Daily Times

When a certain elite crowd requested funds to be “donated” towards a public community swimming pool area to be developed, one wondered at the sheer stupidity of the request itself at the given time. Were people blind towards the challenging conditions others were facing during the time of a global recession caused by the circumstances of the pandemic? In the line of priorities to be considered in a global crisis, this was one big surprise. One person I knew sat without employment wondering how to make the rent after losing an entire business. I wondered throughout all of this how did he feel when people spoke about throwing pool parties versus him not being able to make basic payments. Not to mention how uneasy one feels when one now regards being socially active in any community based activity whilst trying to keep social distancing measures. We walk into stores and even houses with masks and will be doing so for a very long time. The new norm in life is to be extra careful and the fear of doing so is completely justified. According to WHO (World Health Organization), the novel coronavirus COVID-19 has not hit the peak as yet.

Although lockdowns have lifted, and the country is even calling for schools to re-open in a month or so, one wondered at how the privileged wanted to spend their savings. A recent report from abroad has also listed gyms, pools, public beaches, salons, to be opened up but the thoughts of getting infected remains. It’s time to ‘move on’ said people’s social media but in a global recession where do priorities really lie for many? And what about the banners of staying safe, avoiding crowds and still trying to maneuver through life and lifestyles of living in a world now opening up? The cost of living might be alright for only those who had saved up wealth previously- there is not a business on earth that has not been affected. But even for established businesses some have been made very uncomfortable with the losses with the lack of purchasing in all these months. For people without means, especially those now unemployed, it will be devastating. Millions have been laid off work or simply the type of business revenues that once existed will take a very long time to recover.

Everybody and each family around us is facing the onslaught of the invisible enemy in different ways. People are still scared as the virus has not gone away neither a cure has been discovered for it. News on the virus itself runs through now as updating counters seemingly fading way as a focal point. Even though things simply have to open up, we all agree that the world cannot halt itself further, it is still a scary outlook to think of what happens next. This is just to put a perspective to things of the reality and not to alarm people; rather a gentle reminder that we still need to live our lives by exercising precautions.

Perhaps the saturation point for all of us has reached as well throughout this time period of working and living from home for months now at this point. We need methods of coping in different ways, through humor and trying to keep in good spirits as well as the perseverance of our mental health and wellbeing.

This is just to put a perspective to things of the reality and not to alarm people; rather a gentle reminder that we still need to live our lives by exercising precautions

On a post, I noticed one instigator cried for the amenities of the privileged class to be cut off and taken away in order to ‘teach them a lesson’. That is not the way either. That comes under stealing and very incendiary. This kind of mentality leads to a very dangerous thought process for a full decline and chaos of societal structure and laws.

People’s lifestyles will no longer be the same and the need to create an employment databank on a national level with different solutions could be the key. The current government has already set in different methodologies for the existing issues at hand and is worked tirelessly for things to progress. It will be interesting to see how they handle the next onslaught of economic issues with programs and strategies centered around the economic downfall. One thing remains true is that we must proceed to set up more equitable economic systems throughout the country, to help us survive these troublesome times.

Here is the crux of the matter, we cannot accuse anybody of being “privileged” as a crime. People have what they have through whatever means; it is not up to others to judge them for it. However, maybe a better stance on the way we approach things with each other is due and incumbent upon all of us as human beings. Something that needs to happen with self-reflective measures amongst ourselves to realize this situation is going to stay for a while and we need to live without creating a burden on people around us.

The writer is known for her articles on socio-cultural impact