When a war breaks out, people say: “It’s too stupid; it can’t last long.” But though a war may well be “too stupid,” that doesn’t prevent its lasting. Stupidity has a knack of getting its way; as we should see if we were not always so much wrapped up in ourselves. In this respect our townsfolk were like everybody else, wrapped up in themselves; in other words they were humanists: they disbelieved in pestilences.

A pestilence isn’t a thing made to man’s measure; therefore we tell ourselves that pestilence is a mere bogy of the mind, a bad dream that will pass away. But it doesn’t always pass away and, from one bad dream to another, it is men who pass away, and the humanists first of all, because they haven’t taken their precautions.

— excerpt The Plague by Albert Camus  p. 34

I began to read again The Plague, a fictional story by Albert Camus about the bubonic plague that ravages Oran, Algeria.  The story is told from the viewpoint of a medical doctor.  The onset of the plague is indicated by a unaccountable die off of rats which increases in numbers.  The animals come out of their hidden burrows to die in agony in public places, in great numbers.  Notwithstanding this conspicuous calling card, no one suspects, can imagine what is soon to follow.

I have little to say this morning.  These lines from Camus are eloquent and profound as indicators of what is true.  The underlined phrases are my own attempts at emphasis.

I was dismayed yesterday to hear our president refer to covid-19 virus as a Chinese virus.  I understand that when cautioned against such a description, he “doubled down” repeating his accusation.  This is a time when every nation is in a death-match with a virus that will cripple us, and only cooperation, the collaborative effort to develop a vaccine and treatment will in the long run save us.

This morning I learned that China has expelled journalists from the N.Y. Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post.

I am not surprised.

The Plague is recognized as an outstanding piece of literature.  You will find a pdf version HERE.