It is the year 2020 and we are faced with an evolving pandemic. The novel coronavirus 2019, which originated from Wuhan, China, is now spreading across half the world.
It seems to have originated from wildlife where the virus jumped species and now human-to-human transmission is also recorded.
The whole world is driven into panic and fear and it is times like this that we see the best of human nature and indeed the worst too!
Gates are closed simply and slammed into your face. We used to give a grand welcome to tourists, but they’re now told to leave the country or are barred from entering.
What used to be smiles and heartfelt thanks that these tourists are supporting our way of life and economy are now replaced with scorn and ridicule.
What used to be “let’s reach out to China for all their mighty economy has to offer” is now being replaced, while their inanimate made-in-China goods are even rejected!
Meanwhile, we see such valiant efforts by China with an immediate lock-down of 11 million people, barring of all outbound flights, building hospitals in days, and many of its health care staff risking their lives every minute on the front lines.
Definitely, we need to be vigilant and proactive in containing the pandemic to put an end to the needless lives lost and human sufferings.
Our response must never be guided by fear or rumours, or even more so, discrimination and outright racism or bigotry.
No human is an island and no race or country is totally isolated from one another.
Our survival depends on one another in this ever so interconnected world. Diseases or viruses have no respect for species, race, communities, or borders.
What is now needed is to extend our hands to help each other whenever and where ever its needed, compassion, and love for our fellow citizens of the world.
We will not heal if our friends do not heal. Let’s pray for Wuhan, China, and the world as we fight this together.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
