The president has converted Easter, a holiday associated with worldwide rejoicing, into his private political cause. On Easter Sunday, of course, we would all like our churches filled; of course, we would all want to return to work; of course, we would all wish to spend time with our friends and families; of course, we would all wish to enjoy the fruits of our labor. But the coronavirus has forced us to live in a new reality. All of these “of courses” are out of reach this year.
Trump does not see this reality. For him, the coronavirus is just a bad version of the flu and the dangers overstated. He feels social control actions have unnecessarily stifled America. The medically-based response to the virus runs counter to his beliefs and opinions.
Returning people to work when the virus is at large will mean many will become ill; many will die. Fear of contracting the virus will keep people at home, and the economy will falter. Sustaining the course of social distancing will place parts of the economy on hold, but fewer will become ill and fewer will die. In either scenario the economy suffers. The choice is not, however, economic. It is about life.
— Sidney Weissman, Chicago
