There are many global threats facing the world today. The most serious on everyone’s mind is the Covid-19 coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic which has seen 200,000 dead in the United States of America alone and no end in sight. It is a cause of shock and realisation that we humans, for all our economic, military and medical power, are very weak and vulnerable to the invisible virus that has invaded our world, our communities, families and our bodies. Some nations have had success in controlling it; others have failed through incompetence and corruption.
Martha has a cheerful, happy-go-lucky personality, a healthy mother of four. On a recent Saturday evening, she forgot herself and went to a house party with friends to celebrate a birthday. She ignored precautions as did others and wrongly believed the virus wouldn’t touch her. But it did. By Friday, she was experiencing strong coughing, fever and reactions, and was rushed to the overcrowded hospital.
There, with painful convulsions, Martha struggled and gasped for breath, isolated from family. Only the nurse, dressed in blue plastic, went to help her. It was no use, Martha quickly fell silent and died. It was her weak lungs, they said. Some underlying health condition, said another. No one really knows why she died so quickly.
There was no time for an autopsy, not even a proper funeral. She was brought straight to the crematorium, leaving behind a weeping crying, traumatised family.
There are hundreds of thousands of people like Martha and more of them every day. A mistake took away her precious, beautiful, happy life and that of her family. But it is also the many mistakes of politicians who failed to act decisively in time to lead and instruct people that Covid-19 is a dangerous, deadly virus with the power to kill and maim.
They failed to insist that everyone must wear masks, avoid contact with others, disinfect an wash their hands frequently since anyone may have the deadly, killer virus. It is spreading because many people ignore these precautions and corrupt, inept and stupid failed leaders do not order and impose protective measures to save vulnerable people or issue strong, consistent health warnings.
They have failed to implement and insist on a national response to test and trace infected people and isolate them. How else can this vicious virus, that spreads like venom, be contained? Those strong, respected leaders who responded to attack of Covid-19 in a wiser, more scientific, disciplined and educated manner saved hundreds of thousands of their citizens, which is their sworn duty.
In the nations with the highest death rates, it seems they have restricted the showing of videos of mass burials, lines of waiting coffins, full crematoriums, overcrowded hospitals, dying people and sick doctors and nurses. It is too shocking. Is it for some, an effort to deny and cover up the real extent of their incompetence, criminal behaviour and lack of moral conscience, all for the sake of retaining political power?
Covid-19 is spreading and causing more sickness and death because of some selfish, pleasure-seeking and irresponsible people who flout precautions and care only for themselves. In their ignorance, they demonstrate against safety precautions no less.
It is our fervent hope and belief that the majority of humans are good, law-abiding people who care for others, protect them from Covid-19 and are mindful of public health and the environment. They choose the good over evil. They act in a responsibly, saving their own lives, their families and neighbours.
It is a mission to persuade ordinary people to always choose the good over evil. It is a challenge for all to teach by good example, taking action for justice and accepting and living the truth that justice and goodness is the path to happiness for all. It is a great shining ideal, but will it ever come to be?
The people who do believe and choose to do good and practice the values of love of the stranger, of neighbour and work for justice, have a responsibility to share those values so that equality, peace and harmony can be a reality in society. We should actively persuade and convince the others to do likewise. Inactivity in the face of wrong is to allow it to grow and prosper.
It may seem like mission impossible to persuade the virus deniers and the climate skeptics of the truth of a pandemic and global warming. We have to challenge and call out the oppressors, corrupt leaders and politicians to do justice, respect the rights of all, to care and protect public health and to serve humbly. We have to convince these people who live in darkness that it is a better life to be in the light and to bring happiness to people, not terror, oppression, pain, suffering, rights violations and death.
It is a mission to persuade ordinary people to always choose the good over evil. It is a challenge for all to teach by good example, taking action for justice and accepting and living the truth that justice and goodness is the path to happiness for all. It is a great shining ideal, but will it ever come to be?
This is the goal we must work for. There is so much evil in a world that allows this virus to spread uncontrolled in many countries, mostly among the poor. We see much irresponsible, selfish behaviour by some national leaders, bankers, industrialists, military, police and criminals.
We know that abuse and evil persist because those with the power choose the evil and reject the good as they exercise their free will corruptly. The evil comes from making the wrong choice to crush and hurt others to retain political and economic power and to plunder the nation. For them, the health and well-being of others is just a matter of lip-service, words without meaning, action without purpose, hypocrisy and skullduggery for selfish personal gain.
The great hope is that a society, a nation, will evolve with the beautiful values, principles and compassion that motivates overwhelming good that is the paramount driving force that brings happiness to all.
Father Shay Cullen
www.preda.org
