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'Don’t let fear get the better of you,' Japanese Red Cross video urges

8 Comments
By George Lloyd, grape Japan

The coronavirus and state of emergency have turned the world upside down. In this state of exception, everyone is wondering if we’ll ever be able to return to normal. How will our collective experience of the virus shape the future? Will future generations speak of "BC" (before coronavirus) and "AC" (after coronavirus)?

Looking ahead, perhaps the greatest threat is not the virus itself, but the fear it has generated. Of course, everyone is worried about the possibility of catching the dreaded virus, but fear of infection has been playing strange tricks on a lot of people’s thinking.

As a welcome antidote to the torrent of alarmist media hype that is threatening to become the new normal, the Japanese Red Cross Society has released an animated video warning of the dangers of excessive fearfulness. It has English language subtitles and is well worth watching.

As the video makes clear, it’s only natural to be concerned about a dangerous new virus, and to do all you can not to catch it. The coronavirus can be avoided by regular hand washing, social distancing and so on. But the fear it generates can spread like an infection too - and may prove to be even more harmful.

Fear and blame go hand in hand. There have been reports of discrimination against infected people and the medical staff looking after them. Shop staff have also faced prejudice. Blaming people who have contracted the virus for their condition is especially dangerous because if people think they will face prejudice, they will be less likely to come forward and seek treatment.

Like the virus, fear thrives on carelessness, so you should take care not to let it take over. There’s a lot of misinformation, idle speculation and fear-mongering out there, so make sure that the sites you turn to for your news are trustworthy. When online news sources tell you that ‘we’re not being told the whole truth’ or ‘someone has to take the blame’ for the virus, think about the consequences. Blaming one another corrodes the ties that bind societies together. Perpetuating suspicion and mistrust will only make the isolation that we currently have to live in permanent.

Don’t spend all your time immersed in following grim updates on the virus’ progress. Spend some time away from news sites. Turn off your computer and smartphone from time to time. Call a friend. Have a laugh. Eat properly and get a good night’s sleep.

Suspicion, mistrust, confusion and isolation don’t help when it comes to planning anything. If we’re to re-emerge as rational, cooperative creatures who make decisions based on hard facts and verifiable evidence, we should resist fear like the plague (pardon the pun). If we don’t, the world "AC" may turn out to be more frightening than the coronavirus itself.

Read more stories from grape Japan.

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© grape Japan

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

8 Comments
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Will future generations speak of "BC" (before coronavirus) and "AC" (after coronavirus)?

seriously? It’s not a tad dramatic? Yeeesh.....

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Wondering when we'll return to normal?

How about, within days?

In Japan they are releasing multiple prefectures from this lockdown nonsense.

Throughout America, many citizens have had enough of this shelter in place thing and have openly defined state and city orders to stay at home and wear a mask. Establishments and recreational areas from coast to coast have seen people gathering in large groups, no social distance and having a great time.

We can't crawl into a hole and stay there forever. Many of us have to actually work to earn a living, you know.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Wonderful message in such a soothing, reassuring tone. I hope the Red Cross spreads the same message globally.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

This ACDC thing drains credibility right from the start.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good message.

But do not be carefree either. People are still being infected and thousands are still dying from this every day.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The coronavirus does not appear to pose an existential threat to humanity at this time. Unfortunately, other fears are not so easily conquered by feel good messages. In many societies this crisis has further exposed fundamental flaws, like the precarity of work for a majority of the population and bailouts that widen gaps, enriching the already well connected minority while barely addressing the economic fallout for the majority.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

'Don’t let fear get the better of you'

Good advice. More and more Americans are not letting fear get the better of them and are opposing the lockdowns.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

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