Smoking and Gambling in the Face of a Pandemic
When are things going to go back to normal? Infections here in Italy still increasing at a consistent pace (+19,8% in a day, according to yesterday’s bulletin) and it’s too early to know if the restrictions put in place are working. Chances are it will be at least another two weeks before we know, and even then, it will be too soon to let our guard down and return to normality. It’s a good time to practice having no expectations, the Buddhist way.
Tomorrow is the fourth week my kids will be home from school. Public parks with gates have now been closed off, but this is not stopping the Milanese from going out for a stroll. Nor is it getting in the way of people from going to a Tabaccheria, the little shops (often adjacent to a bar) where you can get cigarettes and lottery tickets. These are among the “essential businesses” that are allowed to stay open these days. We can smoke and gamble in the face of a pandemic but going to the park is prohibited.
Do I want things to go back to normal? This is question has also crossed my mind. You may hate me for saying this, but isn’t there something good happening here? Are there not some aspects of all this that would be good to keep. I could do without traffic and smog! I would be happy to keep hearing from friends and family around the world on a daily basis. Isolation has led to connection. We have more time for each other, to talk and listen. I have at least two new friends! I am exchanging ideas with new people, collaborating. I hope these things do not end. I hope there will be a lasting positive impact to balance what is sure to a very challenging time from an economic standpoint.
A final thought for this Sunday: I have noticed a distinctive upsurge in patriotism (flags on balconies, people posting that they are proud to be Italian, etc.) and maybe this is a good thing, especially if it were to lead to a sense of civic duty. But where does patriotism start, and nationalism begin? Where will all this border closing and finger pointing between nations lead? What is happening with our European Union?