Only 52 more days before the scheduled start of the famous Olympic Games. But there seem to be no signs that the organizers are ready to welcome the athletes from all over the world, all hyped up to compete in the international competition. Although no definite sign of its holding has been released, at least, as far as I know, what I did hear was that Australia has already started sending off its athletes to Tokyo. So the Aussies are all primed up now, but what about the others? Are they as ready and willing to go on?
***
Maybe Japan itself is ready to compete, seeing that their country is this year’s host. So far, however, no reports have come out, on TV, at least, about which others are ready and willing to go to Tokyo for the event. Well, they will not miss audiences, even if the stalls are empty, because TV will provide audiences worldwide. But if you were a participating athlete, will the excitement and the urge to compete be as strong when you cannot hear the cheering of spectators? Will we have to say that the Olympics has become another COVID victim?
***
The last I heard from TV was that 50 percent of adults in the United States have been vaccinated against the COVID. Lately, it was also reported that vaccinations for teenagers has also been approved. But what about pre-teens and younger ones? Are they supposed to have inborn immunity? But the 50 percent noted have only gone through one dose, and need a second one to assure complete immunity. By this time, they may have undergone that already. What about our own people, what percentage has been immunized? And when do we attain what they call “herd immunity”?
***
Has the United Kingdom become non grata to other countries? I hear that several countries are restricting their citizens from traveling there. I felt sad upon hearing that for a personal reason: it is one of the major countries of the world that I have not yet traveled to, and, now, may never do anymore. Well, I have to console myself with the thought that I must have seen more exotic as well as sophisticated countries than my contemporaries, and for that I thank the Lord!
***
One can never believe, nor imagine the effects that this pandemic would have on various countries. Brazil, for instance, is demanding the impeachment of their President for what they must believe, his inability to act on the raging pandemic that is decimating their population. One can sympathize with President JairiBolsonaro, because leaders of bigger and wealthier countries have not even controlled this pandemic, but I guess, the Brazilians want a scapegoat to blame for their misery.
***
In the meantime, U.S. President Joe Biden has insisted on his scientist and medical experts to go out and really determine what had caused this COVID virus and where it was discovered. I thought there is no question about that, because we all heard before that it was in a small city called Wuhan in China where it was first discovered, and later rode on the so-called “super-spreaders” to distribute it to the world. Come to think of it I have yet to hear or any country that has not been hit, or has even heard of this newly identified coronavirus. What I want to hear most of all now, is that a 100 percent cure for this malady had been discovered and introduced worldwide.
***
I sympathize with the people of Dubai who were due to hold an international exposition in October, and may now have to cancel or postpone their long-dreamed of event. Of course it would have been a great promotion for their country, because many people from various countries like to time their trips with expos when one can learn so much about the country, and also meet people from different nations participating and displaying their best products. Will the climate for expos be better in October? For the sake of the people of Dubai, I hope so.
***
How sad it is to hear that in Brazil, cemeteries are already full and they must be looking for other sites as burial grounds. COVID has done that to them, and, who knows, to some other countries, too. But what was most shocking of all the news items recently reported was the discovery of the remains of 215 schoolchildren discovered near a school for indigenous children, who had just disappeared years ago without a trace in the place called Kamloops. Will they ever be identified?*
