Can pandemic cause wars? The thought came to me when I heard the report that the England variant of the COVID is believed to have come from India. Will that make the British people call for a bar to the entry of Indians to their country? I don’t think so because the virus probably does not have to be transmitted by people, who know if it can also be transmitted through goods or cargo being transferred between towns, cities and even countries?
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I guess we should desist from finger pointing and just encourage, and pray for our scientists and medical experts to discover an antidote for it. All those centuries past, man has been able to conquer such killers as tuberculosis, even cancer and so many other formerly “incurable” ones that were considered death sentences for those stricken. Now, not all those who became victims to such diseases are desperate, because, somehow, a certain cure, or mixtures of cures may still save them.
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Now what? The United States is reported to be assessing a leak in a nuclear facility in China. Now, how will that affect other countries, particularly the United States, as far away as they are? I admit I know next to nothing about the dangers, rather the far reaching dangers of a nuclear leak in one country, but if it disturbs such an advanced country as the U.S., then we should have reason to be alarmed, too. I hope no suspicions arise that the leak was intentional!
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As I write this, reports on TV are saying that the Prime Minister of England is delaying the easing of restriction against the COVID scourge. And he is right, of course, nobody knows yet whether medicine and science have already declared victory over it. The hopeful news is that Japan is rushing up vaccinations to include the majority of its people and this is intended to ensure that the Olympic Games their country is hosting this time, will proceed. It will be a sad day for international sports, indeed, if the much-awaited competitions, not only among teams but among countries does not take place now.
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Did I read it right? I was watching the meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden met USSR President Vladimir Putin and he supposedly said “I have looked into your eyes and I don’t think you have a soul”. Ha? Was that only imagined by the reporter? And, if really uttered, how did Putin take it? In the first place, he probably does not believe in souls. But I give thumbs up to Biden for his frankness, though I wish I had also heard what Putin’s repartee was to that.
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I can’t help going back to the subject of the Olympics which I don’t think has announced yet whether it will be on or off. Now it is supposed to be held from July 28 to August 8 but is there any confirmation yet about whether it is still on? What about the participating athletes and their trainers? Are they on serious trainings, or have given up the chance of competing? What a distraction it would be worldwide if the games were held! Maybe we will forget that there is a new virus making the rounds now!
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Meanwhile, COVID or no COVID, Filipinos are really political animals. The topic nowadays has circled around the presidential election, especially because President Duterte has been very firm in his decision not to seek reelection. He is even discouraging his daughter, Mayor Sara, from thinking of it. And one of the potentials, in fact, probably “the man most likely”, and I am referring to Senator and former military man Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, has scotched off the idea, saying he may even retire! Will we have to do what a philosopher of old banned Diogenes did?
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Diogenes, to my shame I cannot remember whether he was a Roman or Greek, was the character in a story for having been seen going around in broad daylight, carrying a lamp. People laughed at him, or mocked him, thinking he had gone crazy. But when asked what he was doing, his answer was “I AM LOOKING FOR AN HONEST MAN”. Who will be our modern day Diogenes, and will he find such honest man to anoint as our next president?*
