As humans globally, regardless our social station[s] and whatnot that we wrongly take pride in, there are things we take for granted, from going to work, walking around to see a friend, neighbour or a sick person, among others, or to just walk aimlessly. We wake up and go to bed without even paying any attention to the significance of things we trivialise in our lives and wellbeing at whatever level and magnitude as humans simply because we’ve been doing such things freely and voluntarily without any interference of anybody or any power. As a human, after undergoing the lockdown, I am still living under––and I am sure many still do––,I came to personally appreciate that there are things that we need to rethink about, especially how big and precious they are. The following are the things I came to re-evaluate, valuate and value after the break and rampage of COVID-19 late last year:
FREEDOM
Freedom is among the biggest casualties of COVID-19 that many of us lost though temporarily––with the fear of not knowing when it will be returned. Before the genesis of COVID-19, nobody exactly knew how precious our freedom to do whatever we want is. Think about the freedom to move wherever you want to go at any time and any manner––to do whatever you want to do or just do nothing except enjoying it; to wonder around for whatever purpose bad or good, important or trivial. Verily, when it comes to freedom, COVID-19 hasn’t only deprived us of our freedom of movement in our countries but also in the whole world. We no longer enjoying roaming around in the neighbourhood as we used to before. More importantly, who’d think that ever noisier politicians would be easily gagged? Who’d think that globetrotters would be grounded so as to save millions of dollars of paupers if not billions? Those who used to walk across the streets and see their friends, loved ones, parents and whatnots are now viewing freedom in a different light now. Even those unfaithful couples who used to use their freedom to commit their sins are now held at home. There’s an opportunity here. Those who used to stay at home alone while their spouses spending time out of the homes are now, at least happy. For such a people, COVID-19 isn’t that bad though.
Further, those with means who used to travel abroad for whatever reasons be they shopping, seeking treatments, education even touring have ever since been grounded thanks to many countries applying lockdowns and sealing their borders for the fear of COVID-19. How many people in poor countries who used to go abroad for the reasons above have been grounded, especially the sick ones? How many students are now stranded in foreign or in their countries simply because they can’t travel abroad? How many people are stranded at home simply because they can’t go to work because of the pandemic? How many poor people are stranded in miseries simply because they’re unable to get money; and thus, unable to put food on the table? Apparently, for some, even the freedom to go to the store to grab something is now an expensive item. Ladies who used to go to the salons to do their hair are no longer enjoying this taken-for-granted beauty of life not to mention the gents who used to go to pubs to swallow two or three beers.
Although freedom of movement becomes an issue when the governments curtail it for political parties, currently, everybody is concerned about it. Imagine how those whose loved ones have either been killed or injured by brutal police simply because they defied the order to stay indoors? How many are now suffering from the lack of justice simply because their cases couldn’t been entertained since courts are unable to do their businesses? How many poor people are now suffering even more since they’re unable to pay bills because they are unable to work and get money? Those whose lives revolve around hand to mouth reality are suffering even more than they were before despite facing the fear of the pandemic itself. Considering in whatever social station, geographic location or political position, COVID-19 sheer terror is immeasurable and indescribable so to speak. There’s a caveat here, however. There are those who take the pandemic seriously as opposed to those who take lightly due to the way they react towards it. Right from the off, this aspect involves individuals and society either severally or collectively. Refer to those who embarked on total lockdown such as China and Spain or just remained relaxed such as Japan and Sweden among many.
Despite the brutality and cumbersomeness of the impingement of our freedom, there are some good things out of it. We are told that since COVID-19 ravaged the globe, our air and water quality have become spiffy. Rare animals have been sighted in many places roaming around not to mention the price of the pump to cascade down for the first time in many decades.
GOVERNMENT
Before the break of COVID-19, many African governments were viewed as being democratic except for few cases of dictatorship in some countries. Currently, many have shifted into becoming police states whereby police have been given more power to harass the population under the pretext of combating the pandemic. Thus, many common people who have nothing to do with politics saw the governments as something they’d no business with except when it comes to pay taxes or voting. However, since the break of COVID-19, every ear is turned to the government to hear what it’ll order as far as the movement is concerned. In addition, those who used to see doctors and others who need gears to work such as gloves and masks are now rethinking about the centrality of protective gears they used not even to think about up until they came across those who depend on them to function.
GEOPOLITICS
As for our geopolitics, we’ve seen neighbours even in the same block such as the EAC, EU and the likes close border to those they use to assure that they’re one and the same. COVID-19 has unearthed the double standard and selfishness human can have. In Britain, one supremo behind the lockdown, despite knowing he’s COVID-19 positive, allowed a lady to pay him a visit contrary to the laws and rules he enacted.
ECONOMICS
For those without means, COVID-19 opened the weirs. To make matters worse, our brutal, corrupt and unreasonable cops killed and tortured many under the pretexts of enforcing the lockdown. Others made a killing through extortion. As well, quacks, especially those using the world of God robbed many claiming they’ve discovered the cure.
Indeed, COVID-19 has redefined our lives! There are many aspects in which COVID-19 challenged us. As for today, this is enough.
Source: African Executive Magazine today
No comments:
Post a Comment