Dr. Mark Smolinski, president of Ending Pandemics, explains how the Covid-19 pandemic brought to light the worst of human nature.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary has some definitions of humanity; the most commonly identified is “the total human race.” It is in the delicacy of this definition that I am convinced that Covid-19 is not the end of humanity. The other definition used of humanity is “compassionate, compassionate or beneficial behavior or disposition”. This definition of humanity resonates with the origin of Latin humanites, which translates as “human nature, goodness”. I have less confidence in the last definition.
As we see with any crisis, Covid-19 brings out the best of production and the worst of other people. The vast majority of other people seem to be the most productive in humanity and give us genuine hope as we try to end the pandemic. Their generosity of spirit, compassion and kindness lessen the disease and alleviate the suffering caused by Covid-19. Countless citizens around the world protect the elderly and others more vulnerable to infection in their communities by being disciplined for their behavior. Neighbors help neighbors with undeniable acts of grace, such as shopping groceries, buying groceries or calling to keep up the mood and offer a connection. Community organizers around the world are mobilizing to provide food to those who want it most, adding young people who lost access to normal food when schools close.
Perhaps the most productive thing of humanity is demonstrated through the frontline physical care staff who spend countless hours and report to the paintings every day despite the apparent risks. In the United States alone, we have surpassed the 800 medical corps that has died by providing facilities to the inflamed with Covid-19, a number that unfortunately continues to increase. The must-have staff who have money records, deliver our mail and packages, keep the lights on, collect garbage or critical elements of society despite the presence of a new virus also reveals their compassion for others and their disposition. to settle for the risk. with his many unknowns.
The constant lack of fear for others will allow the coronavirus to continue to accumulate and cause suffering, death and economic loss.
But just as Covid-19’s pandemic brought out the most productive of humanity, it also revealed some of our worst behaviors. These come with those who refuse to recognize that their movements have consequences for the fitness of others. Coronavirus continues to spread like gunpowder in the United States, as those who see little or no threat of disease, or frankly do not care about the fitness of others, provide the wood needed to contain the fire.
The worst of humanity can be represented through the “Covid parties”, where other young people meet in a position with a “host” who is infected, putting their cash in a collective pot, the payment goes to the one who is the first to become. Infected. Although these festivals may be urban legends, many documented social gatherings continue to cause Covid-19 infections, deliberately or not. Equally reckless behavior is to refuse to wear a mask in public because it impedes a person’s freedom, regardless of the freedoms lost by those who succumb to illness or even death.
I published an article a few weeks ago about the fact that wearing a mask is a sign of mutual respect. Although this was received through an avalanche of positive responses, some atypical values showed this lack of respect for others, adding one who wrote, “I refuse to wear a mask for anyone, especially for other people with health problems. If you are unhealthy and have a problem, it is not mine, for me this represents a lack of humanity.
During a pandemic, we want the whole population, I dare say that all humanity, mobilizes for the spread of a new virus. If we don’t all do our part, those who have lost their jobs will remain unemployed any longer, young people will not be able to return to school safely, and must-have staff will continue to threaten their lives in an environment where danger persists.
No one can say that it is waiting for the last final results of this pandemic, however, we can hope that the constant lack of fear of all humanity will allow the coronavirus to continue to increase and cause suffering, death and economic loss.
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Mark Smolinski, a component of the launch team at the Skoll Global Threat Fund (SGTF), an initiative founded by Jeff Skoll in 2010 to address threats to humanity in
Mark Smolinski, a member of the launch team at the Skoll Global Threat Fund (SGTF), an initiative founded by Jeff Skoll in 2010 to address the risks to humanity by finding solutions, strengthening partnerships, and fostering the movements needed to protect the future. As medical director and director of global health at SGTF, Mark’s paintings laid the foundation for Ending Pandemics, an independent entity that began in 2018. As president of Ending Pandemics, Mark leads a team that co-creates early detection, early caution and pandemic risk prevention teams in emerging infection hotspots.