2020 has been a challenging year. The pandemic has caused a great deal of illness and death as well as many other damaging effects to the livelihood of millions and economies of most countries. We owe much for the efforts of the health care workers and other first responders who have risked and many times have given their lives to fight the disease on our behalf. There is still hope for the year and the future though. Ultimately this hope will come the same way it always does. It comes when love prevails and our interest in sustaining and increasing the well-being of others is equivalent to our own. At the very least it comes when we understand that our well-being depends on the well-being of others too.
In time we will develop a vaccine. In time we will develop strategies that will minimize the impact of Covid-19 and see our economies return to normal. I am hopeful that this will happen early in 2021, though we will see how it plays out. I am hopeful that this will come about because we have unified our efforts to fight the disease together, although it remains to be seen if we can gather the common will to do this. I am hopeful that we will make the changes necessary so that we are better prepared for future pandemics, since they will surely occur. I am hopeful that those who have suffered from the illness and survived will fully recover. I am hopeful that those who lost their businesses and jobs will recover from this disruption in time, although I expect there will be challenges ahead.
The political infighting regarding the pandemic has saddened me. Almost every country would have done better if there was a unified strategy to fight the pandemic and all the citizens were on board to protect their fellow citizens. From my perspective, I think it is a small inconvenience to protect others using measures such as wearing masks and maintaining personal distance rather than rejecting the measures outright in the name of freedom or other self-interest. Other nations which have used a more unified response, with support from governments, scientists and citizens, have been very successful getting it under control, while many countries, including advanced western nations, are seeing another major surge in cases. In some areas we’re even seeing the rates rise above those from the initial phase of the pandemic, although the death rates have not climbed at the same rate, at least not yet. Some seem to be losing the will to fight. It’s not beyond our ability to make a significant difference in this fight, the main question is our collective will to take the actions necessary, while minimizing the other significant impacts such as those on our economy, mental health, and social cohesion. Can we find the right balance between following the science and encouraging and supporting the measures that will put Covid-19 behind us?
The political infighting about the pandemic also does not bode well for our ability to address any of the other significant issues we face in this world; climate change, pollution, conflict, refugees, technological change, internet security, etc. All of those require a shared effort amongst people and nations for an extended length of time. It definitely calls into question our ability to muster the will and effort to accomplish a shared objective.
Tomorrow America will hold an election which could well be the most significant one we’ve seen in our lifetime. It will affect the United States as well as people and countries around the world. It seems to be a choice between bringing a nation together or seeking to exploit the divisions inside of it. There’s a battle between individual self-interest and the desire to act collectively for the common good. A battle where all the laws, norms and principles are being thrown into question in the name of self-interest of a few versus the well-being of all. Conflict is being supported and advocated over the exercise of all citizens to vote freely and fairly. Government agencies are being undercut for the benefit of a few, rather than for the benefit of all citizens. If those tactics succeed it will fundamentally change America and all that makes it a great nation.
Regardless of the outcome of the election, the need will still be there to act to address the problems that we face heading into the future. The problems aren’t going to go away even by wishing they will fade in time or ignoring them. We will still need to act out of love and for the well-being of our fellow citizens and nations of the world. It is the only way that we will be successful in bringing about a world that we, our fellow Earth residents, and all of our descendants will appreciate the efforts that we make now for ourselves and on their behalf. It’s never too late to act out out of love and for the well-being of others.
T. Alan
P.S. From the perspective of love and well-being I think Joe and Kamala are the best option. My best wishes for the nation.
