Skip to main content

Coronavirus Test

It has been interesting to watch the development of the pandemic and how people are reacting. This is definitely my generation being put to the test.

Previous generations have dealt with the Vietnam War, the Depression, and World War II. In World War II in particular the world came together to defeat evil. After that test, the decade of the fifties was the most prosperous decade in years.

I would like to think that the pandemic is teaching us the resilience, unity, and selflessness that past crises have taught previous generations.

Marcus Aurelius once wrote something like this "it is the bees' job to swarm and make the honey, so too it is a human's job to make humanity better".

In the past month, I have undergone a coronavirus test and, for the first time in my life, I am happy that something turned out negative. Getting to the testing centre however proved to be the biggest test of all. When I contacted the Covid-19 Hotline they told me that a taxi would not deliver me to the testing centre for fear of contracting the virus. This fear is understandable but there are many brave men and women on the front lines fighting the virus.

This is why since the start of the pandemic, I have endeavoured to add extra positivity into the world. With social media posts about never giving up and being positivity paratroopers. I have also started a collection of videos titled Lessons from a Disability with the aim to help those who are struggling; to understand there are many ways to get through anything.

We are stronger together. Humanity is up to the test.



Put To The Test

In the scales of life, from worst to best
The coronavirus is putting humanity to the  test.
This pandemic will establish quality of performance and reliability
So when you experience frustration in social isolation, listen to the lessons from a disability.

There were gas masks in World War II;
If we don't listen to the medical experts, this time it will be oxygen masks for me and you.
Washing your hands and wearing a face mask therefore becomes a heroic task.
When you get a coronavirus test, it may leave you with a bitter taste 
But use it as a reminder of the challenge we have all faced.

Do not forget to keep our physical distance,
Use it as a sign of humanity's unbreakable assistance.
Let us remember all those who are now at rest and do our best 
To beat this coronavirus that has put us to the test.

© Chris Van Ingen - 4 July 2020
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Defend Our NDIS

 Defend our NDIS; people have had enough of cuts and changes to the NDIS. The Every Australian Counts campaign has organised a national day of action and events across Australia to take place on 28th of April.  I have been involved in the NDIS from the initial trial phase through to today. People may remember that I was involved in an advertising campaign spruiking the benefits to come once the scheme was up and running.  ‘You’re in charge! Yes we are, aren’t we!’ For awhile this was the truth for participants like myself. I have been very lucky and received 90 percent of what I need from NDIS.  The question is would I have received the same benefits if I was not a skilled disability advocate?  People with disabilities want the original version of the scheme that was promised without having to fight for a reasonable request. It would be a more efficient scheme if the government put the millions of dollars in legal fees into service delivery instead.  According to the Australian Service
3 comments
Read more

A Vision for an Inclusive Australia (DRC Final Report)

 The final revised version of the Disability Royal Commission (DRC) into violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation was published on 2 November 2023.  The Royal Commission ran for four years with hundreds of people with disabilities testifying at hearings and thousands more supplying the Commission with written submissions.  The final report titled Our Vision for An Inclusive Australia  made 222 recommendations to improve laws, policies, structures, and practices to ensure a more inclusive and just society. That supports the independence of people with disabilities and their right to live a life free from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation.  The report covers 12 volumes ranging from:  Voices of People with Disability  About the Royal Commission Nature and Extent of Violence, Abuse, and Exploitation Realising the Human Rights of People with Disability  Governing for Inclusion Inclusive Education, Employment, and Housing Enabling Autonomy and Access Criminal Justice and People wi
Post a Comment
Read more

Throw Out The Label Maker

Through a lot of self-refection over the last few weeks I’ve come to believe it’s time to throw out the label maker before all the labels cover up our humanity. I use to think labels were cool, signs of what we’re meant to be, until those words turned to weapons pointed at me. Spastic, special disabled even retard these are the labels that at one time or another made my life hell. Cousin, aunty uncle, mother, father; where I come in the family tree the energy I share with the world  is unique and impossible for a label to  define. Chink , abo, wog and rag head; I don’t know why we can’t just see each other as people? Gorgeous, sexy, ugly, disgusting, fat and skinny but I want to know why I’ve never seen a picture of a guy or girl in a wheelchair with the caption Heartthrob. We need to recognise all beauty. Success, failure, dumb or genius, normal to eccentric these days all labels do is turn society into us and them. Christian, Muslim, Buddhist are all labels
2 comments
Read more