Not So Different From Us

by Thomas Sommers

When you think about it, a virus is not so different from us. Oh, but a virus would fail without us, you say? It wouldn't exist without a host that allows it to replicate, to spread? So a virus needs us, or it's nothing at all?

So do we. We need us, and we need our host to succeed, to replicate, to spread.

We leverage our home for our needs. The earth does not see us on the individual scale, driving our cars and digging our mines, but it does notice its temperature going up.

A virus doesn't thank the host for providing it with the tools it needs to thrive. Neither do we.

So what's the distinction? When you think about it, a virus is not so different from us.