A coronavirus diary of sorts

Unless you've been on a desert island somewhere with no information or media access of any sort you will be familiar with the present strain of  coronavirus, which brings about an illness called Covid-19. This virus, highly contagious, has been busy spreading all around the world, infecting and  killing people here, there and everywhere; it is not an exaggeration to say that it is currently changing the face of the world.

Since the outbreak has started I have been more or less confined to Athens (Greece, you silly sausage, not Ohio, Georgia or anywhere else, thankfully given the Covid-19 events in the USA) and environs, witnessing the shutting down of most social life all around me as the government tries to halt the march of Covid-19. Boredom is a major factor in the life of people here, people who are normally used to going out most of the time, whether to cafes in the morning, restaurants of one description or other later and bars at the end of most days. This is a society where, generally, staying in is not the norm and is often rather frowned upon; even in the days of deep financial crisis people found a few pennies and went out, to cheap souvlaki places and rather basic tavernas, maybe, but out nevertheless.

Yet the rebellious Greeks have largely complied with their Government's policy and requests, largely out of fear I think, making the country a bit of a star in the way it has handled this not only on a European but a Worldwide basis - Greek casualties directly attributable to Covid-19 have only recently passed the one hundred mark, with the thing seemingly under control. For once the 'naughty child' is setting a good example for others, something I find very satisfying.

As you've gathered by now, dear reader, this is nothing like a diary - I've never kept one in my life, actually - but more of an essay, an analysis without much detail, a descriptive, low-key rant. Fear not, for what follows is the real thing, descriptive, tight, expressive:

I wake up late with little to do other than eat some oranges for, I suppose, brunch.
Do little other than wade through emails and catch up on news on the computer, especially on the international activities of the coronavirus.
Go for a two hours exercise/walk, usually with a friend, returning late afternoon.
Eat something,
More computer stuff, applying to the odd job, or newspaper/sudoku/crossword.
Eat again.
Drink some wine.
Eat some more.
Drink some more.
Watch some television.
Go to bed, read or do puzzles, then sleep.
Get up the next day and repeat.

Enough diary nonsense, though. the Greek Prime Minister is this evening to make important announcements about gradually reopening the economy in a phased way, so all my thoughts above are probably irrelevant. This, I must confess, makes me upset, even if the rest of society is pleased and relieved. What is my world going to be like now? Will I be able to go out for a coffee again, without having to walk ten miles in the process in order to be permitted to wander about? Will I have to see my friends again on a regular basis?

Ooof! It's enough to make me write a proper diary...

China - to trust or not to trust?

We are strange creatures indeed, we westerners, suddenly faced with a world health crisis probably originating in China. Until yesterday China was a good place, providing us with all sorts of useful products, many developed and designed by us, at prices we could only dream of if we were to produce them ourselves. So what if the people producing our shit - I use the word loosely - were only allowed to sleep for only a few hours a day and were obliged to live a slave-like existence; we were happy to benefit, closed our eyes and ears and allowed life to continue to our benefit.

Then coronavirus appeared, the one leading to Covid-19 and, possibly, a painful death for anyone contracting it. China seems to be where it first appeared - Wuhan specifically - and from there it spread like fire all over the globe, infecting people left, right and centre. Much speculation on the origins has occurred all over, with conspiracy theories blaming China, the US or whomever, but China has always figured as the main culprit, unwittingly or not - was it a result of little Chinamen happily munching an infected bat or two over a cup of rice wine or an escapee from a secretive virus-creating laboratory residing in Wuhan?

Yes, the official China reacted badly initially, underestimating the potential problem and trying to hide things under a veil of silence; totalitarian regimes work like that to protect their interests, unsurprisingly. Yes, it has been proven to have been a misguided, wrong move that had disastrous consequences, but then turned around and worked wonders by instituting draconian restrictive measures and generally tackling the virus head-on, with so far seemingly remarkable results.

Now we in the West have started attacking China as dishonest and dishonourable, claiming not only that they hid things at the outset but that they are lying through their teeth now, providing false numbers relevant to Covid-19 etc. Furthermore, we are accusing China of using the provision of their assistance in this general time of need for empire building and as a benefit to their long-term plans.

There is a wonderful book by Peter Frankopan, The New Silk Roads, that analyses and tackles these issues both in detail and in context, so they should come as no surprise for they are not new, but have been going on for some time now. Why are we acting surprised? Do we find it convenient? It is both stupid and untimely to analyse China's role in this matter and in this way, especially given the lack of proof. Given the fact that we are still grappling with this disease without a hint of and end or a cure, nor indeed specific analyses of the precise origins of this disaster, is in not best to wait until all is known before apportioning blame?

Now is not the time for recriminations, especially given the interdependence within most of the world. Much of the Western world now wagging fingers in China's face are also largely dependent on China's productive capabilities, is that not a recipe for disaster? What about fairness, which the Western world used selectively in years gone by to abuse not only China but large parts of the rest of the globe. China may well be (or not) to blame for everything to do with this, but prove it we must before engaging in righteous polemics and attacking hither and thither. Whether we like it or not we live in an interconnected world, largely of our creation, that needs to be managed sensibly. Neither we, nor anyone else, can send the gunboats in anymore - empires belong to the past and stay there they must; proper procedures for establishing fault must be followed.

Jaw-jaw must prevail, for war-war, even of the commercial kind, will lead to destruction and mutual loss. It should be seen as a last resort, not an act of whim and folly.

Liar, liar, pants on fire?

Well, what can I, what can anyone, indeed, say about the person 'leading' the Free World, the current President of the United States, Mr. Donald J. Trump? And, furthermore, what can anyone say of his supporters, the people who even now refuse to face facts while their country is being ravaged by an epidemic that had been signposted months ago. The United States of America is fast becoming a bad, bad joke, killing its people and undermining its world status.

Let me make some things clear so I am not misunderstood: I am - and always have been - an Americanophile, having lived in the States in the early 1960s and gone to first grade in an American school. Furthermore, a lot of my schooling has been spent in American or American-related institutions, where I have been able to appreciate many great things to do with American culture - yes, fellow euro-snobs, there is such a thing, albeit much younger than most of ours. And I have had both American relatives and friends, all wonderful people who have enriched my life considerably, many of whom are no longer with us. My criticism of this often wonderful country and its equally often wonderful people stems from the facts, untainted by political bias - I am not, have never been and never will be a socialist, left leaning or a communist - and coloured only by disappointment.

American Presidents used to be educated, well-spoken, worldly figures who by and large grasped that the US had a role to play in the world due to its size, military might and commercial power and aspirations, a de facto major world power on the side of freedom (free trade especially) and democracy. At times their behaviour was less than laudable both as individuals and as statesmen, often allowing their country to indulge in despicable, even criminal, behaviour by interfering in the politics of other countries sometimes for political (usually anti-communist in the Cold War era) or economic reasons, occasionally both. Their intentions were not always - but sometimes were - altruistic, even when expanding or reinforcing their sphere of influence.

Today, led (I use the term loosely) by a man who is ignorant of world history, doesn't listen to advisors/briefings/specialists and gets his world views solely from watching his favourite TV channels, America is becoming not only a laughing stock but an enemy to all and sundry. A spoiled, selfish and self-absorbed man, he is passing his code of conduct on to 'his' nation, making it behave like a bully. Yet such seems to be the ignorance and/or moral bankruptcy of his supporters that he is admired for things that leave the rest of the world shaking their heads in disbelief and, like me, in disappointment. And everyone daring to criticise or speak a word against him is labelled a liar (Ha!), a lefty, a hoaxer, a fraud...

In this Covid-19 crisis President Trump has shown the extent of his ignorance, indecision and inability to listen to experts and comprehend facts, especially if these facts are not convenient for him and his interests. This will result in a significant number of American lives being lost as a direct consequence, maybe even tens of thousands, yet his adoring fans still applaud him and his lies - and it is not inconceivable that he could win the next election. It is truly unbelievable and extremely dangerous to the USA, to its people, to the rest of the world and americanophiles like me.

But perhaps sanity will eventually prevail. What do you think, dear reader?

How was the town jester allowed to become King?

Let's face it, a manifest idiot, one who is supremely dishonest and with the intellectual capacity of a pea, in times gone by would have had limited opportunities, probably justly so. If he was mildly amusing - think bing-bong, bing-bong - he may have been elevated to a level where he would be allowed to amuse the local dignitaries and, if he was good at that, he may have reached the pinnacle of his 'career' by becoming the  town jester, or a jester of some other form. Conversely, if he was found to be less than amusing, especially if those he was supposed to entertain were powerful and didn't take to him, he may have had to witness his head and his body swiftly parting company.

Today's is a different society, with a much more fluid structure, where bing-bongers are not necessarily hampered by their lack of real qualities but allowed to make their own way in life. The person I'm talking about here - resemblance to a currently living personage is, indeed, intentional - happened to have a very successful, self-made, wealthy father who opened doors for him, nurtured his ego and financially supported him in his business career, certainly initially. Even he, however, could have not expected that his spoiled, brash, egomaniacal son would capture the hearts and minds - I use the word loosely - of quite a large section of the American people; this because the son in question, most probably actively following in his father's footsteps, looked down upon exactly this section of society. Entertaining them, yeah, why not, it shouldn't take much to please them, after all, but leading them and claiming kinship? How has that happened?

It just goes to show that people whose only contact with gold is, maybe, a gold tooth are easy prey for a man who thinks that gold everything is the epitome of chic!

This is not a process that has developed over time and matured as both sides got to know each other; rather, it's been a whirlwind affair full of lies and empty words, tacky glitz and bing-bongs, yet surprisingly durable nevertheless. This man's supporters are shockingly indifferent to reality, to actual deeds, to action and, in this present crisis, inaction and see him as a titanic figure battling the world for their and their country's benefit even while he shows flashes of his incompetence, meanness, dishonesty and, despite all his protestations to the contrary, stupidity.

How on this Earth of ours has that been allowed to happen? How? Are we human beings truly this stupid that we cannot see a jester for what he is? How do we see a giant when what is standing in front of us is a midget?