Will we open our eyes tomorrow at the end of this nightmare called “Coronavirus”? Or will this virus continue to exacerbate our fears, with its negative impact on our way of life, on our health, economic, political and social world? Our world, which is about three months after the outbreak of this virus, is already suffering coronavirus scare.
I wrote in my previous article about many lessons that can be taught by a small virus that is not visible to the naked eye, has antagonised our world, and even “slashed it” so to speak. And I think that those who live after disposing of it will never forget the lesson.
This virus has united the world in a very true sense, eliminated political boundaries, class differences, religious, sectarian, ethnic and racial pluralities, closed the doors of Mecca as it did in Qom, in the Vatican, in Jewish and Buddhist temples, etc., and proved to us that a person is a human being regardless of any other consideration.
The virus has attacked the rich and the poor, the oppressor and the oppressed, rulers and the ruled, murderers and victims. And we ask God Almighty that the pandemic won’t reach a greater humanitarian catastrophe, and that health and medical experts succeed in creating a vaccine soon, especially since anxiety no longer comes from infection with coronavirus, but rather from economic collapse, chaos, insecurity and military crises caused by it.
We are surprised at the level of security protection that the American president enjoys. His plane, with which he can manage a nuclear war, his six-tonne vehicle in which surgery can be performed in the event of an accident, and the security, personnel, food, electronic and health protection crews surrounding him. Then we hear that he had a test to make sure that a small virus-like corona did not infect him as it had infected influential persons around the world, including heads of state.
None of us know about the future of coronavirus, or rather the future of humanity with the spread in all countries. Will it continue the outbreak that started in China or Iran or elsewhere, or will it keep killing people? Can the world create a vaccine and put an end to it, as it did against other fatal diseases?
Coronavirus has raised many questions about the existence of Man and the meaning of his life on this earth. Heavenly religions and prophets have appeared in an attempt to reform man and societies and urge us to be humble and to recognise that there is someone stronger than we are in this universe. Humanistic theories have also emerged, calling for freedom from greed, and justice and equality for people on the ground.
It is assumed that a comprehensive danger like the one that humanity is facing now, or any kind of disease in the future, will create a real feeling or movement towards universal human solidarity. Man should be allowed to move naturally to realise himself, giving meaning to his life, his children and his grandchildren.
We are not so naive as to believe that the emperors of the world, old and young, who lack morals, will review their policies or give up their privileges voluntarily. Rather, it is an opportunity for human supporters, truth and human dignity, and for those who struggle for a better present and a better future for humankind, to engage in organised activities and intellectual and political dialogues to develop interaction and solidarity among them, to shorten the path towards extracting power from the hands of the monster.
The most important lesson that we must learn from this plight is that a small virus can make the world a frightening place, disturb and throw it off balance unless all of us hold the world and its welfare in our hearts.
akram@fp7.com