The Impossible Timeout

By: Claire Parsons

I haven’t left my house in over a month, you probably haven’t either. Life during the COVID-19 crisis can, for those of us who aren’t essential workers, feel like the world has frozen. I am a Toronto resident and therefore I am used to the bustling lifestyle and constant traffic. However, recently the streets around me have never been safer to drive. The storefronts are papered up, some even boarded to protect the contents inside. Those still with glass are bare and always dark. Flour, eggs, and yeast have been added to the list of essential groceries that have suddenly found value equal to gold. The people out for walks in the street are skittish and stand six feet apart in line for their prescription, to pick up dinner, or get a loaf of bread. It can, at times, feel like the end of the world. I have never lived through an apocalypticfeeling time before but there is something strange about a cataclysmic crisis. There is solidarity in standing six feet apart from someone, a certain knowing in the eyes of a neighbour about the difficulties of the modern day. That is the

fascination I have with dark times, there is a strong current of humanity among all of the awful. I call it the Impossible Timeout. There is something about global chaos that solves everyday issues that seem to be unsolvable at any other time. For example, some of the most difficult and tense relationships between countries have been set aside in order to address the communal issues of COVID-19. Russia has sent its largest cargo plane to the US packed full of medical supplies in order to accomodate for the shortages the US is experiencing. The Russian Embassy even released a statement saying that “there is no alternative to working together.” In a similarly uncharacteristic move from the deeply protectionist state, China has also taken a deeply humanitarian approach to the crisis. Just a few weeks ago, a Chinese technological company sent tens of thousands of ventilators to Italy. Across each box was written the Roman writer, Seneca’s, phrase: “we are waves from the same sea, leaves from the same tree, and flowers from the same garden.” During this time of difficulty, countries that are deeply antagonized internationally have stepped into the light as page 10

contributors to a collective recovery. It is clear that in such difficult times, there is an existing international solidarity. When President Trump threatened mass N95 mask distributor, 3M, the company disregarded the threat and stated that it was on humanitarian grounds that they had to distribute globally, including to Canada. Prime Minister Trudeau stated that there would be no international repercussions for the threat, but rather emphasized the absolute necessity for collaboration globally. In fact, in the past few months, more ‘unsolvable’ issues have been tackled than within the past decade. In Winnipeg, $1.2 million has been allotted to expand shelters to allow the homeless to have a place to shelter during the pandemic. They have delegated certain hotels in the city to be a safeplace for those who have tested positive for the virus to get the help they need and social distance safely and comfortably. Both California and Nevada have adopted similar strategies, with California opening their vacant hotels’ doors and Nevada opening large tent-like shelters for the homeless to go once tested positive. Granted, this was not without controversy, as Nevada’s original plan was to lay out painted ‘self isolation’ squares for the homeless to sleep in. While already horrifying in nature, the image is backed by empty Las Vegas hotels. The story went viral. Thousands of people from around the world immediately put pressure on government officials by stating that the strategy was a “black eye on the city.” I would go as far as to say that behaviour such as this is exceptional, as quite often the homeless are a population forgotten and abandoned, and therefore to finally see such a mobilization for one of the world’s most vulnerable populations is an exemplary manifestation of the humanity that people draw upon in times of extreme crisis. In these incredible and impossible times we are, without question, doing the impossible. Decade long feuds have been set aside in favour of the world’s betterment and medical supplies are being spread around the world by demand rather than by capital wager.

The traditional and pride filled strategies of politics have been castaway as government officials become laser focused on what can do the most good, a viewpoint they were elected to have in the first place. Not to mention that the vast societal issues that seem to be the most behemoth challenges in times of ease are being tackled as if they are just another task on a docket. People are caring about each other.

During the times where you feel exceptionally alone and clouded by the horrors of what a pandemic does, look at what it brings out of people. Oftentimes, the best of them. There is an unspoken understanding among society as a whole that with collaboration and determination we will make it out of this. When we do, we must ask ourselves difficult questions about whether falling back to apathy and satisfaction is enough. In our darkest hours, we have done more for our countries and our world than the ‘normal’ standard. Boldly, I would claim that such dark hours offer us an enlightenment, an ability to change, a firm sense of community. That’s the part of this crisis that shouldn’t end. As you walk down the sidewalk on one side and I walk down the other side, there is someone walking down the centre of the street and the three of us, without question, are healing together.