On September 11, 2001, I served as a member of Zionsville, Indiana Town Council. At that time, towns lacked mayors, and the Town Council served in that capacity. On that day, I offered no particular words of wisdom or insight to the citizens of Zionsville as they faced the rage and fear of an enemy attack on U.S. soil. I vowed to myself then not to be caught so flat-footed a second time, when the next attack on U.S soil came. I researched and prepared remarks, but the second attack never came…until February of 2020, eleven years after I stepped off the Council. This time the attack involved microscopic organisms, but the anger and fear feels the same as on 9-11. This time I am ready. The year: 1675; the target: the colonists of North America; the enemy: Indian Chief Metacomet, self-named: “King Phillip”. King Phillip declared war on the American colonists and organized a massive attack on American settlements, resulting, over three years, in the deaths of approximately one of every ten settlers in North America. What did the settlers do in the face of these extraordinary losses and hardship? Panic and get on their ships and sale back to Europe? No. Hunker down in their homes and wait for the European governments to send soldiers to rescue them? No. They grabbed their muskets and fought back. They survived. Some say this constituted the first spark of American independence that took full flame in 1776, one hundred years later. Today, some of us Americans may be the direct descendants of those brave pioneers who refused to be defeated. All of us have the opportunity now to be spiritual descendants of those courageous souls. This time our enemy lacks a soul, a conscience, or even a sentient nature. Nonetheless, this microscopic killer seems bent on killing 1% to 2% of every U.S. citizen with which it interacts. The response to date reflects fear and anger. How do we win this time? Instead of grabbing your musket, this time grab your soap. Rule number one: follow all CDC and workplace directives for hygiene and quarantine. This will keep that 1% or 2% number as small as possible. Rule number two: Refuse the urge to panic; maintain normal economic activities (subject to rule number one above); do not sell your stocks in a panic; and do not engage in hording. Stay brave and focused. In doing so, you will be following in the footsteps of those settlers who defeated King Phillip and ushered forward the community of men and women who ultimately became one of the greatest countries of all time, the United States of America. Let us once again lead the world by our example. Copyright 2020 –David J. Carr