blog
Lockdown 3
Thursday 9th April 2020 @ 11:22 am
“It’s Maundy Thursday, and it is Passover – traditionally, in both traditions mentioned – a day of remembering the stories of faith, of humility, of God–being–a–serving–god–who–frees the world. A God who calls people to be together, around tables, sharing what is in front of them, with humility, gratitude and promise.
It seems oddly right to speak truth on such a day. Emily Maitlis on BBC Newsnight last evening did such a thing. Here, without much comment are her important words.
She began her opening monologue by pointing to the language used during this crisis, confirming what many of us have thought, but not given adequate voice to. It .. “has sometimes felt trite and misleading” … she went on … “You do not survive the illness through fortitude and strength of character, whatever the prime minister’s colleagues will tell us.”
“… the disease is not a great leveller, the consequences of which everyone, rich or poor, suffers the same. This is a myth that needs debunking. Those on the frontline right now – bus drivers, shelf–stackers, nurses, care home workers, hospital staff and shopkeepers – are disproportionately the lower paid members of our workforce.
They are more likely to catch the disease because they are more exposed. Those in tower blocks and small flats will find the lockdown tougher. Those in manual labour will be unable to work from home. This is a health issue with huge ramifications for social welfare and it’s a welfare issue with huge ramifications for public health.
Tonight, as France goes into recession and the World Trade Organization warns the pandemic could provoke the deepest economic downturn of our lifetimes, we ask what kind of social settlement might need to be put in place to stop the inequality becoming even more stark.”
Comments
To leave a comment, click here