Covid: Our present sacrifices pale in comparison to those who lived through world wars – Scotsman comment

“Without the sacrifices everyone has been making, the situation would be much more severe,” Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs yesterday as she praised the public’s efforts to fight the Covid outbreak while warning that further restrictions might have to be imposed to control the virus.

We must all do our bit in the fight against Covid with the same kind of collective spirit that helped previous generations get through years of war (Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

At times, life amid the pandemic can seem unremittingly bleak and there are some who seem to have given in to the temptation to wish our troubles away, who rail against the measures being taken by both the Scottish and UK governments, which are similar to the strategies adopted by many countries around the world.

However, we must resist such siren calls and, as the Scotsman has said before, faithfully do our duty by abiding by the restrictions and following the official advice.

If we do so, we will help reduce the death toll, prevent the NHS from being overwhelmed to the point where it can no longer there for all those who need help, and also protect the economy. These sacrifices are unpleasant but necessary until a mass vaccination programme can be carried out.

The Covid outbreak has been the greatest test of our nation’s character and resolve since the Second World War.

And on Remembrance Day, as we commemorate the lives of those lost in war, we would do well to think about past generations whose sacrifices were far greater than our own.

The suffering endured for years during the First and Second World Wars seems almost unimaginable today and we should never forget the courage and spirit of the people who lived through them.

One key reason to remember is that the wartime generations were ordinary people just like us and so learning about them tells us something about our own capacity to endure seemingly unendurable hardships.

One of the most important messages from these appalling conflicts is that a sense of “all being in it together” is vital when facing a challenge of such magnitude as Covid. This is why The Scotsman has called for the resignations of politicians and senior officials who have failed to do their duty.

Life right now is hard but maintaining a sense of unity and a collective, national effort remains the best way to bring about a return to happier times.

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