S-N Editorial: The way we were

If you're old enough, you probably remember where you were 19 years ago tomorrow when you heard the news.

Two planes had hit the Twin Towers in New York City and another crashed into the Pentagon. Yet another fell short of its target in a Pennsylvania field thanks to the heroics of the passengers on board. Once the buildings fell and the fires were put out, 2,977 people were dead and many more wounded. Two wars followed, one of which continues to this day.

You probably also remember how united this country became in the wake of that unthinkable tragedy. We were madder than hornets, and we were willing to do anything to build back what was taken and bring justice to those who committed these heinous crimes. We were Americans, proud of it and ready to fight.

Today we are facing a crisis caused not by terrorism, but by a virus. Nearly 200,000 Americans have died since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March. That jagged pill is even harder to swallow when other developed countries are touting reduced infection numbers and dwindling deaths.

The methods at stopping COVID-19 are well documented at this point. The common denominator in countries that have lessened the impact is unity, something the United States is woefully lacking. While they realized the threat and acted on it, we argued about wearing masks and called it the flu. These days it seems like everyone is more eager to fight than solve our collective problems.

How things have changed in 19 years. A national crisis once brought us together; now, it only works to drive us apart. This year when you remember the victims of 9/11, think about how we were after that devastating American tragedy and compare it to where we are today in the middle of another one.

We don't need a new perspective right now – we need the one we had 19 years ago after our world came crashing down. This country will only defeat coronavirus if we accept that we are stronger united as one than we are divided as many.