Author: 高中英语组 龙银仿

2020,for you, for me and for everyone in the world, is destined to be an unusual andunanticipated year, when a horrible disease broke out and quickly swept theglobe. It has been proclaimed Covid-19 by the WHO.

By 6 am, this morning, the total numberof Covid-19 confirmed cases has amounted to 2.69 million globally, with the deaths surpassing 188,000, according tothe latest statistics released by Johns Hopkins University.

In the meantime,however, the total number of COVID-19 cases on the Chinesemainland stands at 82,804, among which the cumulative deaths total 4,632,according to the National Health Commission.

In the light of the datamentioned above, and considering the daily-increased cases both at home andabroad, we can estimate and determine that the epidemic situation is subsidingin China.

Therefore, I’d better call a spade aspade that we are winning over the battle against the lethal disease.

Why? Why can we China achieve the goalto dominate the situation in such a relatively short time?

What matters?

To my mind, the optimum advantage is ourunity from the whole nation, the severe control measures from our government andthe consistent conformity from the citizens. To conclude, love matters.Responsibility matters. Dedication matters. Reverence for life matters.Confidence matters.

Reverencefor life matters. In particular, reverencefor life affords us our fundamental principle of morality. To wit, it lets usknow the government is always sparing no efforts to save lives, no matter whohe or she is—young or old, badly-off or well-off, high or low social status. Itis really humanism and humanitarianism. Such cases are happening in Wuhan andin many other regions of China. As a consequence of this, people are willing toabide by the rules and decrees promulgated by the government, which in return,to some extent, accelerates the containment of the deadly plague.

Dedication matters. In the initial stage of outbreak,veteran specialists and numerous young nurses rushed to the corebattlefield—the city of Wuhan. And at that moment when most Chinese people wereimmersed in a festive atmosphere of hilarity, our beloved angels were the mostbeautiful retrograders. They are fathers, and they are sons. They are mummiesand they are daughters.  However, in timeof danger and emergency, they risked their lives to save the patients. Theythought not for themselves, but for others. As John F. Kennedy put it in hisprominent Inaugural Address,“…my fellow Americans: ask not what your country cando for you—ask what you can do for your country.” Satirically, this is a hypocriticalkind of propaganda, which is never implemented by Americans.  But in China we Chinese people are carrying itout, and annotating it through their unselfish actions. When the heroes accomplishedtheir mission and left Wuhan, the police saluted to them and escorted them. Thecitizens of Wuhan along the way waved farewell to their beloved.

Confidence matters. Confidence overweighs anythingespecially when we are confronted with obstacles, setbacks, a catalogue ofmisfortune and sufferings.  As the oldsaying goes, “Difficulties are likespring; your strength they will test. They are awesome to the weaklings, butsubmissive to the rest”.  Iremember, in the early February, Mr. Zhong Nanshan, an outstanding medicalscientist, said with intense emotions, “Wuhan is a heroic city originally. Idefinitely believe that Wuhan can defeat the pandemic and make it.”It is Mr. Zhong and many other brave menlike Mr. Zhong that disseminate the positive messages and overwhelming strengththrough their bravery. I was deeply moved andencouraged. On Feb. 10, I , in Wuhan, gave the first online teaching to my highschool students in different regions. I told my guys only with confidence, courage,perseverance and wisdom we are bound to conquer and vanquish the disease andhug the victory. In that 40-minute online teaching, I told them what Iwitnessed and experienced in the flesh. I told them that Wuhan is a city brimof love and responsibilities. To reiterate the importance of facing challenges withconfidence, I elaboratedto them three quotations respectively. The first is “Life is like a boxof chocolate, you never know what you are gonna get” from the American movieForrest Gump.  The second is “After all,tomorrow is another day” by Scarlett from the American novel Gone with theWind. And the last is from a poem by British romantic poet Shelley, that is tosay, “If winter comes, can spring be far behind?” The lines or mottos in themovie or poems have one thing in common, namely, the significance of confidenceregardless of twists and turns on the road to go.

What matters? What on earth matters? Icannot help asking myself, you all and us all onceagain. In despite of the aforementioned aspects separately, actually from all points of view, they together play anintegral part in fighting against the raging disease and whatever catastrophesahead.

Through the disaster and the wisdom to resolve it, I morelove my motherland.  I am so happy and intoxicatedto live in the great era.