Nothing

A series of German video ads, recalling heroes in the fight against the corona virus, have gone viral. Before I spoil them for you, check them out

• here,
• here,
• and here.

There is a worldwide emergency, and all we are being asked to do is nichts. Nothing.

You might think we could handle that. Doing nothing is an American specialty. In response to other emergencies, it has so often been our response.

• Rooms full of schoolchildren are murdered in cold blood. What should we do? Nothing.
• Church members at a prayer meeting are murdered for the color of their skin. What should we do? Nothing.
• 460 people are shot at a concert. What should we do? Nothing.
• Millions have no health insurance. Some of them have big medical bills after being shot while attending a concert. What should we do? Nothing.
• Worldwide, millions of refugees seek safety, some at our borders. What should we do? Nothing.
• Climate change threatens the globe in innumerable ways. What should we do? Nothing.

Now a pandemic is killing hundreds of thousands of our citizens. What should we do? Just what we are good at: Nothing.

Instead, we:

• Declare it's not happening
• Protest restrictions
• Visit friends
• Go out to eat
• Mock people wearing masks
• Have parties
• "Rise up" against governors who are trying to save lives
• Spread the disease

Sometimes I'm not so proud of my country, not nearly as proud as I'd like to be. But sometimes, if you ask me what's the matter, I just say, "Nothing."