Chance of Redemption: SARS-CoV-2
We all have gone through a decade of changes in the last few months, least to say, our way of living and interaction with other beings has drastically changed over this period. Mask that was an alien thing until last year now seems to be a part of our life.
When the lockdown was first announced, our world seemed to be inverted upside down; everything changed in a matter of a few moments. Liberty and Freedom seem to have lost there meaning overnight. We felt caged inside our houses though out of necessity but were against our liking. SARS-CoV-2 (commonly referred to as coronavirus) seems to be poking fun at us, seeing us inside our houses as being its victim, and have taken all our free fields, buildings, shops, buses, trains to name few, under its siege.
Even after restrictions were uplifted, we feel fettered. We are afraid to step out of our conveniences except for a few vital matters or unless it’s essential for our sustenance. We feel caged, annoyed, and almost ask ourselves daily that when this is going to end, and I can roam freely like those earlier days, party with friends, go for outing, and millions of other things that we use to do, without appreciating our privilege and so of respecting others.
Wait, did I hear respecting others?
Yes, respecting liberty and freedom of other creatures, with whom we share our planet earth. We aren’t the only soul on this planet, and after seeing what’s going around, we will think twice before claiming ourselves the most powerful of the living being (though virus gets alive in its host).
This all reminds me of a short tale, and I feel like sharing it with you as it checks all boxes to be mentioned.
There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, “What the hell is water?”
Until that young fish (humans) is out of the water (their basic rights), it doesn’t understand what privileged its life was.
This story points to a greater truth of life, and i.e., we often forget what we own until we lose it and rarely respect the importance of this possession those many are deprived of.
Here the old fish is none other than creatures we humans have caged inside zoos and slaughterhouses, the one who knows the value of freedom and dignity. From generations, they are been picked up from there living and are put in the abyss in a race of proving the power and intelligence of our species, for our enjoyment and consumption.
Don’t you think, what’s happening with us now is ditto of what’s described above? Just a slight variation this time, we humans are caged and are struggling against the unknown virus, a perfect inversion of characters.
Contradiction is, until we felt what it feels to lose our liberty and freedom, we didn’t realize the kind of injustice we imposed over our fellow creatures by enclosing them in a confined space to rot for life.
Here is an excerpt from the BBC-Earth citing the abysmal conditions under which animals live in zoos.
The animal is deprived of its natural habitat.
The animal may not have enough room.
The animal is deprived of its natural social structure and companionship.
The animal may become bored, depressed and institutionalised.
Although animals may live longer lives in zoos than in the wild, they may experience a lower quality of life
There isn’t a point above to which we can’t relate to now.
What goes around, comes around!
This is a moment of introspection for all of us. You can’t expect others to like what you don’t, it’s an old saying but seems more pertinent today.
If not now, when are we going to appreciate our fellow creatures and let them live a life with freedom and dignity among fellow members of there species in their natural habitat? Nature is equal for everyone, and we have faced the consequences of our expansionism already!
Humans can claim to be the most intelligent of the creatures but are far behind in the race of empathy.
From MERS and SARS to H1N1 and Covid-19, two viruses per year have spilled from their natural hosts into humans over the past century, according to an analysis published in the journal science. The reasons are quite simple: the destruction of natural habitats and the burgeoning wildlife trade.
It’s truly our chance of redemption!
If not for them, at least for us, this is the last thing that can be stated. If actions aren’t taken, all this is sure to repeat in the future, with a new viral-master but the same old intelligent victims.
This concludes our article.
Thanks for sticking till last.
‘For to be free is not merely to cast off one’s chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others’ ~Nelson Mandela
