Why?

One of these days -

The coronavirus. It has become an obsession with me. At first it was a common cold that originated in China. Probably killed a few people, but who believes China?

Now it has become an ever present shadow, killing thousands, affecting all of us, definitely not your garden variety of common cold/flu. But what makes me more terrified is the horrifying reality that we face . We are not prepared. Hell, we are not even close to waking up. Our systems, our lives are meant to make the machine run. This machine doesn't seem to be working for our betterment. In fact who exactly does the machine benefit is still a mystery to me.

I ask you a simple question - Do you, my friends, believe that we, the human race, Homo Sapiens are self-aware? I am sure many of you will agree that we indeed are. I ask you - Do you believe we as a species are much more conscious of our state of being, and work to change our environment in any way that benefits us? I believe you would agree to this as well. I also ask you this - do you believe that we are social beings that are meant to live in groups? I think given our tendency to find solace in one another, and our vast cities and countries (I will not even venture into other arguements for now) I can safely assume you agree to this as well.

Well in that case, how is it that we - as a highly intelligent, self aware species, who have the ability to notice pitfalls in our way of life and does change the environment around us - still suffer from basic needs like hunger, some shelter and thirst? One would presume that our first priority, as a species would be to eradicate the one thing that most of life on Earth has been struggling for - Food.

Sure there are better systems in place to grow  more food, or to process it so more of it is available. There are systems to preserve food for longer periods of time. There are processes to make it free of all germs and contamination. But all of this comes at a price that not all of our kind can pay.
In this time of crisis, when our main worry - as a species, should be to endure a deadly virus, I see heartbreaking videos of people crying at the sight of food, people struggling to find shelter, people dying of thirst and the sun. Basic necessities that could cause an organism discomfort (like hunger, protection from the elements) while more convenient to some are still unavailable to all.

Why? Why have we failed? Why isn't something as basic as this our top priority? Why, after watching such horrors does it make me feel like we still live in a jungle of our own making? Where we still feel like proving our worth and right to exist?

DragonRider

Comments

Our population is our strength, just as it is our weakness. Therefore, we as a country, have not reached the state where "all" people are provided with necessities. Maybe we had some fallback mechanisms that are now taken away.

But do you realize that even without this pandemic,we still had these problems? They just didn't get highlighted enough in media,because they were ever present.

There are several people and organisations trying to make a difference though. What we should think about is perhaps how we can help.
DragonRider said…
This isn't just about the pandemic. It's that in spite of such a pandemic, we are unable to put our differences aside. We have had these problems since the beginning of our civilization itself. There are always going to be "princes" who get the best of everything, and there are always going to be "paupers" who get nothing. That is the system we have created. Have you realized that we wouldn't need these organizations at all, if everyone was given a fair chance? If everyone was allowed the same "luxuries"? What this means is everyone starts from the same point. No princes , and - no paupers.
Inequality is a very tough problem to address. Even if everyone started at the same point, their abilities and aptitudes are different,as a result of which inequalities eventually arise. If you are proposing a system where everyone regardless of their abilities or work gets rewarded with the same luxuries as you call them, then you are removing the incentive to work exceptionally hard or succeed. How would you resolve that?

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