Page 132 - Sterling 2k21

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES CALL FOR UNPRECEDENTED MEASURES

6 a.m. wakeup calls turned to 9 a.m. ones so briskly, that it is nearly impossible to recall the last time everything was wonted.
We’re all stuck in the middle of a chaotic hurricane to which there existed no such meteorology to predict it beforehand. Yet, in
the midst of chaos, there is also an opportunity so life changing, that nothing would never be the same. The environment
around us is rapidly changing. There is apparently plenty of time to waste, but actually no time to waste. Is it the end of the
world? Is it really the judgment day? Whether or not, the answer to this question is usually unknown, for incongruous times lie
ahead in front of us. Change is what we require because if we don’t change, we extinct. Unprecedented times call for
unprecedented measures and this is the new reality.

The world should have trembled the day this lethal virus paved its way through the quirky corners of the newspapers. As
Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Many countries didn’t pay enough heed to
the devastation this virus may spread and become a concern for the fatalities of the ever-rising population. However, India has
proved that it doesn’t need to be the most developed nation in this world to fight the virus and she is doing so with strenuous
efforts. There are also some remarkably well thought measures that have taken place all over the world that require a special
mention hereby.

When the pandemic shut down all the doors of happiness, a door, a mysterious video made the day of many globally. Ariana
Grande and Justin Bieber never fail to awe their audiences with striking pop music but this time they came up with a fundraiser
collaboration called ‘Stuck With U’ featuring videos of many of their fans and close friends at their homes dancing and rejoicing.
All of the funds raised through this song were sent to the First Responders Children’s Foundation which provides scholarships
to children of medical workers, emergency medical technicians, fire-fighters and police officers; who have been tremendously
slogging throughout to serve the people of their nation during this pandemic. The song was a number one chartbuster globally
and what a prodigious way of using the fame to donate endlessly.

The influence of a pandemic has not only changed the motive of songs, but also paved the way for creative tactics. Abraham
Maslow once pointed out, “If your only tool is a hammer, then every problem looks like a nail.” Following the methodology of
thinking the solution and not the problem, Colombia came up with a genius way of letting its citizens out. People are only
allowed to move out of their houses on the basis of their last digit of the National ID. To make sure that the economy does not
shatter down completely, this was indeed an unprecedented measure taken on their behalf. Even Serbia, not lagging behind has
come up with many such manoeuvres like setting up dog walking hours to limit the crowd outdoors.
The virus may have infected the immune system of the body but not that of the soul and when it comes to peace and justice,
no quarantine can stop people from voicing their opinions. Just like Eleanor Roosevelt once opined, “For it isn’t enough to talk
about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” During this period, in USA the
heinous act of racism was committed in which an innocent soul was liberated from the world, not through naturalities but
pure sin. Keeping in mind the hardened situation outside, many Hollywood celebrities took to social media to influence their
masses via Instagram lives and by handing over their Instagram to the ones who have always been oppressed. This has served a
dual purpose, prevention of the cases from going up and also justice for the ones who have suffered silently, and addressing
the movement easily. Lili Reinhart is one of the main celebrities who has been participating in the Black Lives Matter movement
likewise since its occurrence.

Arduous times call for arduous measures and a colossal change. For an immature will never realise the need for education, but
only the wise keep their knowledge close to their minds and a brain open to learning eternally. During the time of crisis, it is
crucial that one mustn’t stop learning as when there is nothing for the brain to churn, it may rust easily. The online classes have
played a paramount role in ensuring that there is no hindrance in learning. Technology has improved in such a vast amount that
there were new features and new video conferencing apps that have never been used in such innovative ways before. The
teachers have also been the ones to learn through each and every step while passing on their plethora of knowledge to the
students.

Whenever, one needs to jolly up and needs a break from the hectic schedules, be it study or work; music has been a charmer
since its traces to the prehistoric times. However, the audience was despondent because of the axing of concerts. To lighten up
the mood of their fans, many artists and singers have done stay at home concerts online by making everyone relive through the
power of music and also urging them to stay at home rather than going out.

The ‘no tasks without masks’ is surely dreaded. Who knows till when this goes on but ultimately, it is the basic lesson we have
been taught since kindergarten- “unity in diversity”. There are certainly amends to this- what we were taught was at a
national level but its essence actually works at a global level. “Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or
lose.”
Parinistha Narula
XII C