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On Sunday, Arizona Representative Paul Gosar announced he is isolating himself after shaking hands and spending an "extended period of time" with a person at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference who has since tested positive for the 2019 novel coronavirus.
"I am not currently experiencing any symptoms, nor is any member of my staff," Gosar wrote in a statement shared on Twitter. "However, in order to prevent any potential transmission, I will remain at my home in Arizona until the conclusion of the 14 day period following my interaction with this individual."
Gosar added that he is closing his office in Washington, D.C., for the week. Texas Senator Ted Cruz also shook hands with the infected person at CPAC and is quarantining himself for the next two weeks as well.
Gosar seems to have been doing some deep thinking in the wake of his brush with coronavirus. Around 9 a.m. on Monday morning, Gosar wrote on Twitter that he has "Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does."
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/m6vU5RTQHJ
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) March 9, 2020
The tweet was accompanied by an image from the 2018 movie The Great Battle. The photo is one of the first Google image search results for the word "battle."
Gosar, who is a dentist, has since sparked a meme, with thousands of people reposting Gosar's text about life, mortality, and preferring to die in battle alongside images of everything from Corgis fighting with inflatable swords on a beach to heavily armored squirrel knights.
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/GTjkbzu2hY
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/rg2nFpwMHR
— Christopher Ingraham (@_cingraham) March 9, 2020
This heated standoff from The Office also made an appearance:
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/Aw89zS5tcb
— David French (@DavidAFrench) March 9, 2020
As did an old viral video of two people repeatedly, aggressively giving each other the middle finger in New York:
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/UPAxjnqLjc
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) March 9, 2020
This knife-wielding crab clearly would rather die gloriously in battle:
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/hPDbpuyJcm
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) March 9, 2020
Gosar's reflection on life and mortality went on to be paired with GIFs of people struggling with everyday household chores taken from infomercials, an image of an older woman holding the extremely large sword wielded by Cloud from Final Fantasy VII, and men in suits chasing Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty.
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/vARV2y2vLh
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/5YoVVLQfv8
— Ben Mitchell (@bfmitchell) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/GrNQqZeWj6
— Sam Sykes (@SamSykesSwears) March 9, 2020
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does. pic.twitter.com/P2gwyv7QJe
— Sarah McLaughlin (@sarahemclaugh) March 9, 2020
Phoenix New Times joined in as well. Oh, to be a javelina sprinting through Tucson thinking about life and mortality.
Been thinking about life and mortality today. I’d rather die gloriously in battle than from a virus. In a way it doesn’t matter. But it kinda does.pic.twitter.com/AGgYkTGHO7
— Phoenix New Times (@phoenixnewtimes) March 9, 2020
Musing about dying gloriously in battle wasn't the only poignant thought Gosar shared on Twitter.
"Good morning to everyone except those hoping I die from Corona Virus," Gosar wrote around 8 a.m. "You know who you are."
Good morning to everyone except those hoping I die from Corona Virus. You know who you are. pic.twitter.com/BDdVizxqpc
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) March 9, 2020
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