Very recently I had to fight a wave of nausea, which seemed like forever as I treaded my way through a crowded lobby of sharks on social media. In retrospect and in all fairness, I noted their teeth lacked that essential bite, for they are leaning species who cannot exist at all on their own. They needed to victimise others to stand on the top of the pyramid.
I realised how woebegone one would feel to debate over an issue about whether the people of a certain “place” wear masks and to raise a storm about it. And that place which was being targeted was — Dubai. Usually, I scroll through Twitter like an invisible ghost, muting the unpleasant posts and ignoring the political ones.
However, when I saw lies being spread about the city, where I lived for so many years, where I felt so safe in more ways than one, I couldn’t help but retaliate. If laws regarding health and hygiene were already stringent before Covid-19, it is simple logic that now in the time of a pandemic how particular the government would be to maintain Covid-19 protocols.
There wasn’t anything they could offer. Even a couple of people who I thought were “friends” seemed to be under a strong colonial hangover and jumped onto the abusive bandwagon without batting an eyelid.
The unpredictable dynamics of the issue when it was turned to a verbal slam game, to prove themselves right, was finally silenced by a wise friend of mine. Photographs speak best! She posted pictures of how people were wearing masks on the roads and the parks too. The hyperventilating seemed to go on forever. It all seemed more a play of Gozilla-sized egos and envy. Peace of mind and not aggression is my cup of tea.
Salt-them away, my judicious mentor said, and keep them salted out. Another wise soul advised me to use my writing, instead of engaging with such people on social media, to get a message across. This experience set off mixed feelings within me. How far are these modern, voluble species authentic? Their ‘genuineness’ is deceptively common to that age-old rotten apple in the basket!
I can vouch for the relentless efforts of the authorities here, to keep the country protected and clean. “We are all responsible” is the war cry that should play within us continuously. Rein in the tendency to break rules, it will only make matters worse and help the virus to thrive amid us for a longer duration.
‘Covidiots’ aren’t minimalistic in their love of the self, which worsens the situation. Common sense is thrown to the wind. They seem to be in constant photo-ops in their minds! To enjoy that momentary pleasure they have contributed to the surge in the number of infections and also given a chance to propagandists to slur the country.
When my son was a three-year-old brat, we had gone to a park where he was up to some mischief. I saw a policeman nearby and told him to behave as I pointed out to the cop. The policeman came towards us and gave him a chocolate and advised me not to scare him; because if he respected the authorities and had faith in them, only then would he grow up to be a good citizen. This incident stayed with me.
Now, this boy is 15 and won’t be ever seen breaking protocols, because he feels responsible and I am grateful that the adherence to discipline, which is a USP of this country, has gotten inculcated within him.
— Navanita Varadpande is a writer based in Dubai. Twitter: @VpNavanita
