Yes, Life Is Different Now...

The copiousness of the Corona Virus is impinging all nations, all colors, all hues, and all people. It’s as if a cauldron of races, sexes, ages, ethnic groups, cultures, were suddenly cast into an abyss of pestilence. At times, this disease appears abstruse and one may perceive it is a conundrum for the highest ranking medical and scientific experts, let alone governmental leaders and the average person.

Yes, life is different now. Only God knows how much more different it will become…

What’s different in our daily day-to-day life style? Well for starters, the News. There always seems to be an addendum to the previous “Breaking News” broadcast. Breaking news, breaking news, breaking news. MORE NUMBERS! The increase in Corona virus deaths--in our city, in our state, in our nation, on our planet; there is a troubled bellowing of seven digit numbers increasing daily. The numbers reverberate in diverse languages, sending a chilling reality into homogenous and heterogeneous societies. This is so chilling, that I believe some statisticians (who are more than adept in their field) are in awe of the expeditious changes. Some, may even be baffled.

At the time of the writing of this blog, the number of Corona cases in the United States is more than two million infected and 118,000 dead; the worldwide rate of infection is at least eight million, with more than 450,000 dead. The United States is currently in the lead, with Brazil and Russia, coming in second and third. This is a race in which no man, woman or child desires to cross the finish line. The global community is in a race in which we wish not to run. But the virus seems to be moving quicker than a 50-yard dash sprint.

Yes, life is different now. Only God knows…

So much has transpired since the on start of this pandemic. The face of our nation has changed within the last three months, and I’m not only talking about the facial masks that millions of us are adorning. I’m speaking about another mask; it may not be as visible as the mask that covers our nose and mouth. Yet, it is visible to the human eye and sometimes shunned. The mask that I am talking about are masks of urban unrest; masks of high unemployment rates, masks of looting, masks of racism, masks of sexism, masks of closing schools and colleges, masks of statues being removed, masks of anger, masks of rage. You may wonder, why do I call these things a mask? I call these masks because each one is covering up something else, something much deeper. Each one of these “masks” has impeded on our right to “Life, liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Those are not my words but the words of our forefathers, the writers of the Declaration of Independence. (Although it is ironic that these same forefathers did not include people of color nor women in this pursuit of happiness but that’s another blog). Our forefathers unambiguously penned those words reminding King George (of England) that there were certain “unalienable rights” which were to be given to all men by their Creator, of which these rights government should protect. But yet now, even though in many states we are instructed to wear a mask, the irony is that America is being unmasked. There is a threat to “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” thanks to Corona and other ills of society being uncloaked.

Yes, life is different now. Only God...

Life is vastly different than what our forefathers envisioned. TECHNOLOGY.

Internet. 5G. Space Shuttle. Facebook. Mars exploration. Deep-ocean discoveries. Yes, the race for technology seems to have impelled us into another verisimilitude, a different model from what our forefathers envisioned. Yes, the world appears to be a web of anfractuous Nano-technology, AI (Artificial Intelligence) and other once futuristic concepts, which are now the norm. The race is on, it is a constant race and yet rapidly evolving. That may seem oxymoronic, how can something be constant and yet evolve. That’s the world we are living in!

Unfortunately, this pandemic has caused some individuals (e.g., those who don’t acquiesce to wear a mask or leaders who refuse to acknowledge rents/mortgages can’t be paid) to overlook another race. A significant race. A race that we can’t afford to lose. The HUMAN race.

Yes, life is different now. Only...

In December 2019, too many were nonchalant about Corona. At that time it seemed as if it was an immobilized affliction, possessing inability and impotency in its claw of illness. It wouldn’t dare embark upon a pernicious expedition and cross the sea into various nations--would it? Besides, Corona was on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. Far away from American homes. The virus was in a distant region, an unknown city – Wu Han. Who ever heard of that? Maybe, just maybe, too many people were thinking, “Oh it’s over there, thousands of miles away.” Well, life is different now because it’s over here, sometimes six feet away.

The virus pummeled New York City (and other metropolitan areas). For many weeks, my hometown, was in a heavy weight boxing match. By the time this pandemic hit the United States, it appeared to take on the persona of a belligerent boxer pounding countries, cities, towns, and neighborhoods. One blow after the other BAAM, POW, BOOM. Although nations shut down, they did not totally close. Nations, Monarchies, Tribes, Commonwealths, Kingdoms, Democracies, they are still standing. The disease-stemmed blows may have weakened the knees but the legs did not buckle.

It may seem as if the global community is in a boxing match with a fatal notorious Ninja. The Corona may have landed some good blows to nations--rich and poor, small and large. But all Corona needs is a Southpaw in the ring. Yeah, all it needs is an unexpected sucker punch, an uppercut to the right jaw. BOOM! No, not a TKO but DDO—Done Deal (it’s) Over! Yes, life is different now but who says it’s over? In a boxing ring, the winner is the one who does not fall, doesn’t greet the canvas or is able to stand erect facing the referee by the count of 10. The great thing about a Heavy Weight boxing match is when it’s over, the winner is declared the indisputable champion of the world. That reminds me of a song by the rock group Queen, “We are the Champions,” which states:

We are the champions, my friends.

And we’ll keep on fighting ‘til the end.

We are the champions.

We are the champions.

No time for losers

‘Cause we are the champions of the world.

We can rest assured that we are the champions simply because God is in control.

Yes, the global community was hit with something deadly--the Corona whammy! But when you’re in a boxing ring, with a bloody eye, broken nose, misaligned ribs, constant jabs to the chest, pounding blows to the head, believe it or not, because you are still standing…hope is not lost. You still have some fight in you!

It seems as if the Corona and the surfacing ills of society are impregnable, yet we still have some fight in us. Whether or not the origin of this virus was inadvertent is not for me to say. But what I will say is that this virus has left an indelible mark on the face of America (and other nations). Ironically (and hopefully), what this virus has birthed is an innate sense of hope. We must all come together, hope and pray. Remember, God is in control!

God bless.

th-2