Quote of the day for "Independence Day," 4th July 2020

"Mankind. That word should have new meaning for all of us today. 

"We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. 

"Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom... Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution... but from annihilation. 

"We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. 

"And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: 

"We will not go quietly into the night!

"We will not vanish without a fight! 

"We're going to live on! 

"We're going to survive! 

"Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"

The above passage, spoken in the film by Bill Pullman as the US President, comes from the speech before the human counter-attack in the film "Independence Day."

Today the world faces a virus rather than an extra-terrestrial threat, and today has been called "Independence day" here to reflect an easing of the lockdown, but the parallels are amazingly relevant.

The struggle against COVID-19 goes on, the threat is temporarily diminished but not over,  and it is incembent on all of us to use the elements of our freedom which we have regained in a responsible way.

We still need to maintain two metres social distancing where possible and one metres at all times where that is not possible, wash our hands regularly, think about how to avoid putting ourselves and others at risk, and

 

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