a pandemic — everyone is “ us .” Distinctions that rank or separate people mean nothing to a virus . Whether we are wealthy or poor , whether we are persons of colour or white , whether we are citizens , immigrants , or refugees , whether we live in cities or rural areas , or whether we lean right or left politically , we are all potential hosts for this virus . From the virus ’ s point of view — so to speak — we are one undifferentiated herd .
Many of us have noticed the advantage of adopting the virus ’ s point of view to combat it . As a province , we have suppressed the virus best whenever we have behaved as a united community to which each member fully belongs . When we allowed our distinctions to divide us — whether by providing inadequate supports to certain groups or by creating divisions in our response to the virus — COVID-19 gained ground . On the other hand , to the extent we supported everyone and worked together , we pulled ahead of the virus .
With many new starts and disappointing retreats , something like our past is returning . As it does , will we apply what we have learned ? At the level of our biology , we have no choice about being a single community to which each one of us fully belongs . However , our social and political lives do not come to us fully formed . Generation by generation , we have a hand in shaping the attitudes and building the connections that give our society its character . That ’ s why John Donne advised us to remember that no one is an island . So did the virus .
Lloyd Den Boer is a retired educator who lives with his wife in Edmonton . Having relied on technology to maintain their connections for far too long , they hope to be face-to-face with others soon .
2022 PHOTO CONTEST
ARTA is proud to sponsor its tenth annual photo contest . All ARTA members — regular or affiliate — are eligible to enter . This year , we will have two different categories . If you have won in the past , you will fall under the Masters category ; if you have not been a past winner , you will enter the Novice category . Winners will be announced in the autumn 2022 issue of news & views and posted on ARTA electronic media sites .
Contest Categories
● Nature ● Making It
● Travel ● Ten
All entries must be received by ARTA no later than 4:00 p . m ., May 31 , 2022 .
Entries should be mailed to
ARTA Photo Contest 15505 137 Avenue NW Edmonton , AB T5V 1R9
Digital images can be emailed to contests @ arta . net
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