The Daily Stoic John Barry on the Great Influenza and the Value of Truth
Aug 6, 2022
John M. Barry, a prize-winning author renowned for chronicling the 1918 influenza pandemic and the Great Mississippi Flood, shares deep insights on pandemic responses. He draws parallels between past and present public reactions, emphasizing the need for truth and community service. Barry discusses how crises reveal human character, stressing the role of empathy amid societal indifference. He also reflects on resilience in New Orleans post-Katrina, advocating for effective communication in public health as a cornerstone of collective well-being.
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Percy Family Stoicism and the 1927 Flood
- The Percy family, prominent in Rising Tide, embodied Stoicism, though with a tragic fatalism.
- Despite their ideals of noblesse oblige, their self-interest ultimately prevailed during the 1927 flood.
Scale of the 1927 Flood and its Impact
- The 1927 flood was a massive event, displacing nearly 1% of the US population and drastically altering the federal government's role in disaster relief.
- It highlighted the shortcomings of localized responses to large-scale crises.
Collective Action Problems in Disasters
- Both Rising Tide and The Great Influenza illustrate massive collective action problems.
- Localized or individualistic approaches fail when facing widespread crises requiring collective response and prevention.
