Revisiting moral issues in a pandemic

This is the first time in living memory that people are collectively fighting a common enemy, the most terrible menace named Covid-19.

No doubt, the history of viral infection is as old as the human race and the way to discover its antibody is also not new.

But the characteristics and mode of infection of this new type is quite different and its capabilities to enhance are unprecedented.

Very few countries are now un affected by this deadly poison. Currently 210 countries have been affected and the rest are apprehended to be infected very soon.

People are dying and falling ill like the onslaught of flood across the world as death toll hits new highs every minute.

So, it is very difficult to determine the statistics of death right now because it is now in a state of flux.

Meanwhile, the number of global infections has surpassed two millions and the death toll exceeded one and a half lakh – which is expected to cross two lakh in the next couple of weeks.       

Palpably, this pandemic has brought forth many new issues in the global life-system. Among these are moral issues or geo-political relationships based on values, which is supposedly pivotal irrespective of geographical territory and economic status. That is because all humans are now on the same boat, fighting the same virus, feeling the same helplessness.  

The reach of the infection is overarching. Nobody, including the mighty United States of America or Somalia, the most vulnerable state in Africa, can escape from its fangs.

In this unprecedented crisis, we can only maintain social isolation or closed door solution to remain safe and also protect others, as no other effective medication has been found yet.

Understandably, we have some more issues to assess, especially that most world leaders could never contemplate the fragile condition of the public heath structure in their territories.

The budget for defense had been increasing alarmingly every year, new technology has been introduced to develop and sharpen armaments and increase the capacity of launching missiles and nuclear weapons, but they cared little about health issues.

The defense budget of USA is roughly equal to that of seven large countries, China, India, France, UK, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

Leon Panetta, a former defense secretary of the USA said, "The military balance is widely recognised as the best unclassified source of defense information on personnel, equipment, and budget for every country".

But he could not contemplate what havoc was lurking beyond the visible enemy.

Recently, President Donald Trump declared a deadly war against an invisible enemy and tweeted "we will win this war. When we achieve this victory, we will emerge stronger and more united than ever before!".

What a tragic turn for a mighty president!

However, the most important thing is the crisis of morality, which arises due to social inequality.

One serious global threat to human life is the economic depression, besides health hazards. World economists forecast a famine amid the crisis and in the post pandemic situation, particularly in poor countries, in case the pandemic lasts longer.

Rich countries in Europe, North America and also China, the epicenter of the crisis, has abilities to cope with the depression but poor nations of Asia and Africa will fall in a vulnerable situation.

Weak governance, extreme inequality, political unrest, and migration problems may add to the crisis, in addition to climate vulnerability and the all-spreading corruption.

Social and economic costs are beyond description and the cost of human degradation is immense. Low and middle-income people are in the most vulnerable situation, fighting for their earning. They are now compromising their dignity due to hunger.

These people do not have much savings to cope with a feeble economy . Its tragic that they sometimes have to queue up to get the little aid provided by government and other benevolent organisations.

Even in the United States and other countries, the government has been giving financial assistance to the people, which is rather embarrassing. The poor are struggling the most. All the mediums of their earnings are closed and their little savings have all dried up.

The government aid sometimes do not reach the poor and honestly, it is quite impossible for the government to feed all of them for an indefinite period. There is the case of personal economy of individuals, but the more frustrating case is the upcoming economic depression.   

The economy is under serious threat due to the collapse of internal and external trade and business.

Bangladesh was on the rise in GDP growth, surpassing other nations of Asia and Africa, but now is in a dire state due to the economic lockdown across the world.

The main pillar of its trade, garment products, that directly assists our GDP, is tottering.

The question is now about human existence on earth. The question that inevitably comes thereafter; have we reached the point where humans will cease to exist? What should be the real geo-political equation among the countries; should it be based on arms race or security, or our health, regardless of economic and military powers? Should we not treat each other with compassion, love and trust?

People are unsure right now when the pandemic will return after it ends its initial round extracting a hefty price. Even, they are also not sure about other deadly viruses that might wreak havoc in the future and completely thwart human lives.

The earth is fighting a common enemy that hinders our lives.

The lesson for us is to be just towards nature. A very important thing to ponder is that the earth will die one day, but before that we should have a common feeling towards nature and address the enemies of nature.

To quote Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the public-policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) speaking to the New York Times "I hope the lesson we take from our country's experience with Covid-19 are not about food or avoiding the germs, but about how we treat the most vulnerable among us. A pandemic is no time to turn our eyes away from the sanctity of human life". I must say the "sanctity" refers to responsibility and love towards each other.

Dr. Siddhartha Shankar Joarder is a professor at the Department of Philosophy, Jagannath University, Dhaka.