Europe before the Second World War was not unified.

After the ravages of World War II, a community grew that wasn't there before.

Death and destruction poured over everyone, leaving no person unharmed.

War is hell.

Deep ethnic and aristocratic barriers remained after the First World War.

Europe didn't learn from its previous mistakes.

However, after the second fall, it did.

It learned about humanity.

It learned it needed community.

It learned it needed communication.

It left behind its childhood and became an adult.

It put away childish things.

The war matured European society.

This is not to say that there are no problems today.

Every child who becomes an adult, even a group of nations, will have its own personality disorders.

Its own childhood traumas.

It has its own unique set of problems, scars, and challenges.

But the event of the Second World War had an unexpected effect.

It matured the European Society.

They became adults.

A maturing of the mind occurs after a trauma.

Usually.

We learn from our mistakes.

Mistakes like war tend to do that.

Disaster and those who live after the war have their minds focused on what are the true priorities in life.

Priorities.

What is essential becomes paramount.

What is not essential is left behind.

The United States of America is an adolescent society.

It has never matured.

It's handicapped.

Its focus is on self, what I can get, not what I can do.

Extended terrible 3s.

It has never suffered bombs burning down its cities.

Millions of its men, women, and children killed for no good reason.

The city on the hill has been spared the apocalypse.

However…

2020 has drawn a line in the sand.

Time to put up or shut up.

COVID-19 has ridden into the streets of America on a pale horse.

This country will see death like it has never seen before.

The basic math is horrendous on what the casualties will be when this virus, which will finally go away in two to three years, goes away.

And what of the after?

Ignorance will be checked for a time.

A Community will arise.

People will talk about their shared experiences.

Their grief.

Their love.

Their hope.

Their shared sacrifice.

A new America will stand up.

Beat but wiser.

With maturity comes wisdom.

Maybe.

Maybe not.

Peace.

Daniel J Frey aka Toby