Some COVID-19 musings as the long weekend approaches...
I have been on a number of calls and ZOOM meetings lately where a few themes have emerged.
Firstly, COVID-19 seems to be a constant point of discussion whether it is the main topic or peripheral to the main topic. One of the constants in most of those discussions is that they don’t seem overbearing or trite or forced. What I’m seeing with individuals, corporately and with government is that even when opinions on the right approach or the best timing or what the “new normal” will be, the discussions are open and honest and for the most part respectful and considerate.
It’s that “we’re in this together” sentiment and the universality of the topic and consequences that makes me hopeful that we will learn a great deal not about the virus but about ourselves and our companies and our governments as a society. If we can do that and if we are really prepared to do things better as a result of that honest critique, we have an opportunity to create something better than what we had before.
COVIC-19 hasn’t just proven that we are all equal as human beings, it’s shown who among us are the most vulnerable and the most valuable, sometimes at the same time. It’s shown who among us is the most reliant on the care and protection of others whether that’s our seniors and their care workers; our first responders and medical teams; meat cutters in packing plants; those serving their country on naval ships; or those working in our plants and driving our trucks or checking out our groceries.
If COVID-19 teaches us anything as a result of having shown us things, it should in letting us know that we have clearly failed locally, nationally and internationally in providing the protection and support to everyone who needs and deserves that protection and support.
Clearly we need to do things differently but making sure that we aren’t being so disruptive as to find ourselves throwing the baby out with the bath water. With the efficiency with which we have rolled out virtually universal support for Canadians, have we not proven we have the capacity to institute a Universal Basic Income? Can we not institute that while at the same time eliminating a myriad of special interest programs from student loans to employment insurance to seniors’ benefits that would then be redundant along with their myriad and costly special interest infrastructure? Can we not recognize that pharma-care and dental care should be as universal as medical care? Can we not recognize that there are some things that are more efficiently delivered by the public sector than the private sector (with the proof of that clearly apparent in the US)?
Can we not recognize that the density of our cities and our buildings within them is less important than the quality of the spaces and systems within our cities and our buildings?
In a speech given at the University of Cape Town on June 6th, 1966, Robert F. Kennedy said:
“...There is a Chinese curse which says "May he live in interesting times." Like it or not we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also more open to the creative energy of men than any other time in history...”
The phrase had previously appeared in several science fiction stories, in a previous speech delivered by Austen Chamberlain in March 1936, and in various other forms dating back to the late 19th century. Although its true beginning can’t be traced, the only thing that does appear certain is that there is no evidence of any Chinese origin.
Once again, like it or not, we live in interesting times and, once again, it will be our creative energy that will allow us to overcome the danger and the uncertainty we have all been presented with.
Stay safe and stay kind.
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"If you did not want much, there was plenty." Harper Lee
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