Coronavirus and Reflections on our Humanity - Condensed version
What does it mean to be human? What is the greatest threat to humanity?
Today, March 21st 2020, half the world is in lockdown because of the COVID-19 which has infected people in nearly all countries. Life as we know it has been significantly disrupted because of an invisible, menacing enemy.
Fear, uncertainty and anxiety are gaining ground faster than the spread of the virus; misinformation and fake news are spreading even faster; our best brains are dedicated and working hard around the clock to find a way to stop the virus. People are doing the best they can to protect themselves and pass on the little information, rumors and conspiracy theories they have. Some are even suggesting an apocalyptic end time.
Some governments are working to protect their citizens by announcing ambitious stimulus plans, reducing interest rates to nearly zero while others are just hoping that the situation will miraculously disappear.
Businesses are fighting to stay afloat if they cannot profit from the situation. Parents are worried about their children; families have depleted their savings to make some provision and prepare for the worst; those who are already infected are living in isolation with questions and worries that I cannot even try to imagine. Most terrifyingly the death toll in countries with the best medical facilities, systems and policies in place is skyrocketing.
Who would have imagined that with all our plans, technologies and seemingly important things to accomplish, we would come to a realization that our survival depended on us stopping everything and staying put?
1. Humanity’s main concern:
By taking extreme measures; we have all, without realizing it, admitted that health and survival is the most important thing to us, it is our real bottom line. All other things can wait.
The reason there seems to be unanimity and unity against the virus, is because the disease has created a binary fight. All humans, from all affiliations are on one side and the virus is on the other side and we all understand that we are in this together and that it is in our best interest that our neighbors are healthy because their health means ours. It is somehow selfish but selfishness seems to be one of our greatest motivations.
Could humanity learn from these binary fights and apply the learning in solving other major calamities that it is facing? By creating that binary tension to tackle calamities like world hunger, abject poverty, illiteracy, injustice, and other deadly disease? Even with my best hope, my sincere answer is: Not in the near future and for one simple reason: Whenever a part of humanity doesn’t feel threatened it completely loses the desire and drive to find a solution for the affected, especially if they look or are different from them. We tend to ignore anything that doesn’t not pose a direct existential threat for us, however worst it may be for other people who, in our opinion, are different from us.
2. Our most precious asset:
The greatest asset, treasure we have as humans is life. When life is threatened, we are capable of adjusting our priorities without counting the cost to preserve it.
And that’s why we love and celebrate our heroes; because they give their lives so that we can live. Your life is your greatest asset and treasure and therefore the greatest gift you can give not only through death by martyrdom but also through living purposefully and productively.
It then goes without saying that taking a life is the most hideous crime one can commit. Not only in directly murdering another human but also in acting, behaving in a way and maintaining systems that threaten their life.
3. Our ultimate desire
It should be clear then that the greatest threat to humanity is its extinction. There is a deep desire within humanity to tell its story. And what good will it be if no one is left to tell the story?
We have archeologists and historians who take time and invest significant resources just to try to reconstruct ancient history and preserve it.
The saddest thing with our brothers and sisters who have died from the virus and others causes, is that they will not be there to hear the end of the story. And sadly still, we will not be able to hear theirs.
Isn’t that the most frightening thing about death? Being removed from the story with no possibility of contributing anymore? Isn’t this why our heroes and loved ones never die as long as we can perpetuate their stories? Being forgotten is therefore our greatest lost (both for us as individuals and for humanity as a species). A life that matters in this sense, is a life that can survive physical death and continue living on through its contribution to humanity regardless of the relative significance of the contribution from a human perspective.
Humanity should not deny anyone that privilege to tell one's story. To live it to the fullest. We should all fight to insure that fundamental right.
4. Conclusion:
I believe that events like this COVID-19 pandemic should teach us humility and remind us that we are just human, intelligent but fragile, civilized but also primitive, creative but also predictable, bold, courageous but also fearful.
When the virus is infecting the person it does not take into account any of our superimposed considerations like titles, races, wealth, poverty, origins etc. All it sees is a habitat. From the richest person in the world to the most destitute, forgotten poor, that’s what we are after all: A habitat with the same vulnerabilities.
Could we unit as a people to address all other calamities that are killing some of us because they happen to be living in one particular part of the world? A part in which they had no choice in choosing? At a time they also did not choose? My hope is that we all answer yes and act accordingly.
Today, March 21st 2020, half the world is in lockdown because of the COVID-19 which has infected people in nearly all countries. Life as we know it has been significantly disrupted because of an invisible, menacing enemy.
Fear, uncertainty and anxiety are gaining ground faster than the spread of the virus; misinformation and fake news are spreading even faster; our best brains are dedicated and working hard around the clock to find a way to stop the virus. People are doing the best they can to protect themselves and pass on the little information, rumors and conspiracy theories they have. Some are even suggesting an apocalyptic end time.
Some governments are working to protect their citizens by announcing ambitious stimulus plans, reducing interest rates to nearly zero while others are just hoping that the situation will miraculously disappear.
Businesses are fighting to stay afloat if they cannot profit from the situation. Parents are worried about their children; families have depleted their savings to make some provision and prepare for the worst; those who are already infected are living in isolation with questions and worries that I cannot even try to imagine. Most terrifyingly the death toll in countries with the best medical facilities, systems and policies in place is skyrocketing.
Who would have imagined that with all our plans, technologies and seemingly important things to accomplish, we would come to a realization that our survival depended on us stopping everything and staying put?
1. Humanity’s main concern:
By taking extreme measures; we have all, without realizing it, admitted that health and survival is the most important thing to us, it is our real bottom line. All other things can wait.
The reason there seems to be unanimity and unity against the virus, is because the disease has created a binary fight. All humans, from all affiliations are on one side and the virus is on the other side and we all understand that we are in this together and that it is in our best interest that our neighbors are healthy because their health means ours. It is somehow selfish but selfishness seems to be one of our greatest motivations.
Could humanity learn from these binary fights and apply the learning in solving other major calamities that it is facing? By creating that binary tension to tackle calamities like world hunger, abject poverty, illiteracy, injustice, and other deadly disease? Even with my best hope, my sincere answer is: Not in the near future and for one simple reason: Whenever a part of humanity doesn’t feel threatened it completely loses the desire and drive to find a solution for the affected, especially if they look or are different from them. We tend to ignore anything that doesn’t not pose a direct existential threat for us, however worst it may be for other people who, in our opinion, are different from us.
2. Our most precious asset:
The greatest asset, treasure we have as humans is life. When life is threatened, we are capable of adjusting our priorities without counting the cost to preserve it.
And that’s why we love and celebrate our heroes; because they give their lives so that we can live. Your life is your greatest asset and treasure and therefore the greatest gift you can give not only through death by martyrdom but also through living purposefully and productively.
It then goes without saying that taking a life is the most hideous crime one can commit. Not only in directly murdering another human but also in acting, behaving in a way and maintaining systems that threaten their life.
3. Our ultimate desire
It should be clear then that the greatest threat to humanity is its extinction. There is a deep desire within humanity to tell its story. And what good will it be if no one is left to tell the story?
We have archeologists and historians who take time and invest significant resources just to try to reconstruct ancient history and preserve it.
The saddest thing with our brothers and sisters who have died from the virus and others causes, is that they will not be there to hear the end of the story. And sadly still, we will not be able to hear theirs.
Isn’t that the most frightening thing about death? Being removed from the story with no possibility of contributing anymore? Isn’t this why our heroes and loved ones never die as long as we can perpetuate their stories? Being forgotten is therefore our greatest lost (both for us as individuals and for humanity as a species). A life that matters in this sense, is a life that can survive physical death and continue living on through its contribution to humanity regardless of the relative significance of the contribution from a human perspective.
Humanity should not deny anyone that privilege to tell one's story. To live it to the fullest. We should all fight to insure that fundamental right.
4. Conclusion:
I believe that events like this COVID-19 pandemic should teach us humility and remind us that we are just human, intelligent but fragile, civilized but also primitive, creative but also predictable, bold, courageous but also fearful.
When the virus is infecting the person it does not take into account any of our superimposed considerations like titles, races, wealth, poverty, origins etc. All it sees is a habitat. From the richest person in the world to the most destitute, forgotten poor, that’s what we are after all: A habitat with the same vulnerabilities.
Could we unit as a people to address all other calamities that are killing some of us because they happen to be living in one particular part of the world? A part in which they had no choice in choosing? At a time they also did not choose? My hope is that we all answer yes and act accordingly.
Muhindo Malunga Lusukiro
Reflections on life, humanity, development and leadership
muhindoml@gmail.com | +243 993 401 064
Skype: Muhindo Malunga Lusukiro (muhindoml) | Twitter: @muhindoml
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