Image Credit: CalMatters 

By Cayathri Divakalala 

Social distancing

Physical distancing

I wonder about emotional and political distancing as well…

Distancing is not a new concept for many persons across the world. For centuries, it has been their realities…

Dalit communities

Transgender and Intersex communities

Persons of Colour

Refugees

Indigenous communities

The poor

Women of certain beliefs when they menstruate

HIV/AIDS positives

Wrongfully or unlawfully convicted and imprisoned persons

Disabled persons

Persons holding specific jobs

Survivors of sexual violence

The homeless

Persons with certain kind of skin diseases

Persons with mental health issues

Survivors of torture and abuse

The list could go on and on

It might not be known as distancing across languages and cultures

But the idea is the same

And it is universal!

Covid-19 enforces that it is time for every person on this world to experience ‘distancing’ despite their privileges

From your loved ones

From your communities

From people and things that bring you happiness and add meaning to your lives

From your jobs and daily routines

From the material aspects of life

From the sense of connection

From solidarities

Basically, from your lives

How many understand the seriousness of this situation

How many are willing to take a critical look at their privileges

How many are eager to understand life from the perspectives of the oppressed

How many are open to admitting their ignorance

How many are ready to engage in conversations and explore new meanings of humanity during and after Covid-19

How many would change

Or are we most likely to hide behind our privileges and prejudices

If we do, that will be the saddest shame of humanity of ALL TIMES!!!!!!!

The world has not experienced a pandemic like Covid-19, so the media tells me

I could die, and it is not the first time I have been in a life-threatening situation

And I am not alone in feeling that

The long list of ‘distancing’ long before any pandemic started to threaten humanity hits us hard

So, I hope, once again…

We treat one another with dignity

We value a deep sense of community

We respect the struggles of the “other”

We make better choices when we choose political leaders of nations and parties

We make sure to remember that this new humanity comes with a cost of lives and much more

We make sure to share our learnings with our future generations

We stop thinking that it is someone else’s job to change the world

We start by making small changes in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones…