Now And Today, November 11, 2020

The election is the end of it. The long struggle winds down in the presidential campaign and other campaigns of the political season. Results in or coming in, tallies and totals, winners and losers, winning sides and losing sides. Despite a ragged gathering, conducting, and counting of votes, the end is here.

The end is far from here with the pandemic. We’re not counting down a stack of ballots with the pile shrinking. We’re doing the opposite—watching the numbers of cases grow with the pile piling higher.

The two major expressions of American public life are, for the one, coming to an end with a change in the offing, and, for the other, ending a steady period and rushing up worrisome heights.

The split in the path makes it hard to stay together and arrive at the same point.

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Then, November 11, 1918

Every city and town roars with excitement. The World War is over. The World War is done. The World War is won. Today.

The ending of a war that brought battles which killed men, that compelled changes to almost everything about daily life, that introduced an illness of a magnitude never known before. Today it’s done.

The doors burst open on homes and buildings, on barns and churches. The feet and legs of millions and millions of Americans run into streets, parks, hallways, and public rooms. Hands waving, hands clapping, hands clasped in prayers, hands holding kerchiefs to wipe away tears. Sounds of singing, music, speeches, shouting, crying, laughing, and praying. Kisses, hugs, pats on the back.

Soon, those still alive will be here once more. Back to our home, to our family, to our life. Nothing will stop us in coming back from there.

Today, too, thousands are sick with influenza. Many will die. Many who died yesterday or last week are just now being reported and known today.

Masks are starting to come off. Shut-downs are loosening up. And of course, despite all that’s been said and done, the people rushing together today will make for a rise in sickness tomorrow, the day after, next week.

They couldn’t help it. Nothing could hold them back.

* * * * *

Looking Ahead From Today, November 11, 2020

A major event with a big outcome. Marked on the public’s mind if not on the calendar. When it arrives, when the conclusion expected is the conclusion reached, a genuine recognition happens. Everyone sees it, knows it, feels it.

The end of the World War was, by November 1918, anticipated. Victory and the end of fighting were expected. The announcement of the armistice was the event for which all Americans had waited. They celebrated.

We know the feeling. For us, it’s the presidential election. Regardless of your opinion of the outcome, you regarded the event as major, expected, and a pivot from what was before to what is now. It was the same for your family back in 1918 as they experienced the armistice of November 11.

They would have something to tell you from their journey through the combination of the World War and the influenza pandemic. They’d tell you that the event you think marks the end of a thing may not mark it as well or as clearly as you assumed. They’d add that in realizing this you will encounter issues and situations you’ve never imagined. They’d also talk about new forms and shapes coming into existence very quickly after the supposedly final event.

A beginning isn’t the only thing that follows an ending. A vast array of new dynamics will make themselves known. They’ll include items that you thought were done and gone. They’ll include items in revised aspects that hadn’t entered your mind before. They’ll involve new moments that require your fast action and faster adjustment if your plans and vision ever hope to come to fruition.

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For Those Wanting To Bridge 2020 And 1918, A Reminder…

Warfluenza and Warcorona.

Warfluenza is what Americans experienced in 1918 when influenza interacted with their dominant issue and concern of the day, World War One. The illness comes to them through their handling of and coping with World War One. That’s why I want you to think of it as Warfluenza. The pandemic and the issue affect each other.

Warcorona is what Amercians are experienced in 2020 when coronavirus interacts with our dominant issue and concern of the day, World War Trump. Regardless of whether you love or hate Trump, Trumpism, and the Trump Presidency, it blends with the illness and thus we handle and cope with both together, inseparable. It’s Warfluenza updated to our world—Warcorona.

I want to reintroduce you to the world of Warfluenza’s Wave Two because we’re in Warcorona’s Wave Two right now with preschool-to-grad school education. If you have someone somewhere in that track, you’re in Wave Two. And so we’re following Warfluenza and Warcorona on exactly the same days across 102 years. Mark Twain is supposed to have said that history doesn’t repeat but it sure does rhyme. Count me as a “yes” to that statement.

As always, I invite you to reach out to me. Leave a comment here, email at dan@historicalsolutions.com , or text at 317-407-3687.