“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Jorge (George) Agustín Nicolás Ruiz de Santayana y Borrás, wrote in The Life of Reason, 1905
“One thing I know as an historian: every previous pandemic
has ended”: wrote a friend in an e-mail.
These words should be on the front pages of the newspapers. In Spanish there is a popular
saying: “No hay mal que dure cien años ni cuerpo que lo resista.” However,
there is hope that evil or illnesses will be overcome. It may take another year
or even seven more years for this pandemic to be under control or over, but it
will come to an end. Tragically until it is over, so many people have suffered
this horrible illness or have lost their lives. The worse part of this story is
that it could have been prevented if was not for the arrogance and political
games of a few demagogues around the world. Politicians that all they care is
about their ratings, hence their popularity. Self-worshiping narcissists. This
type of mental illness is as bad as the current pandemic. It empowered the epidemic
to become a pandemic. Just as their narcissism led them to become demagogues
and dictators (not in the technical Roman sense, but in the worse practical
way).
After every storm there is a beautiful shining day, although
a lot of work to recover. Nevertheless, there is hope, there is the strength
and resiliency to live and make a better future for the next generations. Germany survived the horrible experience of
one of the worse dictatorships. Japan did not let the horrible tragedy of the
war crime against Hiroshima and Nagasaki stop them. London was rebuilt.
Manhattan did not let stop its people from striving for a better NY after
September 11th terrorist attacks. Palestinians and Israelis are
striving to build a better life for everyone, regardless of their politicians’
power games. African Americans and other “minority” ethnic groups in the USA
are becoming all they can be regardless of systematic institutionalized racism.
The Jewish people strived for the best
out of the suffering and ashes of the Inquisition and the Holocaust. Racism,
antisemitism, bigotry, prejudices, ignorant and arrogant politicians, neither
this pandemic will stop humanity to live as a reflection of the image of the
character of its Creator. There is hope. Regardless of what anyone else says,
there are good people in this world. There is still love and compassion. There
are still many more beautiful songs to write and sing. There is still many more
great paintings and sculptures to be done and bring beauty to overcome the
ugliness of the pseudo contemporary art. There are more people who want peace
than war. There are many more peaceful homes than homes where domestic violence
is worse than the pandemic. There is hope for changes in those homes that are
suffering domestic violence. So, do not give up. Never surrender. There is
hope. It will be over soon. Needless to say, do not just seat there to wait for
change. It is time for action. Time to be an instrument of change. Follow
health guidelines to protect yourself and others. Vote for candidates who are
in fact people who care and have the knowledge and commitment to serve your
communities. Learn, study, understand, acquire knowledge, become wise, full of
understanding for your sake and the future of your own children and others. Do everything
in your power to contribute to a better future and what you cannot accomplish the
next generation will take care of it. However, set a good foundation.
The Holy One of Israel, through the prophets, promised a new
earth, a new world full of justice, peace, free from illness, free from pain
and sorrows. It is up to us to see that new world. We must build that new world
today as instruments of the Creator.
In 1492 there was a new world “discovered.” An unknown world
for the Europeans. The native communities encountered another civilization.
What a beautiful day when nations so apart from each other encountered each
other, discovered each other, found each other. What a beautiful future was
ahead. Suddenly all those dreams were destroyed by selfishness, envy, hunger
for power, racism, prejudices, religious bigotry, and so much evil. We should
not let that happen again. Only unselfish attitudes and a commitment to find the
best for everyone can overcome the evil in this world, illness, wars and all
the ugliness of violence and poverty. Selfishness will hinder the creation of a
new society. Pessimism and the low view on the human nature is only another stumble
toward a better humanity. We can do better than our ancestors, who tried their
best and better than those who did not care enough. Do not give up, the storm
will be over soon.
אַֽל־תִּזְכְּר֖וּ רִאשֹׁנ֑וֹת וְקַדְמֹנִיּ֖וֹת אַל־תִּתְבֹּנָֽנוּ׃
הִנְנִ֨י עֹשֶׂ֤ה חֲדָשָׁה֙ עַתָּ֣ה תִצְמָ֔ח הֲל֖וֹא תֵדָע֑וּהָ אַ֣ף אָשִׂ֤ים בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ דֶּ֔רֶךְ בִּישִׁמ֖וֹן נְהָרֽוֹת׃
Isaiah 43:18-19
No comments:
Post a Comment