COVID-19 (Coronavirus Pandemic) - Freedom vs War against Coronavirus

 The world is witnessing over 200 countries affected by the corona virus. The count has reached 3,514,030 world over. Still, end to this misery is nowhere in sight.

 People are under lockdown for more than a month. The uncertainty of the situation is depressing. The fear of disease is killing. Understandably, people are running short of patience. Lockdown is affecting businesses and earning of people.

 Protests against the lockdown have started. Protesters say that people are going mad due to lockdown. It has caused more misery. “We'll have more deaths from loneliness, suicide and people being kept out of hospital.” Placards saying “Give me liberty or give me death”, “Live free or die” are being waved.

Yes, you have the liberty to walk on the street anywhere, anytime you want to. You have the freedom not to use a mask in public places. Yes, you have the liberty to reject lockdown. You have the liberty to risk your health and safety. Yes, you have the right to risk your life.  

          Question is at what cost you want to assert your freedom. Do you want liberty that puts others to grave risk? Do you want liberty that disregards the safety of others? Do you want liberty that exposes others’ life to danger?

        In school days, we were taught that your freedom ends where other’s freedom begins. You must exercise your freedom with caution. Lest it should harm others and lacerate the social fabric.

            

“Necessity is blind until it becomes conscious. Freedom is the consciousness of necessity.”

- Karl Marx

          I draw your attention to the following message from an unknown author. It may compel us to revisit our judgement and change our perspective. It is indeed a war against corona virus.

“In a war situation, nobody asks anyone to stay indoors. You stay indoors by choice. In fact, if you have a basement, you hide there for as long as hostilities persist. During a war, you don't insist on your freedom. You willingly give it up in exchange for survival. During a war, you don't complain of hunger. You bear hunger and pray that you live to eat again During a war, you don't argue about opening your business. You close your shop (if you have the time), and run for your life. You pray to outlive the war so that you can return to your business (that's if it has not been looted or destroyed by mortar fire. During a war, you are thankful to God for seeing another day in the land of the living. During a war, you don't worry about your children not going to school. You pray that the government does not forcefully enlist them as soldiers to be trained in the school premises now turned military depot. The world is currently in a state of war. A war without guns and bullets. A war without human soldiers. A war without borders. A war without cease-fire agreements. A war without a war room. A war without sacred zones. The army in this war is without mercy. It is without any milk of human kindness. It is indiscriminate - it has no respect for children, women, or places of worship. This army is not interested in spoils of war. It has no intention of regime change. It is not concerned about the rich mineral resources underneath the earth. It is not even interested in religious, ethnic or ideological hegemony. Its ambition has nothing to do with racial superiority. It is an invisible, fleetfooted, and ruthlessly effective army. Its only agenda is a harvest of death. It is only satiated after turning the world into one big death field. Its capacity to achieve its aim is not in doubt. Without ground, amphibious and aerial machines, it has bases in almost every country of the world. Its movement is not governed by any war convention or protocol. In short, it is a law unto itself. It is Coronavirus. Also known as COVID-19 (because it announced its destructive presence and intention in the year of our Lord 2019) Thankfully, this army has a weakness and it can be defeated. It only requires our collective action, discipline and forbearance. COVID-19 cannot survive social and physical distancing. It only thrives when you confront it. It loves to be confronted. It capitulates in the face of collective social and physical distancing. It bows before good personal hygiene. It is helpless when you take your destiny in your own hands by keeping them sanitized as often as possible. This is not a time to cry about bread and butter like spoilt children. After all, the Holy book tells us that man shall not live by bread alone. Let's obey and follow the instructions of the authorities. Let's flatten the COVID-19 curve. Let's exercise patience. Let's be our brothers' keeper. In no time, we shall regain our freedom, enterprise and socializing.”

"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use."

- Søren Kierkegaard