Showing posts with label adapt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adapt. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2020

What should we keep of the new normal?

People waiting in line with social distancing
We got together virtually and talked about how we are experiencing the pandemic, what are our fears and our hopes.
We’re sad that some people have died, suffered, and that a lot more will. We’re worried for that risk which is all around us, and might take away some of the people we love, and ourselves too, naturally.
We wonder what ways, or rites, we can come up to to express that sadness, to mourn as a community, now (virtually) and when the pandemic is over (a ceremony in cemeteries, other ideas?).

                                                                     * * * * * * *

Our world will be changed, it will never be the same, and we are trying to think of ways to veer it in a direction we value: more wholesome, just, zen. Less consumerism? Less production? Less pollution?
Some of the things that are happening are good, some are bad. Below is a list. We want to have our voices heard about how this pandemic is handled: social action. Two proposals, one physical: we stand at our windows with posters expressing our views: lives over dollars, save small businesses, help to illegal immigrants, suspend rents, suspend mortgages, etc.

Virtually, we could have a day of action where we all express on the internet (instagram, fb, twitter) our political views through photos, memes, statements.

TABLE COMPARING THE NEW NORMAL AND THE NEW NEW NORMAL

CORONAVIRUS PERIOD
 THE NEW NORMAL (post covid19)
Bad hair cuts
Lose.
Less commuting
Keep.
More work from home
Either or.
Less traveling
Keep? More environmental solutions.
Less flying
Keep. Bring back transatlantic ships, they pollute less.
Less socializing
Lose. More “in the flesh” events.
Lots and lots of time on the Internet
Lose.
Lots of sex with one partner (or two)
Keep.
Less work
Keep.
Less pollution
Keep
More time with loved ones
Keep
More time alone
Keep?
More physical exercise
Either or
More caring
Keep
Hospitals overwhelmed
Lose
Small businesses endangered
Help from govt, from us
Virtual parties
Keep (for people who are sick, isolated, depressed, far)
More cooking!
Either or.
No restaurants, gigs, concerts, shows, exhibitions
LOSE!
Virtual shows, gigs, art.
Keep
People lose their job
Help from govt, from us
Some people have more access to health, some have no insurance
Justice, equality.
Illegal immigrants get no help
Justice, equality.
We read more
Either or.
Bad teeth
Lose.
Lots of time with pets
Keep.
Feeling we’re in this together, everyone
Keep!!!
Hairy legs, and other places on the body
Either or.



At the end of this long tunnel of isolation, we want to celebrate too. Maybe pick a date, and have a huge dance party at the park where everyone brings their own music and dance our liberation.








Skyping from NY to MD





We would love to have your comments, ideas, reactions, feelings, below!


This was contributed by Ingrid Norton, Nupur Mathur, Hyojin Yoo, and Arabella von Arx