The new normal might look like an episode of ‘Hoarders’
Life will be different, we’re told, once the current pandemic house arrest is over.
Things will change. We’ll be more empathetic toward the elderly, champion front-line workers, stand up for health care and display renewed compassion — like the movie “Avatar” before the corporate jackhammers show up and wreck the planet.
Or maybe, goes the counterargument, we’ll be adrift in a sea of economic ruin, a wasteland with increased government surveillance and a clampdown on personal freedoms — like the totalitarian dictatorship in “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Now that Ontario COVID cases are peaking, it’s time to gaze into our crystal ball and — with help from our community panel — seek clues to the brave new world ahead.
On tap this week: radio personalities Angie Hill and Craig Norris, blues belter Cheryl Lescom, musician Sean Stokholm, University of Waterloo prof Christopher Taylor, indie theatre head Pam Patel and game show winner Steve Roth. Christopher, as a Black educator
who has charted racism over generations and experienced it first-hand, what can we expect — a swing to civility or George Orwell’s “1984”?
Taylor: I hate to be the person to pour water on this great “social-revolution-for-long-termchange” moment, but I see this post-COVID-19 world looking a lot like the pre-COVID world, especially when we see what’s happening in Ontario; the surveillance — carding — of marginalized — Black — communities. Making ‘poorer’ communities serve the ‘rich’ as we hide
out at home and they risk their lives so we can buy some toilet paper. The fact that we as a society don’t care about older generations. And the big one; stupid people making stupid decisions.
Stupidity is a hallmark of Western civilization. Taylor:
Stupidity is like Teflon: it can survive anything. Oh, and the suckiest part? The new normal is going to be like the old normal, but with a hell of a lot more racism, sexism, classism, you name it.
Sean, as a cultural observer who shoots from the hip, I count on your no BS view — you concur? Stokholm:
I see a lot my ordinarily smart and thoughtful peers witnessing the current economic collapse through a lens of Revelations-style rapture. Mother Nature is finally striking back! Neo-liberal capitalism has collapsed! There’s bunnies and deer romping on
Bay Street! Slap on those Birkenstocks and bake some bread!
Look, I’m decidedly socialist. But people are dying. Front-line workers are living in a psychological warzone. People are afraid of becoming homeless. Governments cannot underwrite a paycheque for every citizen indefinitely. Small businesses are collapsing, and many will not return.
Pam, as artistic director of the socially conscious MT Space, cynicism isn’t in your mandate. What’s the upside? Patel:
Health care for everyone. Income for everyone. Luxurious elder care. Clean and running water on reserves! These are some of the things I dream for in a post-pandemic world. Oh, and respect for the arts.
Nice dream. Will it happen? Patel:
We’ll be given a small window of opportunity. But we need to make sure we don’t leave people behind this time. My heart really goes out to three groups in particular; those living in long-term care facilities, those who are homeless, and those who are neglected proper health care because of their race.
As a society, we’ve seen how easily a sense of privilege can turn hard-won humility into do-nothing hubris. Patel:
I’ve been chatting with my mom every day about this. It’s really interesting hearing her thoughts as someone who grew up in India — a country that had to deal with pandemics and was historically on the forefront of eradicating disease. I grew up with a family who seemed so obsessive-compulsive when it came to cleanliness and being overly careful in public, but now it makes sense. As my mom says, hopefully folks in Canada will realize we’ve just been doing some things wrong this whole time.
Cheryl, musicians have been cut off from their life blood, resorting to a crowded field of livestreamed concerts. What happens once the clampdown is lifted? Lescom:
It was a struggle before, but it’s a game changer now. I would love to think we’ll come out of this better humans, living in a better world, but ... the rich will get richer and the poor will suffer. As usual.
This seems like a good time to call on our upbeat KFUN morning show host. Angie? Hill:
I wonder if some people won’t become like the survivors of the Great Depression — learning how to ration and go without? The new normal might look like an episode of “Hoarders.”
The first thing I’m gonna do is buy enough toilet paper to fill a garden shed and store it next to the portable generator I bought after the 2003 Northeast blackout. Hill:
I also think social distancing will be a thing. People may become more catlike — stay away and just circle another person until they are 100 per cent sure there’s no danger.
Steve, as the most happygo-lucky person in Waterloo Region, what’s your sense? Roth:
Our son was born two months after 9/11 and my wife and I agreed he would live in a different world than we were used to. We were right. I think the same thing will happen again. Life will change and I think for the better. Do I think handshaking will be a thing of the past? No. But I do think people will be aware of their personal space and that this is a good time to buy stock in hand sanitizer companies.
CBC radio guy, I’m counting on you for a socially responsible view. Norris:
I would humbly submit that the one thing we’ve learned from this is that we rarely know what is ahead. It may sound trite, but it’s true: the only moment we have is this one. Right here, right now.
Wise words. Is it possible you actually read those books I saw on your desk? Norris:
All we can really do moving forward is remember this time. Remember how bad things can get. Maybe that will help us stay compassionate and empathetic when we get out of this.