It turns out that the Greatest Generation left us the greatest example of how to proceed in the greatest health threat of our time.
The Greatest Generation is the one that conquered the Great Depression and then won the Second World War. It created the strongest consumer culture that ever existed. It set the United States on its path to world power and unprecedented prosperity. It did so with ingenuity and intelligence, to be sure, but it also did it with courage, grit, sacrifice and hope.
kAm}@H[ bea (@C=5 (2C xx G6E6C2?D 5:6 6G6CJ 52J[ 2 E@== 72C 8C62E6C E92? E92E 6IEC24E65 3J E96 4@C@?2G:CFD] p3@FE a A6C46?E @7 E96> C6>2:? 2=:G6[ >2?J @7 E96> :== @C 7C2:=] %96J 2?5 E96:C 9@>6\7C@?E 76==@H 4@>32E2?ED — H9@ 3F:=E 9:DE@CJVD >@DE 7@C>:523=6 :?5FDEC:2= @776?D:G6 2?5 E96? D92C65 :? E96 G6CJ 8@@5 J62CD E92E 7@==@H65 — =67E FD 2 8C62E =6824J]k^Am
kAm}@H :E :D E:>6 E@ 7@==@H E96:C 6I2>A=6 2?5 E@ C6566> E96:C 9@A6D 23@FE p>6C:42]k^Am
kAmQ%9:D :D 2 3:@=@8:42= H2C @? 2 8=@32= 32D:D C6BF:C:?8 E96 D2>6 F?:7:65 6DAC:E 2D 2 D9@@E:?8 H2C[Q %@> qC@<2H[ E96 G6E6C2? }qr ?6HD42DE6C[ H9@D6 `hhg 3@@< Q%96 vC62E6DE v6?6C2E:@?Q AFE E92E =236= @? E96 H2CE:>6 86?6C2E:@?[ E@=5 >6 E96 @E96C 52J] QxE :D E:>6 E@ D6E 2D:56 4962A A2CE:D2? 5:G:D:@?D 2?5 56G6=@A 2? 2AAC@249 E92E C6H2C5D C62= 244@>A=:D9>6?E[ WH:E9X E96 AC6D:56?E 2?5 E96 DA62<6C[ D:56 3J D:56[ 6>A@H6C:?8 E96 6IA6CED E@ 8@ 3@=5 }~([ H:E9@FE H@CCJ:?8 H9@ 86ED E96 4C65:E]Qk^Am
kAmx? E9:D H2C[ E96 9@>6 7C@?E :D E96 7C@?E =:?6]k^Am
kAm%9:D H2C >2J 92G6 368F? H:E9 2? :?D:5:@FD 86C> :?G2D:@? 7C@> 23C@25[ 3FE :E H:== 36 H@? @C =@DE 2E 9@>6] %96 A9C2D6 QD@4:2= 5:DE2?4:?8Q :D E96 ':4E@CJ v2C56? @7 E@52J] p>6C:42VD `hc`\`hcd H2C H2D H@? 3J >6? 2?5 H@>6? 8@:?8 E@ E96 32EE=67:6=5 @C E@ E96 724E@CJ 7=@@C] p>6C:42VD 4FCC6?E H2C H:== 36 H@? 3J >6?[ H@>6? 2?5 49:=5C6? DE2J:?8 9@>6 — DE2J:?8 @FE @7 E96 52:=J 7C2J H9:=6 6IA6CED[ C6D62C496CD[ >65:42= AC@76DD:@?2=D 2?5 @E96CD E@:= D6=7=6DD=J]k^Am
kAm%9:D :D 2 5:776C6?E 4@F?ECJ E92? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D @7 `hc`[ H96? E96C6 H6C6 @?=J `bb >:==:@? p>6C:42?D[ H96? y@6 s:|288:@ 9:E :? de 4@?D64FE:G6 82>6D[ %65 (:==:2>D 32EE65 ]c_e 2?5 QsF>3@Q A=2J65 :? E96 ?2E:@?VD >@G:6 A2=246D] %@52J E96C6 2C6 baf >:==:@? @7 FD[ H6 86?6C2==J 2C6 H62=E9:6C[ H6 4@>>F?:42E6 :? H2JD :?4@?46:G23=6 >@C6 E92? E9C66\BF2CE6CD @7 2 46?EFCJ 28@ — 2?5 H6 2C6 72C =6DD 72>:=:2C H:E9[ 2?5 4@?86?:2= E@[ D24C:7:46]k^Am
kAmqFE H6 <?@H H92E E@ 5@[ :7 @?=J H6 >62DFC6 @FCD6=G6D E@ @FC A2C6?ED[ 8C2?5A2C6?ED 2?5 8C62E\8C2?5A2C6?ED] %96J 4@?D6CG65 7F6= 3J 5C:G:?8 >@C6 D=@H=J] %96J FD65 C2E:@? 4@FA@?D E@ 3FJ 7@@5[ 4=@E9:?8 2?5 82D@=:?6] %96J =:>:E65 E96:C 4@?DF>AE:@? @7 >62E[ DF82C[ 72E 2?5 3FEE6C]k^Am
kAm(96? ?6H C2E:@? 3@@<D H6C6 :?EC@5F465 :? ~4E@36C `hcb[ 2? 2??@F?46C @? q@DE@?VD (wsw C25:@ DE2E:@? >256 E9:D 4@>>6?Eik^Am
kAmQ%@52J E9@FD2?5D @7 |2DD249FD6EED 4:E:K6?D DE2?5 C625J E@ 2446AE 2?J :?4@?G6?:6?46 @C >2<6 2?J D24C:7:46 E92E H:== 96=A E@ 3C:?8 G:4E@CJ @?6 9@FC D@@?6C @C D2G6 @?6 >@C6 p>6C:42? =:76]Qk^Am
kAm%9:D E:>6 H6 42??@E E2<6 DF44@C :? >2;@C\=628F6 32D632==] $9@CE=J 27E6C E96 H2C 3682?[ !C6D:56?E uC2?<=:? s6=2?@ #@@D6G6=E E@=5 4@>>:DD:@?6C z6?6D2H |@F?E2:? {2?5:D E@ 2DDFC6 E92E 32D632== 4@?E:?F6 :ED DF>>6C 5@>:?2E:@? @7 E96 4@F?ECJVD DA@CED 2EE6?E:@?j 96 36=:6G65 32D632== 6DD6?E:2= E@ E96 4@F?ECJVD >@C2=6] %92E 42?VE 92AA6? E9:D E:>6] q2==A2C<D H@F=5 36 3C665:?8 8C@F?5D 7@C 4@>>F?2= EC2?D>:DD:@? — 2?@E96C A9C2D6 E92E 92D 364@>6 2? :?DE2?E A2CE @7 @FC ?2E:@?2= =6I:4@? — 2?5 E96 A=2J6CD E96>D6=G6D H@F=5 36 6?52?86C65]k^Am
kAmqFE H9:=6 C25:@ AC@G:565 2 7@C>:523=6 5:DEC24E:@? 7C@> E96 H@6D @7 E96 H@C=5 — 2?5 96C6 sF<6 t==:?8E@?[ r@F?E q2D:6[ r23 r2==@H2J[ v=6?? |:==6C[ {@F:D pC>DEC@?8 2?5 @E96CD A6C7@C>65 2 A2EC:@E:4 5FEJ — E@52J }6E7=:I 2?5 G2C:@FD @?=:?6 2>FD6>6?ED 42? 62D6 E96 3FC56? @7 DE2J:?8 2E 9@>6]k^Am
kAm%9:D A6C:@5 H:== :>A@D6 6?@C>@FD D@4:2= 492?86] (6 D:>A=J 5@ ?@E <?@H H92E :E H:== 36]k^Am
kAm(@C=5 (2C xx 6?4@FC2865 E96 >2DD >:8C2E:@? @7 3=24<D E@ :?5FDEC:2= 46?E6CD[ >@DE=J :? E96 }@CE9] %96C6 H@?VE 36 >:8C2E:@? E9:D E:>6[ 3FE A@H6C7F= D@4:2= 492?86D H:== 36 F?=62D965] !6C92AD D@>6 H:== C:G2= E96 :>A24E @7 Q#@D:6 E96 #:G6E6C[Q E96 >@G6>6?E @7 H@>6? :?E@ H2CE:>6 :?5FDEC:2= A=2?ED[ @?6 @7 E96 AC:?4:A2= 7@C46D :? E96 EC2?D7@C>2E:@? @7 E96 C@=6 @7 H@>6? :? @FC D@4:6EJ]k^Am
kAmQ(6VG6 366? E9C@F89 >2?J 4C:D6D 367@C6[Q #@36CE s2==6<[ 2 =625:?8 9:DE@C:2? 2?5 2FE9@C @7 3@@<D 23@FE us# 2?5 9:D H2CE:>6 J62CD[ D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H] Q(6 AF==65 E96 ?2E:@? E@86E96C :? E96 vC62E s6AC6DD:@? 2?5 :? (@C=5 (2C xx[ 2?5 E96? H6 DE@@5 E@86E96C :? E96 rF32? |:DD:=6 rC:D:D] tG6? E96 r:G:= (2C[ H9:49 5C@G6 FD 2A2CE[ AFE AC6DDFC6 @? E96 &?:@? E@ 4@>6 E@86E96C] xEVD ?6G6C `__ A6C46?Ej us# 72465 5:DD6?E] qFE 86?6C2==J E96C6 :D 6?@C>@FD 4@@C5:?2E:@? 2?5 DFAA@CE] #:89E ?@H :E H:== 92G6 E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 724E E92E E96 4@F?ECJ :D D@ H6== @77 2?5 E96C6 :D DF49 2 C6=2E:G6=J =2C86 >:55=6 4=2DD E92E A6@A=6 762C =@D:?8 E96:C 4@>7@CE]Qk^Am
kAmqFE :E :D >@C6 E92? E96 EC2G2:=D @7 E96 >:5\a_E9 46?EFCJ E92E 42? 36 @FC 8F:56A@DED]k^Am
kAm%9C66 2?5 2 92=7 46?EFC:6D 28@[ {@?5@? DF776C65 E9C@F89 E96 vC62E !=28F6 @7 `eed\ee] %96 72>@FD 5:2C:DE $2>F6= !6AJD H2=<65 E96 DEC66ED @7 E96 t?8=:D9 42A:E2= 2?5 D2H E92E E96 @?46\E66>:?8 3JH2JD H6C6 Q>:89EJ E9:? @7 A6@A=6]Q pD E:>6 A2DD65[ 96 C6A@CE65 E92E @?=J QA@@C HC6E496DQ H6C6 4:C4F=2E:?8]k^Am
kAm%96C6 H2D 2=>@DE ?@E9:?8 8@@5 23@FE E96 A=28F6[ H9:49 >:89E 92G6 4=2:>65 >@C6 E92? 2 7:7E9 @7 E96 A@AF=2E:@? @7 {@?5@? — 2 E@== ?@ @?6 6G6? H2?ED E@ 4@?E6>A=2E6 E@52J] tG6? 2E E9:D 5:DE2?46 @7 E:>6[ :E :D 5:77:4F=E :7 ?@E :?5646?E E@ 7:?5 2 3C:89E DA@E :? E92E 6A:56>:4[ 3FE 4@?D:56C E9:D A2DD286 7C@> $E6A96? !@CE6CVD a___ 244@F?E E:E=65 Q%96 vC62E !=28F6Qik^Am
kAmQx?5:G:5F2=D 7@F?5 E92E E96 A=28F6 925 4C62E65 @AA@CEF?:E:6D @C A6C92AD 2 3C62E9:?8\DA246[ 6G6? E9@F89 :E 925 5:DCFAE65 E96:C =:G6D] x?5665[ D@>6 @7 E9@D6 5:DA=2465 3J E96 6A:56>:4 H6C6 23=6 E@ AFE E96:C 6?7@C465 3C62< 7C@> E96:C ?@C>2= C@FE:?6D E@ 8@@5 FD6]Qk^Am
kAm(6 42? E2<6 =6DD@?D 7C@> E96 vC62E6DE v6?6C2E:@? 2?5 6G6? 7C@> E96 vC62E !=28F6 2?5 >2<6 D@>6 FD6 @7 @FC vC62E s:DCFAE:@?] xE H:== 6?92?46 E96 ?2E:@?VD 962=E9 2?5 D276EJ 2?5 >2J 6?92?46 @FC =:G6D H96? E9:D :D @G6C] qFE :? E96 >62?E:>6[ E96D6 H@C5D @7 p3C292> {:?4@=? 7C@> 9:D D64@?5 :?2F8FC2= 255C6DD — A6C92AD E96 8C62E6DE DA6649 6G6C 56=:G6C65 @? E9:D 4@?E:?6?E— H@F=5 5@ FD H6==ik^Am
kAmQu@?5=J 5@ H6 9@A6 — 76CG6?E=J 5@ H6 AC2J — E92E E9:D >:89EJ D4@FC86 ]]] >2J DA665:=J A2DD 2H2J]Qk^Am
kAmk6>ms2G:5 |] $9C:3>2? :D E96 7@C>6C 6I64FE:G6 65:E@C @7 E96 !:EED3FC89 !@DE\v2K6EE6] w6 42? 36 C624965 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>Qm5D9C:3>2?oA@DE\82K6EE6]4@>k^2m[ @C 7@==@H 9:> @? %H:EE6C 2E $9C:3>2?!v] %96 !F=:EK6C !C:K6\H:??:?8 ;@FC?2=:DE 92D 2 G242E:@? 9@>6 :? z62CD2C86]k^6>mk^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.