So, here is the real problem as I see it: Americans have been experiencing moral decay since the 1960's. As a result, the definition of Liberty as defined by the American founding has changed. We all should remember the French Revolution- why did it fail so badly at first? Liberty has come to mean in America, like it did in France at the time: "Let me do whatever I want, I do not care if it has moral implications or consequences." Now, I have heard people on the right say we have to earn our liberty. This is not true either because we are born with inalienable rights. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS KEEP IT. AND, KEEP IT WITHIN A MORAL CONTEXT OR IT NO LONGER FITS THE DEFINITION OF TRUE LIBERTY AS ESTABLISHED IN THE FOUNDING OF THIS COUNTRY. WE MOST LIKELY WILL NOT KEEP IT IN THE PURE SENSE WITHOUT MORALITY OR VIRTUE.
In the context of the Pandemic then, here is the problem from 2 prominent amoral perspectives:
1) We have a large number of people, including the media and politicians in many states, not willing to move the Liberty needle in this country to free a neighbor from bankruptcy fearing they may get the disease and die. Or, fearing the death of somebody else and they being held or feeling responsible. Death in a godless, meaningless empty world is it- the end. There is nothing worse than Death. And, at this point with any level of reopening, more people will die, perhaps they would die anyway but this could speed up the process. This group says we need to rely on science and data only because their main purpose is to keep us alive. This is the case, even though the virus is bad but not as bad as originally expected.
2) Some facing bankruptcy, are willing to go and protest on the streets without protection or social distancing. They are concerned about their rights but apparently not the right to live of others. Granted, the virus is bad, not as bad as originally predicted,however, this group does not care as much at least right now. Now, their livelihoods are threatened beyond what the media and politicians experience so I might empathize a little more here as people become understandably desperate. But, I could see a situation where some in this group will not take a safe re-opening seriously, only think about themselves and not practice social distancing, masks, etc.
Here is the answer: re-establish liberty with it's moral foundation. Realize that yes, all our lives are at risk but those need to be weighed against the suffering of ALL the vulnerable, not just what we want personally from the situation. When Patrick Henry coined the "Liberty or Death" phrase, he and a number of Founders put their lives on the line, their sacred honor, they knew what was at stake but they jumped into the fray so not just they, but their country men and women could be free. To keep Liberty, they were willing to give up even their very lives. If they had the attitude to Liberty that our media and politicians have today, there would be no America as we know it.
To free us from the devastating effects of COVID-19, we will have to make a similar moral decision based on the interests and liberties of everyone. We can re-open safely. We need to re-open safely soon because the American and world economy can not sustain the shut down economically. It is not merely an inconvenience. Millions depend on the American economy and millions will die of starvation unless we open soon. And, we have to accept that more people will die from the virus. Death is a part of life that we try to deny and hide behind the mask of medical and scientific technology on a cultural level. Meaning in life comes not from just avoiding death at all costs, it comes when we sacrifice a piece of our own lives for the liberty and betterment of others. There is a place we can meet somewhere between death by COVID-19 or death by poverty caused by COVID-19, but it will require that original morally centered American Founded Spirit of Liberty.
