The Virus Will Lose: Why The Atlantic Got it Wrong

The Atlantic recently wrote an article titled "The Virus Will Win" filled with doom and gloom about the coming "second wave" of the Coronavirus and how polarized public opinion is with regards to re-opening the country, and a full list of reasons why the "virus will win" with everything from the World Health Organization to the Trump administration to the protests over the death of George Floyd. Simply put, they're flat out wrong. The virus will lose, because we as a country will not allow it to win, ever.

I keep seeing the media pushing "Facts Not Fear" then releasing articles like the one above or using intentionally misleading imagery to make people think all hospitals nationwide are filled with people in isolation chambers and ventilators. and use potentially inflated numbers to make us afraid to leave our homes, which in turn gets more views for the news media because we're home with nothing else to do than stare at our TV or computer screen and look for a glimmer of hope that we'll be able to return to normal soon.

I keep seeing posts on social media how we've never experienced a pandemic before in our lifetimes, when in fact we experienced a global Swine Flu pandemic only ten years ago.

I keep seeing friends and family struggling to make ends meet because of problems with their state unemployment system not working properly under the heavy load, all the while people tell them that they're "selfish" for wanting to go back to work so they can keep their family from starving.

I am not a virologist or a healthcare professional. I do have a basic understanding of how viruses work and spread, and I could write an entire post about why in the long run it's bad for our immune systems to be constantly isolated. However, that's not the purpose of this post.

The virus is not going to win because we're a country of people so set on remaining free that we...

• Fought a war for independence in the middle of a smallpox pandemic
• Fought World War I during a flu pandemic
• Stopped an unstoppable German and Japanese war machine during World War II
• Nationally setup underground alcohol manufacturing and bars when the US Government prohibited the sale of alcohol

If those few examples above don't give you hope for how resilient we are no matter the circumstances, here's a few more recent examples.

• Formed a completely volunteer Navy for hurricane and disaster relief and rescue after Hurricane Katrina
• Donated half a billion dollars to the Red Cross in less than 2 months to help with 9/11 disaster relief
• Nationally started helping our healthcare workers in response to Coronavirus by making masks, face shields, and even designing off-the-shelf ventilators to meet surge demands

Despite every government failure, despite every problem, every challenge, we will overcome this virus. The virus will not win because we as a country are strong together, helping each other, even when the media divides us.

If you want to stay home, stay home (but don't force other people to stay home if they're healthy). If you don't want to stay home, don't stay home (unless you're sick, then please stay home!).

If you want to wear a mask, wear a mask (but don't criticize those who don't or can't). If you don't want to wear a mask, don't wear a mask (but don't criticize those who do).

But most importantly, be kind. Be helpful. Talk with your neighbors, check up on your family, do what you can to help others in need. Turn off the TV, get some fresh air, and live your life.

Be a hope breather. We'll get through this. The virus will not win.

Ken is a Cyber Security professional, real estate investor, and author.