Can The Ukraine Crisis Heal What Covid-19 Damaged?
It’s all about one’s perception
The Corona pandemic created deep rifts between people with their different beliefs. These were based on different fears.
Some feared a deadly virus.
Others saw their economic existence threatened by lockdowns and other measures restricting the economy. A third group saw the danger of emerging dictatorial tendencies in the imposed restrictions on fundamental rights.
Social Media Bubbles
Some people became obsessed with these fears and did not understand that others did not attach the same importance to these concerns. A reinforced bubble formation emerged. People increasingly aligned themselves with others who made them feel understood in their fears. Social media did the rest, making it easy to find like-minded people.
In these bubbles, people vigorously pushed their own narratives. The longer one stayed in a thought structure and the more confirmation one received from others, the more difficult it became to accept other or even contradictory points of view.
The Internet constantly provided new evidence for one’s own belief system. Seek and you shall find. It is easy to gather evidence for one’s own horror scenario in the form of newspaper reports, videos, or personal testimonials.
A discussion between the different “faith directions” — because like religious behavior it seemed to me sometimes — became increasingly more difficult. The others were labeled as lunatics or ignorants.
But don’t you see the proof??!!!
In addition, on the Internet and social media, the most extreme views are washed to the surface, as these cause the most intense reactions and are shared more frequently. It’s a similar phenomenon to tabloid media. The news with the most shocking sensations and scandals are highlighted because they produce the most clicks.
So one could easily get the impression that the other views are totally radicalized. The most convinced and the most desperate shout the loudest. The fact that in each group the vast majority do not share the most radical views at all is lost in all the scare stories because the moderates keep their mouths shut.
Thus, on superficial inspection, one could easily come to the conclusion that the most fanatical supporters of mandatory vaccination were totally hysterical about the virus as if with absolute certainty everyone would die from it who did not vaccinate or comply with the measures. An exaggerated panic that could never be justified by the official figures. The absolute majority of those infected survived the disease without any lasting problems. This is not to diminish the suffering of the real victims and their families.
Others felt that the greater damage was done to the economy because companies were forced into lockdown or because efficiency was significantly affected by the stringent measures. There were warnings of a crushing debt burden and a wave of bankruptcies.
The third group already saw itself in the absolute health dictatorship, in which eternally and forever each step of the citizens would be monitored by vaccination status and QR code.
They are not all radicals
Ultimately, I find all three fears exaggerated. And with that, I see myself on the side of the majority of people. But as I said, the cool moderates without exaggerated fears keep their mouths shut or shrug their shoulders. The panicky ones shout loudly.
Now, with the outbreak of the Ukraine war, bridges between the three groups suddenly seem to be built again. In my personal environment, I observe that all of a sudden people who had been in radio silence for a year and a half are talking to each other again.
That Putin’s war of aggression is to be condemned absolutely is widely agreed (except for a few misguided people). But there is no consensus whatsoever on the appropriate response of the Western community.
From absolute hardliners to supporters of appeasement policies, a broad spectrum can be found. And the groups are by no means congruent with those of the Covid issue.
Not all vaccine deniers are hardliners, not all mandatory vaccination supporters are appeasement advocates, and vice versa. Thus, groups that were previously segregated from one another can suddenly be of one mind on the currently dominant news topic. Therein lies an opportunity to heal societal wounds.
As much sympathy as I feel for the people in Ukraine, I always try to see the positive side of the current development. As free, self-determined people, we should creatively shape a better world and not just let ourselves be driven by our fears.
Please respect other points of view
I believe that different people are hypersensitive to different issues. Some panic when the next virus variant proves to be even more infectious. The next person throws up his hands when measures are tightened, the next warns of emerging right-wing radicalism when a few sharp speakers appear at protests.
Still, others already see society infiltrated by foreign authoritarian movements just because a commentator expresses mild sympathy for Putin’s propagated encirclement of Russia by NATO.
In my opinion, the most important thing is that we do not allow ourselves to be divided. Especially in times of crisis, we need to stick together as a society. Remember: Just because your counterpart expresses an argument that possibly places him in a different group does not mean that he belongs to the radical representatives of this group. The vast majority of people are moderates and want to get along.
Please understand the concerns of others. Most of the time they are right from their perspective. Everyone has their own personal perception. Let’s try to understand each other more and listen to each other.
For more peace in the world. In peace, prosperity, and progress flourish.
Thank you for your help.
Peter
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