As the end of September nears and the fall equinox approaches in the United States, the nation is nearly four calendar years removed from the commencement of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over 1 million Americans lost their lives to the virus. In early 2020, the entire world was put upside down after the virus, allegedly emerging from the city of Wuhan in China wreaked havoc. Widespread lockdowns were initiated across the nation. Children did not go to school; people did not gather in worship. Masks were required everywhere. Sporting events were simply banned. The entire country, socially, culturally and economically, ground to a halt. In many ways, now over three years since the commencement of the pandemic, America has never recovered.
The effects of the virus on America’s youth are still not widely understood. But it is likely that due to the severe social isolation many experienced and the transition into remote learning for over a year of education, detrimental effects may have been experienced. In 2021, the Brookings Institution released a report which showed serious learning loss due to the pandemic. To this day, the true cause of the virus is still unknown. Early speculation surrounded bats in China that were believed to have “carried” the virus. In later dates, it has been alleged by many that the virus may have been “man-made” and originated in a lab. According to an article written by Breitbart, the World Health Organization’s head leader Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has called for an investigation into the origins of the virus.
In Ukraine, a war with Russia continues to rage as casualties mount on both sides. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or wounded and countless numbers of civilians have been caught in the fray. The nation of Greece recently announced it would be purchasing military equipment for Ukraine as the conflict rages on and shows no signs of stopping. The future is uncertain.
