Our Moral Compass

Day 6

Carrying over a mild headache from yesterday I’m wondering if I’d be able to get paracetamol. Its not really a concern because I probably can and I can’t remember when I last bought them because they don’t work for me anyway.

Its one of those shared concerns that CoVID-19 adds to our collective consciousness. Who doesn’t check people out when they are not in their home. How close are they to others? Are there more than 2 people together? Is this their second exercise for the day or are they going shopping? And now: did they drive to this spot?

Its a great leveller when you are pitted against an enemy that has no prejudice or preference. CoVID-19 is not sexist or racist (maybe ageist) but does come across as a little autoritarian, demanding we wash our hands to the book, curtail our social life and restrict our movements. With the odd exception, none of us have any recollection of a situation like this (WWII ended 75 years ago) but we are cognizant (I’ve been pronouncing this word with an ‘s’ up till now) of the social cohesion it created.

Its not the liberal society that we are now used to, as Boris Johnson pointed out in his reluctance to impose unnecessary restrictions. But many are already seeing the positives. If you have any experience of Syrian refugees and asylum seekers you will be aware of how inventive and resourceful they can be (one of the reasons we should welcome them here). They remind us of what can be achieved when you demand a great deal from yourself with little or no help from…