Coping In A Changing World
Throughout history humans have endured a fair bit of change and upheaval. Wars, economic disasters, natural disasters, famines and plagues dominate the horizons and create a catalyst for change.
Probably more than anything, our expectations have changed. We had a period of time where travel was fairly easy. Following 911, there was a change in security measures, which we eventually got used to. Once again, things have become much more stringent, with increasing uncertainty, when it comes to travel
We are shocked and rattled by certain events that are far away, but if it does not change our day to day lives – we breathe a sigh of relief and carry on. For most of us, nothing has changed and rocked our world like the covid crisis. The bifurcations of this epidemic have tentacles into civil liberties, social freedom, home life, health care, travel, education, politics and the economy.
If it is a crisis, it will pass. People will adapt, pick up the pieces and figure out a way to live according to different guidelines and restrictions. One thing that does not change, is human nature. We are social beings, some more so than others. We are activity oriented, again, some more so than others. We are migratory. Throughout history when things got tough in one area, people would move to another area that showed more promise. People seek stability, jobs, agriculture, safety, and fundamental freedoms.
The problem with the covid virus is that it is a global problem. There is nowhere to go to escape it, and the rules around migration have suddenly become prohibitively restrictive. The fact the coronavirus is a large and common family of viruses, makes the likelihood of the occasional virulent strain very high. It seems to me, we are not going to escape the parameters of this disease. Clearly, it can be a reason to track and control people using health in politics. Privacy concerns, along with the protection of democratic freedoms, are justifiable issues to be addressed by well meaning people.
We are being told that people carry the virus without knowing it. It is true that people carry all kinds of viruses and bacteria, so this is not something new. As with all things negative, or shadow casting and restrictive, one can only look to overcoming some of the negatives by reinforcing and doing what is good.
Good things include – cooking, cleaning, care of ourselves and our homes, art, listening to music, working, gardening, exercise, fresh air, sunshine, learning, creativity, photography, photo-editing, writing, bird watching, walking, interactive games, playing music, singing, organizing, conversing, sharing, family bonds, encouraging each other, humour, planning, improving, giving….as just some examples of good things to explore and do.
The things that concern me the most about all the covid changes – is the loss of fundamental freedoms, combined with the fear of abuses of power and exploitation in health care. We cannot argue with something that is invisible. We have no choice but to follow the directions of top doctors and experts, now responsible for announcing every decision surrounding what we can and cannot do.
The range of responses to this sudden pandemic, and how it has changed our lives, are widely varied. Some people are completely sold on what the experts are telling us. There are those who suddenly view human contact as an endangerment to life, like it’s an automatic death sentence if you come in contact with other people.
Some people are calling snitch lines on infractions, like dog walkers and trail runners, or if someone is using a park or vacant parking lot to let kids practice skateboarding or bicycling. What they are losing sight of, is the law of probability, and the fact there is risk-taking involved in almost everything we do. Those reports are not based on threat of harm.
Every time we take a prescription drug, get into a car, eat food, walk up or down a flight of stairs, get on a ladder, swim in a lake or the ocean, ride a bicycle, go to an air show or rodeo, get into a boat, canoe or kayak – we are taking risks. The fact that a certain percentage of people fall down the stairs, does not mean we eliminate stairs.
I do not have a problem with whistle blowers, if it involves trying to stop the abuse of a vulnerable population. It is commendable and difficult to do, and the reality is that it brings about a backlash of more punishment than reward.
However, I don’t believe in nit-picking, spying on, and reporting people for doing ordinary wholesome activities. Busy bodies are a pain. People have to be allowed to use their own judgement and take a certain amount of risk. Surely we cannot obliterate the regular laws that took hundreds of years to develop, for a virus that cropped up two months ago.
The notion of worshipping people, or certain groups of people is something I find very strange. The latest trend to call all health care workers heroes, is a bit much. People go into health professions for a variety of reasons, in most cases, it is because of the availability of jobs.
Like all professions, health care attracts the good, the bad and the ugly. There are some excellent and competent people who work in the field of health care, and there are those who don’t give a damn. Now we are seeing huge bill boards, parades, and all kinds of hero worshipping directed at all health care workers.
Once again, this only serves to create a division or another polarity between people who are working and those who are not. By all means, health care workers should be treated with respect and renumeration, but we need to keep in mind that all infrastructure is important.
Imagine if there was no water, sewage, hydro or garbage pick up all of a sudden? Generally the way we work revolves around the old adage, where there is a need – someone will fill it. That’s what makes the world go round. All businesses revolve around supplying a product or service that meets a societal need, or consumer demands.
People in all walks of life do heroic things from time to time. But to me a hero is someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty, like saving a child who fell into the river, or going into a burning building to save someone. Or if a cougar jumps on your friend, and you attack the cougar. Or the lady who lost her hand trying to help someone in a wheelchair get across the train tracks. Those are some examples that define heroism, to me anyway.
The other extreme reaction, is to go out in droves to protest the lockdowns. Although we have always had a right to peaceful assembly in democratic countries, it seems to have gone overboard just prior to all the shutdown. I don’t recall another time when protesters broke into and occupied the BC Legislature and the Office of the AG in Vancouver. That’s not what anyone would consider to be peaceful protest. There was a line crossed during the pre-covid recent protests.
Is there any middle ground? Has the swinging of the pendulum from extreme to extreme contributed to what we are faced with now? How can a virus be so interconnected with politics? How much of it is over reaction? How much will people tolerate?
The right to thought, belief and opinion is one of the final things to be taken away. In fact, they cannot take away our thoughts and beliefs no matter what they do. Even if they take away the right to express the opinions, it will not stop people from having them.
Thought reform is done persistently and gradually – using fear, deception, and shaming. Then a small morsel of hope is tossed out as a bit of a lifeline. First there is shaming, then there is praise for acquiescing. It is an effective way to get people to toe the line. Intelligent dialogue is warranted, probably more so now than ever before. In fact, there are many contradictions to be clarified, along with legitimate questions and challenges to bring forward.
We have had the polarity of extremes swinging in front of us. The media attention given to the rise of the cult of personality with both Trump and Greta Thunberg has been a staggering contributor to the political changes that are running parallel to the covid crisis. In both cases, there is extremism – backed by the monied interests hovering behind the scenes.
If anything, it is like there is a merging of communism and fascism. When you consider China for example, as a communist country – the capitalism is overwhelming. Likewise, Greta trademarked her name, re-donates prize money given to her by her donors, has a wide range of fast fashion T-shirts and promo items on the market, to include anti-fascist T-shirts. The dichotomies between Thunberg and Trump have created a merging of sorts. It is a merging of elitism and influence with ideologies that they themselves don’t see or understand because they are not the creators of the script. They are the actors on the world stage. They only have to appeal to the masses.
It is enough to make one’s head spin. Trump has all his business interests, reality TV show drama, controversies and wars. The rallies were growing exponentially with a high level of energy and rioting. One can only imagine how things would have escalated if not for covid.
The last Greta Thunberg rally just a few weeks before the shutdown, created all kinds of damage to the lawns, and required excessive policing resources, and clean up afterwards. When rallies or demonstrations get to the point where they are causing environmental damage or whipping people into hysteria – it’s not good.
There are many in-depth questions to ponder. We will have, and hopefully will be able to share divergent opinions. We have been told over and over to stay safe. It’s the new cool mantra. That advice is sound. But not only around viruses – but everything from driving, to condoms, to sports, to street drugs, fire hazards, and tripping over your feet.
Stay safe. Stay sane. Stay home. But not without kicking up a fuss, and at least asking why we can’t go to a Provincial Park.
Human nature is part of all nature. To a certain extent, we can and will change. But there are some aspects of human nature that will never change.
Death is inevitable for all of us. In the bigger scheme of things, death is as natural as apples falling off a tree. Sometimes the end will be hastened by a wind storm. The fall might be precipitated by some other force of nature. Other times, they just ripen and dangle, until their time is up, and weight and gravity urge them to let go.
Overcoming the fear of death – is the one thing that will help us face the greatest change of all. It brings us closer to understanding the power and endurance of the human spirit.
Copyright Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage (2020). Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author/owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Valerie J. Hayes and Quiet West Vintage with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.