World Leaders Turn to WWII to Inspire During Virus Crisis
2020-04-02
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1Many observers are making comparisons between the current worldwide spread of the coronavirus and the events of World War II.
2The comparisons have appeared in recent days as the world faces possibly the most serious threat since the last truly international war.
3Several world leaders have called on people to show the fearlessness of those who lived through World War II.
4Some people have warned of an "invisible enemy:" one that could cause death, damage the world's economy and create social problems.
5Others say it is not helpful to make such comparisons and that they only add to the fear over the coronavirus.
6The names, places and battles of World War II bring up many emotions: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.
7Places too can have emotions tied to them: Auschwitz, Pearl Harbor and Midway Island and Stalingrad.
8Events also can bring emotions: the siege of Leningrad, the German blitz of London, the Allied bombing of Dresden, and the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
9It is estimated that 85 million people died in WWII.
10The coronavirus has been blamed for tens of thousands of deaths.
11Some people worry whether these comparisons are useful or just serve as a metaphor.
12German Chancellor Angela Merkel was born ten years after World War II ended.
13She grew up in East Germany, a country at the time under the influence of the former Soviet Union.
14Last week, she spoke to her countrymen on television.
15She said: "Since the Second World War - there has been no challenge to our nation that has demanded such... united action."
16U.S. President Donald Trump has called himself a ''wartime president."
17He has used or said he would use the 70-year-old Defense Production Act to battle shortages of medical supplies and equipment like masks and ventilators.
18New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and many media opinion writers have urged him to use the law.
19Queen Elizabeth of Britain seemed to recall her young years during the war when she drove military vehicles in Britain.
20"At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation's history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one," she said.
21Italy has had more deaths than any other nation from the coronavirus so far.
22Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said on television Saturday that he was tightening the country's restrictions on movement and closing everything except businesses that provide food and medicine.
23"We are facing the most serious crisis that the country has experienced since World War II," Conte said.
24Governments are reacting differently to the problems of keeping people working and important industries operating.
25Rescue plans started by several Western countries remind some people of the Marshall Plan.
26The Marshall plan was a $15-billion, American plan to rebuild Europe after the end of World War II.
27Today, modern economies not only depend on financial resources but also on the internet to connect government services and businesses.
28Some people wonder what would happen if the internet collapsed.
29They say such a happening would be much like the use of an atom bomb, an event of unimaginable destruction.
30I'm John Russell.
1Many observers are making comparisons between the current worldwide spread of the coronavirus and the events of World War II. 2The comparisons have appeared in recent days as the world faces possibly the most serious threat since the last truly international war. Several world leaders have called on people to show the fearlessness of those who lived through World War II. 3Some people have warned of an "invisible enemy:" one that could cause death, damage the world's economy and create social problems. Others say it is not helpful to make such comparisons and that they only add to the fear over the coronavirus. 4The names, places and battles of World War II bring up many emotions: Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Places too can have emotions tied to them: Auschwitz, Pearl Harbor and Midway Island and Stalingrad. Events also can bring emotions: the siege of Leningrad, the German blitz of London, the Allied bombing of Dresden, and the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 5It is estimated that 85 million people died in WWII. The coronavirus has been blamed for tens of thousands of deaths. 6Some people worry whether these comparisons are useful or just serve as a metaphor. 7World leaders call to action 8German Chancellor Angela Merkel was born ten years after World War II ended. She grew up in East Germany, a country at the time under the influence of the former Soviet Union. 9Last week, she spoke to her countrymen on television. She said: "Since the Second World War - there has been no challenge to our nation that has demanded such... united action." 10U.S. President Donald Trump has called himself a ''wartime president." He has used or said he would use the 70-year-old Defense Production Act to battle shortages of medical supplies and equipment like masks and ventilators. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and many media opinion writers have urged him to use the law. 11Queen Elizabeth of Britain seemed to recall her young years during the war when she drove military vehicles in Britain. 12"At times such as these, I am reminded that our nation's history has been forged by people and communities coming together to work as one," she said. 13Italy has had more deaths than any other nation from the coronavirus so far. Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte said on television Saturday that he was tightening the country's restrictions on movement and closing everything except businesses that provide food and medicine. 14"We are facing the most serious crisis that the country has experienced since World War II," Conte said. 15Rescue plans, employment and technology 16Governments are reacting differently to the problems of keeping people working and important industries operating. Rescue plans started by several Western countries remind some people of the Marshall Plan. The Marshall plan was a $15-billion, American plan to rebuild Europe after the end of World War II. 17Today, modern economies not only depend on financial resources but also on the internet to connect government services and businesses. Some people wonder what would happen if the internet collapsed. They say such a happening would be much like the use of an atom bomb, an event of unimaginable destruction. 18I'm John Russell. 19The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 20________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22inspire- v. to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create 23comparison- n. the act of looking at things to see if they are similar or different 24metaphor- n. a word or phrase for one thing that is used to refer to another thing in order to show they are similar 25siege- n. a situation in which soldiers or police officers surround a city, building, etc., in order to try to take control of it 26blitz- n. a very fast attack 27countrymen- n. people who live in or come from the same country as you 28recall- v. to remember (something) from the past 29remind- v. to make (someone) think about something again : to cause (someone) to remember something 30challenge- n. to test the ability or skill of something 31mask- n. a piece clothing that covers the mouth for protection 32ventilator- n. a medical device that assists breathing 33forge- v. to make or create 34tighten- v. to increase restrictiveness