Four years ago, I spent the evening before the Inauguration at the US capitol with two friends.
This year, I could not, even if I had wanted to. The 25,000 uniformed soldiers ringing our Capitol provide a stark reminder of just how far we have traveled into the realm of the unthinkable.
On that night for years ago, I was anxious; the air was cool, the clouds were low, and my world was changing. For nearly half of my life, and certainly for half of what I could remember, Barrack Obama had been the president. Alas though, his time had…
Remembering Pearl Harbor During a Time of Overwhelming Loss
Today marks the 79th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. On Sunday, December 7th, 1941, the now infamous surprise assault by Japanese forces killed 2,403 Americans. In response, patriotic Americans flooded recruitment stations, waiting in line for hours for a chance to do their part. An additional 10 Million Americans (7.5% of the population) served in the Civil Defense Corps. Factories retooled, pivoting from producing consumer goods and cars to munitions, tanks, and aircraft. The entire nation mobilized around a single cause. Today, December 7th, 2020, we can also expect an enemy to kill somewhere between two and three…
In light of the COVID-19 outbreak we should take the time to reflect on these weaknesses and what we can do to rectify them.
Over the past week, a growing number of cases of COVID-19 contracted from unknown sources have been reported. While we had more time to prepare than China, South Korea, Italy, or Japan, America’s respite is over; our chances of managing to track and contain the outbreak are increasingly slim. Unreassuringly, the US government’s preparations have been fraught with reports of faulty tests, inadequate testing criteria, and insufficient training and protective measures for the HHS workers who risked exposure. In addition to the ineptitude and denial that characterize the initial response, other institutional and cultural factors make the US unnecessarily vulnerable…
Keegan Mullen
GW grad, Wisconsinite, bread enthusiast. I write sometimes, take photos others, and sleep a lot.
