GREED VS COMPASSION: IN THE WAKE OF THE CORONAVIRUS

When the president announced the sudden lock down,  the whole nation went into a state of frenzy. With no clear understanding of what the term meant, the purpose was defeated even before it started.

The lockdown or cordon sanitaire is an area where no one can enter or leave, mainly aimed to stop the infection speading outside the city. Any imported cases are then dealt with through isolation and treatment. This is what was done around Wuhan and the neighboring cities causing their number of cases to plummet to zero. However,  It was the direct opposite in this country. People were fleeing like drones to the areas exempted from the lockdown. Belive you me, I am still trying to fathom the psychology of my people. But afterall, every man for himself, right?

The decision to have a lockdown would have been perfect if not for the few predictable flaws. Among them being the lack of intense public education right from the genesis and the apparent lack of forecast into the economic stability. These serve as the breeding ground for the most ostentatious atrocities.

Over night, Items were being sold for more than 3 times their initial price and the markets were chocked.  What could be bought to feed a family of ten could now only feed five.  The traders had become prey to their own bizarre and competely selfish desires and somewhat misguided ambitions of wealth, falling into the bottomless pit of greed. It is like they just woke up as different creatures. Their evidently bright plan is to make the year's profit in the short lockdown period. As the wise man Rusty Eric once said, "As long as greed is stronger than compassion,  there would always be suffering".

It is amusing how these same people can sit back and talk of corruption by the leaders with impunity. I found truth in the saying that we always criticise the things in other peple that we fear most in ourselves. Yet another staggering revelation is that some people with COVID- 19 spontaneously fancy moving into this country.  They've been using unapproved routes and smuggling themselves in pin- sized cargo. For goodness sake, where is the compassion?!

Globally, there are over 700, 000 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection.  Yes, the figures are frightening and petrifying causing one to shake(not the good kind). But this one too shall pass. As long as there is hope, there is a way. We live on a blue planet that circles around a ball of fire next to a moon that moves the sea, and you don't believe in miracles?

Let's remember to be kind to one another,  be compassionate and remember the power of community.

With love,
Elizabeth.