Campbell's Commentary - PANDEMONIUM AND THE PANDEMIC

NEW YORK, NY. Tuesday, April 21, 2020 -- Good day and thank goodness, we New Yorkers seemed to have passed the worse where this COVID19 pandemic is concerned.

Without any science and just from where I am watching, in my quarantined space in Jamaica, we are on the other side of the curve and that’s a good sign.

To God be all the glory and praise!

However, this next phase must be approached with even greater care and caution, because we must be mindful of the dreaded boomerang effect!

I cringe, literally, to see folks in Florida, flocking to the beachfront, skinny dipping and worse, folks in some red neck state, donning placards and demonstrating!

WTF! Are you kidding me, when I almost lost two of the three bosses that I work for, when I almost lost a grand-nephew, to this scourge of a virus?

Not to mention the unruly and indisciplined set in St. Catherine, who, in an attempt to defy quarantine and curfew orders, fled in droves to other parishes, on the weekend and now putting a whole country at risk.

I will come back to this sordid matter, later!

I don’t need to repeat that we are, indeed living in very perilous times. That is redundancy but see with me!

My brothers and sisters, yes, that’s who you are, we are in the midst of a pandemic, the likes of which we have not seen in our lifetime and so, we must continue to pay very close attention to what is being said and the directives for our survival.

For too many of us, the reality of this COVID19 pandemic has already hit home and for that, all I can do in this space is to empathize, and to sympathize, and to offer sincere condolences to the dearly departed.

Gone too soon and hopefully, never to be forgotten! RIP.

I am, however, bothered by the behavior of some of us who think that we are infallible and that this virus, will go away, as the night follows the day.

To that I will only say, look at the number of deaths being reported, from right under your nose and from right next door!

Folks, let me be clear if you are hearing impaired, ask the person beside you, next to you, what is being said, why the world has come to a sudden standstill, these past few months and why nobody knows when, life as we know it will return to normal.

It will not, and if it does, it’s gonna take a mighty long time!

The fall-out is everywhere, at work, at school, and at home! The toll on our physical and mental health is worrying. Staying in, we are eating and consuming too much and not being able to come outside, is becoming frustrating.

Folks, I’m also bothered by something else. It is not greed but more like a broken conscience. It has to do with those persons who think that a telethon or a radiothon, to assist an ‘outside’ entity not community, is the best option to show their sense of caring, at this time!

How could that be, when the very community that you come running to, is the very same community that is scorned, marginalized and on the frontline, making the ultimate sacrifice while they fight?

You only have 5 deaths, we have ‘25 thousand’ and counting.

Take, for example, the ‘Global Citizen’ telethon last Saturday evening, organized by pop star Lady Gaga and aired on the broadcast networks. Even before the first image was shown and the first note was sung, the event had already raised US$50 million. In other words, the event was just a showcase and a ‘thank you’ to those who contributed.

Rewind to a fortnight ago, when three ministries of government from Jamaica came together in the hope of raising US$10.5 million to fight the virus in Jamaica.

I’m still waiting to hear how much was raised and I am also aware of plans for another similar event on May 2, with a more modest the target of $1 million, but again targeting the Jamaican Diaspora…! 

And I ask why?

Why must we continue to give and get nothing in return..?

Millions of dollars to do what, to support a culture that has no respect for human life. What is the word….deprave, depravity..?

The family of the Vice-Principal from Excelsior High School, Mountain View, is in my thoughts and prayers.

Each and every day we seem to be sinking further to the bottom of the barrel, and yes, I get the mayor’s concern for lack of consultation in the Portmore pandemonium but such behavior cannot be condoned.

Use your head to stop the spread. That’s what that is!

Might as well we keep the money here and spend it here, the way other ethnicities and cultures do!

US$2 billion-plus, ‘a nuh likkle bit a money dat’!

We need to talk but for now, you have the floor..!

--oo—

Editor’s note: Aubrey Campbell is producer/host of Caribbean Conversation (formerly The Power Hour), Sundays, 2-4 pm, WVIP, 93.5 FM, www.WeeRadioOnline.com