What about me?

In these extraordinary times, I matter too.  Or better put, we all matter, whoever we are and in whatever time.  Where does this line come from?  

It is spurred on by news from Australia that, with the present Covid catastrophe in India, the Australian government has made it illegal for citizens to return home from there.  If they land back home, they will be subject to a hefty fine and imprisonment. 

I cannot use a photo this week as it is a news story and I will not break copyright.    

As an Australian living long term outside my country, I have my views.  I do appreciate the seriousness of the situation and agree totally on looking after life but this is not achieved by sacrificing the few for the sake of the masses.  Every life matters. 

To achieve the desired outcome of safety for all and caring for all, there must be other options available than simply consigning the few to staying in a dangerous environment.  

This pandemic is affecting the world's citizens, all of whom deserve our attention and care.  So one may ask some questions in response to such a specific initiative.  Where is our concern for humanity?  Is it lost in our concern solely for ourselves?  

We all have rights.  There are declared rights that inherently belong to all and can never be denied.  One such right is the right to citizenship and a home.  To deny this right or any such basic right, even in a crisis and temporarily, is a grave matter, setting a dangerous precedent.  Once a precedent of this nature is set, it can reappear and be used against less powerful and more vulnerable people to uphold the rights of a privileged class.  

The three point Mission Statement that I name as set by the pandemic - respect, responsibility, solidarity - says it all.  We are in this journey of life together for the good and the bad, for better or worse.  Together we stand.  We all have rights that matter and that cost us all.  They act to safeguard life for all, no matter who we are.  

We all matter