To the editor:

“My fellow Americans, we are in the midst of a deadly pandemic. My medical advisers from the Centers for Disease Control and the White House COVID Task Force have made it clear this is a national catastrophe that will take a national, united effort to defeat. All Americans, whether they are health care professionals treating the sick, research scientist working aggressively, both here and overseas, on a vaccine, or ordinary American citizens have a role in collectively defeating this dreaded disease. I therefore urge all Americans to practice regularly social distancing, wearing a mask in public, avoiding large social gatherings, and following the protocols of local health officials. This will be a long, hard slog yet one I know we can overcome if we work together. Our forefathers came together 70 years ago to defeat fascism. This is our fight today and I know that in the great tradition of our nation when faced with adversity we will prevail. Thank you, good night, and God bless the United States of America.”

It’s been said leadership sets the tone of a country. We had that focused direction provided by President Franklin Roosevelt during the dark days of World War II when victory was not assured and defeat seemed to happen with dismal regularity. The leadership our nation witnessed then is what we need now; a televised speech by the president is what Americans should have heard versus the fake news, falsehoods and other negative comments made at the start of the pandemic. One wonders where we would be today if that had happened.

David L. Teska,

Lawrence