Over two weeks ago, the world transitioned into December, which is considered the “most wonderful time of the year.” Now, with the first snowfall of the year in the books, everyone can agree that the Christmas spirit has begun to settle in. 

Despite this, 2020 once again, has brought disheartening news of record-high COVID deaths in a single day. On only the second day of the month, John Hopkins University reported 2,804 new deaths as a result of COVID. This is about 200 more deaths than the 2,605 deaths that happened during 9/11, the deadliest attack on American soil. 

Three months ago, the country had reported the highest number of deaths since May. Now, in December, the United States finds itself once again reaching unimaginable death tolls as we beat our record high for the second time. When will the country realize the gravity of these reports? What else will it take for the United States of America to wake up and realize that our country is at war with itself? As COVID cases and death tolls increase, the United States continues to be blind to the tragedies that are happening in our own country.

On Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175 struck into the north and south towers of the World Trade Center. Within an hour and 42 minutes, the towers collapsed. This tragedy would have rippling effects all over the nation and even the world, taking years to finally reach a state of recovery. After eight months and 108,342 truckloads of debris, the clean up was over.  The country had united efforts to surpass, allowing an early end to the estimated year of clean up. 

Today, after 289,000 deaths in the United States alone, Americans take their lives and selfishly the lives of others for granted. Instead of uniting under adversity, many Americans fight against efficient progress towards some sort of normality. Recently on Dec. 9, an anti-mask protest became so out of hand a cancellation was forced upon a public health meeting in Idaho. Americans are fighting against the usage of masks, the length of quarantine, and the jurisdiction of school openings. COVID-19 has peaked and is seen as one of the deadliest attacks in American history; when will the US finally wake up and take into account the severity of the current pandemic?