, movies, and so much more!
4. Play some Video Games, App Games, Card Games, or Board Games. Heck, you can even play the games online without being face to face with your friends.
5. FaceTime or talk to your friends through video chat so you don’t have to in person.
6. If you’re a student, catch up on your studies, finish that paper you’ve been putting off, or complete the project that may not be due for two weeks… but now have the time.
7. Listen to podcasts. I happen to know of a great one or two that will keep you busy for HOURS!!! Weird Science Marvel Comics and Weird Science DC Comics
8. Listen to music, audiobooks, or create your own music or podcast!
9. Work out at home using YouTube videos, treadmills, lift weights, or go for a jog around your neighborhood alone.
10. Learn something new and grow your mind with the internet at your fingertips!
11. Catch up on old comics by reading some of our amazing reviews or read some previews to get excited for what’s to come.
The point is: I’ve given you tons of ideas to keep yourself entertained for a solid few weeks while COVID-19 passes us by showing our true colors as a nation or better yet, humanity. As Emma Frost said, “The whole world is watching us now. We must be nothing less than fabulous.” With the entire world contemplating, let’s show the planet what we’re made of and do it in style! And to those angry about this article downplaying the average, everyday worker who needs to work to support their family, this is not a dig at you by any stretch. If you have to work, please be overly careful with who you are in contact with and limit your interactions as much as possible. However, again, if you don’t have to work or have paid sick time to use, it may be in your best interest to do so.
If the words of Emma won’t hit you, how about these from the late-great Stan Lee who said, “Another definition of a hero is someone who is concerned about other people’s well-being, and will go out of his or her way to help them — even if there is no chance of a reward. That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.” Such amazing wisdom from such a spectacular man. It’s our time in our own little way to be heroes to those who are most impacted by this virus. So, why don’t we all channel our inner Stan Lee right now? Please stay healthy. Please stay safe. And, if you MUST interact with people, please be extremely cautious. God bless, and remember one last saying from the movie GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY to which wraps up the entire article perfectly, ”We are Groot!”.
UPDATED: MARCH 16th, 2020
For those of you that may not know, I’m a very mathematically guy. So, I decided to take a look at some of the numbers in hopes to put things more in perspective for you. As of 2018, the population of the United States was 327,200,000. COVID-19 is stated to kill between .6% to 4% of Americans according to the CDC. Therefore if EVERYONE gets the COVID-19 virus in a worst-case scenario, the number of deaths will range from 1,963,200 to 13,088,000. To put that in perspective, the range is as low as the total death toll of the horrible Genocide at Rwanda to two million more than the death toll from the Holocaust.
Let’s really low ball this number and say 1/6 of the population is infected. So, as of 2018, that number would mean only 54,533,334 people in the United States would be infected. Therefore, the range of death, which is again from .6% to 4% according to the CDC, would be between 327,200 to 2,141,334 people, which ranges from the population of Orlando, Florida to Houston, Texas.
If that’s not enough for you to make a difference, the CDC predicts 214,000,000 will be infected before this is over. Therefore, between 1,284,000 and 8,560,000 (about the entire population of NYC at its max) will die when this is done. As of March 16th, we had at least 61 deaths out of 3,244 confirmed cases. Quick math puts that at roughly 1.9%. If we continue to believe that we can hang out with our friends, neighbors, go to clubs, playgrounds, movie theaters, malls, school functions, parties, and fly across the country and back, the predicted 214,000,000 that CDC thinks will be infected will result in 4,066,000 deaths (the approximate population of LA).
Sure, you may be young, have a strong immune system, or even have no respiratory issues, but those deaths could be someone you loved or that your friends loved. 49 of 50 states have someone infected. Schools have closed for a reason. Please stay home if you can. Please do not be guilted into getting together with your family or friends to which you have no idea where they have been and who they’ve been in contact with, nor do they. I urge you to look at the math and realize our responsibility to take the precautions seriously.
Here is the current problem: we as the American culture (myself included) are arrogant. We feel we have a “right” to whatever we want. Consequently, we have gradually eliminated our own conscience due to this mentality. The numbers and proof are above. Using language from the second sentence of the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, are not the statistics above “self-evidence”? Sure, we have a right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness… but not at the cost of millions of lives so we can go to a mixer, shop with our friends, or go on a trip to Disney World. America, this is a perfect moment for our nation to stop worrying about our individual rights and elevate the people around us by simply keeping to ourselves and social distancing to the best of our ability. You are not being asked to do something awful. It’s time for our “rights” to stop interfering with our conscience. It’s time to be accountable.
