{"id":95,"date":"2020-04-25T11:49:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-25T15:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/missionoutlook.xaverians.org\/?p=95"},"modified":"2020-06-02T12:15:46","modified_gmt":"2020-06-02T16:15:46","slug":"between-hope-and-social-distancing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/missionoutlook.xaverians.org\/index.php\/2020\/04\/25\/between-hope-and-social-distancing\/","title":{"rendered":"Between Hope and Social Distancing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week COVID-19 virus predominated the daily scenario, as well. All the news talked mostly about that. I think, you have seen the slogan: \u201cSocial distancing = communism\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 and the other one \u2013 \u201cSacrifice is a weakness\u201d<\/strong>. Only few examples of the protest we had in United States against \u201csocial distancing measures\u201d<\/strong> adopted by many governments around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I thought: \u201cEverything Americans don\u2019t like is it communism?\u201d<\/strong>. Indeed, many years ago, the same slogan was written against the \u201cmelting pot\u201d which features the American contemporary society. However, CNN stated that these protesters represent only a small percentage of the population.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, the president planned to close the immigration in US:<\/strong> Trump said his order would “pause” issuing green cards for 60 days<\/strong> and would then revisit the policy depending on economic conditions. That\u2019s true that more than 26 million of Americans are applying for unemployment<\/strong>, but this is not because of the immigration, rather the actual state of emergency we are in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, we attended a comedy show when Trump said that we can try to inject the disinfectant to cure the virus\u2026 what?<\/strong> When I heard for the first time this news, I thought was a fake, but then unlikely I found out that it was true! How can a president talk about that? Is he not aware of his words\u2019 risks?<\/strong> Sounds a similar choice when he suggested a malaria\u2019s treatment to cure the Coronavirus, people died for that advice\u2026 in which school did Trump study medicine? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In this week, we celebrated also, the 50th<\/sup> anniversary of the Earth Day.<\/strong> April 22nd<\/sup> 1970, was the first event! Fifty years later, the COVID-19 pandemic is the starkest example of natural disasters foretold but not prepared for. The destruction of unique habitats, logging of rainforests and consumption of displaced wildlife has led to most of our recent viral outbreaks, from AIDS and Ebola to the Coronavirus. This only confirms the scientific consensus that human health and prosperity depend on a healthy environment. To put it in the words of Pope Francis: \u201cwe believed we could live healthy in a sick world\u201d, but we were wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, there was a big flood in Republic Democratic of Congo<\/strong>: more than 3.500 houses destroyed and more than 77.000 people displaced\u2026 but no one told about that in the news, because we are only concerned about the Coronavirus\u2026 instead, this is the time to say: we are adding fuel to the fire! Coronavirus didn\u2019t stop the injustices around the world, perhaps it has made them even more prominent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
A picture of the flood in Congo – Uvira<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Changing the subject, April 24th<\/sup> started the Ramadan season<\/strong> for our Muslims friends. It could sound like a joke, but in this time where everybody is locked at home, seems that we are closer than the \u201cnormal life\u201d we were used to. In effect, both the Ramadan for Muslim and Lent for Christians happened during this secluding time. <\/strong>It might seem a strange coincidence, but actually, it is another instance that help us to see that we are together on the same boat.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How to see all these events with the hope\u2019s sight?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cthough the light has come into the world, people have preferred darkness to the light\u2026 but whoever does the truth comes out into the light, so that what he is doing may plainly appear as done in God.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>Jn 3:19b,21<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Though we are living a dark moment of the history, we have to remember that we are born for the light<\/strong>: we need good news,<\/strong> we cannot survive only listening to bad ones. Without hope or creativity we cannot survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the light is the love, and the love is always creative! I hope you can look at this new week with this light: the light of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

May the creative light of the love shine in the darkness of this pandemic time through you!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My friends, have a good week with this new outlook\u2026 Because the life is always a matter of outlook!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n