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As the shrillness of Twitter arguments increase around the correct strategy to adopt in the fight against Covid-19, a few thoughts of my own.
The foundation of those thoughts, for all of us, I believe should be humility. Not hubris, fear, over-confidence, anger or feelings of
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The foundation of those thoughts, for all of us, I believe should be humility. Not hubris, fear, over-confidence, anger or feelings of
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/ superiority over other views. It is clear from science coming from many disciplines that this is a warzone where sincere people can legitimately disagree with each other on many aspects of that strategy. For now. The problem is that all options and outcomes are still on the /
/ table. There is no silver medal for this. The best of us are to an extent still groping around in the dark, mixing facts, experience and maybe some luck. There are still several questions without current answers. The crucial balance between lives and the economy /
/ (a false dichotomy, I believe) still looms in most debates. Most of us are uncomfortable with uncertainty, and want answers, clarity and comfort right now. That's understandable. False certainty and a rush to judgment and perceived solutions must be avoided. So much is /
/ at stake - lives, health, our children, economies, livelihoods.
For me, and for now, I am satisfied to allow myself to be led by what I see to be, generally speaking, an international loose consensus and combined best practices, which seems to be monitored and amended /
For me, and for now, I am satisfied to allow myself to be led by what I see to be, generally speaking, an international loose consensus and combined best practices, which seems to be monitored and amended /
/ by responsible international governments and our own. It is unrealistic to expect everyone to get everything correct all the time. Our own experience these last five weeks show a long list of government mistakes, both understandable and needlessly shortsighted. Even the /
/complaints in general show some international trends. We are all going through a historic event, one that will probably in large measure define our lives to varying degrees. For myself, and based on the cards as I see them on the table at this moment, I will try to live by /
/ the following principles -
1. To for now give my support to the government and involved authorities, based on the assumption that they are acting in our general best interest and that I do not have a better, safer alternative based on present information,
2. /
1. To for now give my support to the government and involved authorities, based on the assumption that they are acting in our general best interest and that I do not have a better, safer alternative based on present information,
2. /
2. That I will remain actively monitoring responsible developments in science and assess my response on an ongoing basis, including any real threats to our democratic rights as we go along,
3. That I will constantly remind myself to try to see these times through the eyes of /
3. That I will constantly remind myself to try to see these times through the eyes of /
/ others, and that we are each trying to deal with these as best we can, and with very different cards dealt us. From this I will try to see my engagement with others here through that understanding, and try not to be a part of the problem.
4. To keep as positive and /
4. To keep as positive and /
/ constructive an approach to this, for the long-term benefit of my family, friends, clients, country and myself.
There are several threats rolled up into all of this. In addition to what may be a uniquely toxic virus we are faced with the probabilities of both genuine and /
There are several threats rolled up into all of this. In addition to what may be a uniquely toxic virus we are faced with the probabilities of both genuine and /
/ malicious opportunists of all shades and from several spheres, locally and internationally. How we get through this, what remains when we get there, and on what foundations we start rebuilding depends on each of us (a sobering thought). Amongst all the death, suffering and /
/ destruction there is also the glimmer of new possibilities, new ways of life, in some ways maybe better than earlier ones. Our words and actions influence those around us. Do we break or do we build? Help or hinder? We need all responsible, wise voices at this table, even /
/ and especially the dissenting ones. No one has all the answers yet. Responsible, informed debate is necessary, now more than ever. Allow that, be comfortable with that. Listen, learn, be inquisitive. Stand up where necessary, be resolute where necessary. We have an opportunity/
to grow closer to each other here in this broken country, to do something lasting, something that actually matters, something that we can be proud of. In the way of that stands a lot of distrust, real problems, people with terribly selfish agendas. That's a part of our /
/ challenge, no need to photoshop it out. This is going to be very hard, and it can all go wrong, of course. Seeing and saying that is easy. But to grab this mess by the throat and to make something positive out of it, to make the pain, suffering and sacrifice have meaning -
- that, my friend, is up to us.
