The Threat Is (Very) Real

This nation is about to face what could be its most deadly encounter with an enemy that can kill thousands if not millions, yet it continues to be divided. That enemy is a health threat that is showing no signs of abating its presence in nations that thought that they were once “safe”. The Coronavirus Virus is a medical disaster in the making that has shown that it can’t be stopped at its present rate of being transferred from one person to the next in this ever contracting(not expanding)world. The Chinese government has its hands full trying to contain the virus within its own borders, but they are fighting a battle that has claimed many lives inland and around the world. A high-ranking Iranian official has contracted the disease; even the Pope is a bit under the weather, as Italy is starting to feel the effects of the virus. Other nations seem to be making a concerted effort to either slow down the advancement of the virus through various health measures and alerting the public on what NOT to do. Somehow, here in the U.S., our governmental leaders in Washington look as though someone has fumbled the ball when it comes to being out front, as what the nation’s policy is on what to do about the virus. President Trump needs to understand that the threat is about people’s lives, not the economy.

To give one an example of who should be at the forefront, the president has assigned VP MikePence to be in charge of the administration’s efforts to formulate a response to the virus. However, the VP has no experience in knowing how to respond to a medical emergency of these proportions. He is not a doctor. He wouldn’t know how to give a proper answer to perplexing questions that only a highly certified medical individual who knows something about communicable diseases could do. It would have made sense for President Trump to appoint Ben Carson who is a doctor, someone who should know a little something about diseases. Nevertheless, he didn’t. Why? Probably because as a doctor, Carson has a moral obligation to tell the truth about life threatening ailments to his patients, while we have seen on more than one occasion, the president has not always told the truth, nor has Pence ever given a straight answer to any question. Listen closely to Pence when he is asked a tough question. A prime example is when he was asked about Trump “lite”, Don Jr.’s recent remark about saying that Democrats wanted the virus to attack America so it could “bring down the president”. After all, this is an election year.

It is so sad that even when there is the possibility that thousands more could die than that of 9-11, our leaders have to point fingers at who is to blame. Don Jr. is no leader, but he can fan the flames for his father, knowing that no Republican will refute him for anything that he says. The president wants his base to believe that somehow Democrats are to blame, just as he tried to blame President Obama for the Ebola crisis. He called Obama weak in his leadership, but the nation survived with only a few deaths. Mr. Obama never got any credit from Trump or any Republicans at the time. Now it is president Trump’s turn to show the nation just how strong of a leader he is because the virus is already here. Let the doctors speak, Mr. President, not Fox News. The virus will not make any distinction as to who is a Democrat or Republican. The walls of Congress and even the White House won’t insulate those who think that they will be safe. We are all in this thing together. We as a nation should get our act together starting with those who took an oath to protect the American people, and not just take sides. It starts at the top with honesty from our leaders beginning with the president. Too many lives are at stake. Remember, the world is watching. So is God.