Reflections on these United States: A Pandemic Problem

Originally Posted: July 2020

“With great power comes great responsibility.” These words are known to many as the Peter Parker Principle thanks to Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (though the proverb dates back centuries at the very least). Lee and Ditko used the phrase in the first Amazing Spider-Man annual and it stuck.

Spidey, just an awkward teenager when not saving his neighborhood of Queens, NY, must use his amazing powers with strict discretion rather than bandy about hot-dogging around. In a world where we constantly see cinematic superheroes in capes and with large insignia on their chests proclaiming them bigger, better, and cooler, it’s easy to forget that the words apply in the real world, as well.

There have been a lot of posts from all over the country and beyond asking why the United States can’t seem to get its act together regarding the current pandemic when other countries seem to be doing a much better job. Some posts tout large numbers of US cases vs lesser case numbers of other countries - though one must be sure to scale those figures appropriately between population sizes first before comparing apples to apples. Other posts rant about political agendas and point fingers, as if a contagion can actually have a political lean. Theories run the gamut from ignorance to youthful invincibility to political bias to obstinance. But here’s the real question: why is the American attitude toward COVID-19 surprising anyone? It’s based on principles that have been perpetuated in this country for decades and longer.

As a first-generation American, I’ve been fortunate enough to have the rather unique experience of seeing my country in split-screen view. Having gone through school here and having visited family who are in Europe - Germany specifically - I’ve had the opportunity to view the learned histories through two different lenses, ones that haven’t always coalesced into binocular vision. In fact, having intimately experienced the culture of another country with close historical ties to the US, both positive and negative, I’ve frequently been left thinking, “Wait, what? That doesn’t match up at all.”

So, what have I noticed when I’ve run the discrepancies to ground? Read on.

In school, the role of the US during WWII was usually portrayed as the superhero who defended the neighborhood; a glossy, heroic, if not humble, Spider-Man of sorts. Did you know we liberated France? Of course, you did. (“USA! USA!”) We were part of the Allies, the good guys, the superheroes. We were mighty! But so were many others. Yet, we never learned about Alan Turing toiling away at Bletchley under significant personal strain while he and Gordon Welchman developed the Bombe and finally broke the Enigma Code, drastically shifting the field of play.

Nor did we hear about the internment camps for Japanese Americans here on our own soil. I’d be willing to bet most people don’t know how the Japanese were able to so accurately attack Pearl Harbor, either. We don’t talk about the things that don’t make us look good. But we hear an awful lot about the power we wielded on the battlefield.

This mentality runs thick through all of American culture. How often have you been at a sporting event and heard people chanting, “USA! USA! USA!”? Ever hear it when both teams were from the US and it was completely irrelevant? Yeah, me, too. Ever hear it at a parade when military servicemen and women are coming through? Yeah, me, too. Ever hear of the “World” Series, literally a contest between teams from only the US, save for Toronto, Canada? Me. Too. That’s not to say we shouldn’t take pride in our country and especially in our servicemen and women. Nor is it to say that other countries don’t get carried away, as well. But I’ve never seen another country do it quite like we do. It’s one thing to fly our flag with pride in our principles. It’s quite another to put our flag on anything from pencil boxes to g-strings because we think we’re Big Man On Campus.

Of course, there is the fact that we live in a country that is extremely large and spread out. We have only two border neighbors and, depending on where you start, it can take days of driving to get to either one. For thousands of miles, everyone speaks more or less the same language and, for the most part, we don’t consider different rules, cultures, or etiquette as we cross state borders. We just see more of “us”. It’s pretty good soil for growing an ego, especially if you’re white.

Europe, on the other hand, is made up of many smaller countries, many of whom are landlocked. Getting into territory where the language, culture and etiquette are quite different doesn’t take more than a few hours. Sometimes they play well together, other times it’s a dumpster fire. Either way, governing requires a lot of international cooperation as many of their assets and resources cross international borders and the citizens are in the same boat as their very different neighbors.

But wait. Why, then, are many other extremely large countries able to deal with their pandemic issues better than we are? In large part it’s because, all too frequently, we wrongly equate American power with invincibility rather than responsibility.

I’m reminded of a recent blog post by Spider-Man’s dad. Yes, he has one. Well, the actor who plays him does, anyway. Dominic Holland, professional stand-up comic and author, recently posted a lovely tribute on his Patreon account regarding the passing of Bill Withers, writer and composer of the song Lean On Me. (To see Dom’s post, you’ll need to join his Patreon account. Go on, it’s a good time in there! For other blog posts and such you can visit his website at https://www.dominicholland.co.uk/ )

Anyway, I can't post the words here due to copyright issues, but suffice to say they outline the concept of leaning on each other in times of need. Swallowing pride, asking for help, helping where you can, and spreading empathy in the face of crisis.

The words are so simple, so basic, that they can knock you on your arse when you realize they are the heart, the very lifeblood of humanity. Written in the ink of the human soul, they call for us to swallow our pride and lean on each other when we need to. But that’s simply not the American Way. It’s not bigger, better, stronger, faster, cooler. It’s not Lone Wolf. It’s vulnerable, cooperative, compassionate. It’s responsible and therein lies the power.

I hope the citizens of this country realize very soon that we cannot “macho” this virus out of existence. We cannot ignore the need to look out for each other in attitude and action. We cannot afford to ignore that the best way to take care of ourselves is for every one of us to take care of others. We cannot continue to put our vulnerable at risk while making life comfy and convenient for No. 1.

Our children need an education, hopefully one that someday soon will examine our faults as well as our accomplishments as points for wisdom and growth in all areas. Both our children and our teachers deserve concerted efforts from all of us that, sometime in the next several months, can provide a safe environment in which to teach and learn. No one will think less of us for taking care of one another. In fact, they might even see us as Superheroes.