Volume 8, Issue 10
The coronavirus has emerged as the feared plague reminiscent of the Black Death. Whether it was negligently released from a Chinese military biomedical lab or jumped from chickens to humans in an unclean Chinese marketplace, it is, in fact, a horrifying microorganism. Like the aliens in The War of the Worlds, it was new in experience and, initially, indefensible. Its incubation period is what has allowed it to spread beyond and through the normal safety nets and medical check points. Apparently, a contagious individual can carry and spread the virus for up to a week without any symptoms. It has spread worldwide and the ultimate effect in the wake of its disruption is yet to be known. There appears to be some promising news in China that it is waning as it passes through a normal cycle.
The stress on the world’s systems is enormous. Italy has taken extraordinary measures to isolate its entire national population. Italy’s economic, political, governmental, and health care systems are under enormous pressure. Today, the Italian government asked for help from the other members of the European Union. They requested masks and surgical gowns to aid in their fight against the epidemic. They were turned down by all neighbor nations. France and Germany, in particular, are hoarding their supplies for their own needs in case the spread of the virus becomes as serious in their countries as it is in Italy. So much for the unity of the European Union.
The same stress is beginning to impact the United States. We live in a fluid society. The interconnected parts of economic activity require constant accessibility and interaction between people, resources, and technology. Shutting down or curtailing a system impedes economic productivity and, by the same multiplier effect, results in great startup costs to overcome inertia. We will not know the total damage to the economic system until several months after the crisis has subsided.
The talking heads on all the national news panels are questioning the adequacy of the response of the Trump Administration. Their vitriol toward the President continues to be the fulcrum of their anxiety. Again, they miss the point by not asking the correct critical question.
The compendium of analysis as to the lessons to be learned stems from the need to understand nation’s reactions to the crisis and why, as a world society, we are not posed to help each other.
Countries on the front line have immediately looked inward for consolidation of power. There has been little discussion or action to share resources and, in particular, medical personnel. There has only been limited sharing of information. Borders are now closed in China, Italy, and Israel. This does, in fact, show the importance of controlled borders. But there was no plan in place for residents trapped outside their countries needing to be quarantined.
There is a need to protect borders. There is no need to be paranoid of each other.
The lessons to be learned from this tragic scenario illustrates the mistakes made by the community of sovereign nations in their global relationships with each other. It is not just that the world was unprepared for the crisis. Our societal foreign policies are flawed and are now exposed in their protocol.
These lessons require humanity to reexamine societal institutions, policies, historical culture, and core belief systems. They fall into four categories of physical, moral, mental, and spiritual domain.
The physical domain includes forces that impact people worldwide: the climate, natural disasters, and viruses out of our control. These are elements of nature and humanity that must be addressed in the context of global solutions.
The moral domain encompasses values, purpose, and priorities. What we hold dear we will protect. Our priorities exemplify our determination to be either self-serving or self-sacrificing. Our purpose in life is the definition of who we are as a people.
The mental domain involves education, information, and disciplines of self-improvement. What we read, what we view, what we teach, what we tolerate, especially regarding our children, either enriches or infects our minds. Our children are subject to our example. The generations either grow or decline in these disciplines.
The spiritual domain is the particular exercise of the human endeavor combining the values, the commitments and the disciplines of the other domains. In spirituality, religion, relationships, and reflections on common culture define our ability as the human race to seek righteousness. Only human beings refer to each other and their God in the spiritual realm.
It is these domains that are under the pressure of the stress test presented by the coronavirus epidemic.
It is this discussion of the future strength of the inner relationship between these factors that should be the question of the exposed reality of the crisis.
The horrific threat now posed by the coronavirus will pass. Yet, we must prepare for the possibility of a greater threat yet to come. It may be economic. It may be a natural disaster. It may be a pandemic. Or, it may be self-inflicted. Whatever the situation of the possible threat, proper preparation in reference to the four domains is critical.
Only by self-examination through the test of a common enemy may we be better prepared to face the next crisis. And in so preparing, learn to live in continual peace and respect with one another.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?