Not long ago, a comment on one of my posts stated that adapting society to the harmonious and integral nature we live in is impractical. At the moment, it is indeed impractical since people see no reason to be harmonious with others. For as long as we can, our self-centered nature will try to maintain its self-centered mindset.
But reality has changed, and the sooner we realize it, the better for all of us. The virus will force us to think about each other. Each of us can transmit it to everyone around us. Even if we aren’t sick, it doesn’t mean we’re not carriers, and therefore should be careful not to transmit it to others. In this way, the virus is teaching us to think about each other, to be considerate, even if not of our own volition or affection to others.
Since the virus isn’t going away in the foreseeable future, we will have to adopt the approach of mutual responsibility. Inadvertently, we will find ourselves in a society that abides by different rules: rules of a harmonious, integral society. We will simply have no choice; our lives will depend on it.
It may be a few months or a few years from now, but a society of mutual responsibility and solidarity will not only be practical and realistic, it will be the only option for humanity since it will be the only way to deal successfully with COVID-19 or with all the crises down the road.
[Reuters: A crowd gathers to hear people speak during a Juneteenth celebration organized by the Iowa Freedom Riders, Black Voices Project]