Commentary

The democratic society we see today in Sweden and the several rights we have, has been the result of people's struggle. Individuals have been important in these struggles. People who, through their actions or their struggles, have pushed the boundaries of what is possible and who have won even rights for themselves and others. Truly, being a woman and fighting in a male world was a challenge. Many women pioneers faced opposition both for their views and for being women.

It is now almost two years since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Hand sanitizer, face mask and social distancing were new, but eventually became a regular routine. Not much was known about coronavirus. No treatment drugs and no vaccines to prevent infection. However, we have now come a long way. We have not just one but many vaccines and promising treatment drugs. Unfortunately, we seem to be playing a game of hide and seek with the virus.

In forming United Nations and colonized nations becoming politically independent, the world took one step forward. However, by retreating to extreme nationalism and engaging in violence to solve national and international problems, the world is taking two steps back.

Several months ago, we thought we were about to see light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic tunnel. Then our high optimism was deflated by the emergence of the D variant of the virus. Again, optimism is rising since more than 70% of the eligible people in the developed countries have now been vaccinated. Unfortunately, the fact that the level of vaccination in the developing countries is still extremely low, thus providing a breeding ground for new variants of the virus which may be resistant to the present vaccines.

After eighteen months of the pandemic’s new normal, I often hear people complain about the restrictions of their freedom and violation of their human rights. Road rage shooting and increased murder rates are common in parts of the USA. Sexual assaults and teenage pregnancies in countries like Uganda are rising astronomically. Such complaints and talks  got me thinking about the good old days. Were the old days as good as people say they were? This note and the other articles will address this question.

Our last issue was dedicated to change which comes with happiness, uncertainty, and sadness. This issue is dedicated to learning lessons from history. The just concluded Tokyo Olympics was fairly successful despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. There was no massive infection of athletes and no boycotts and no massive doping scandals. Thanks to lesson learned from past experiences. However, it is regrettable that there is still some doping among athletes as well  as corruption within the International Olympic Organization (IOC).

The July issue is dedicated to change. In the May issue, I thought that with the availability of the COVID-19 vaccines, happy days were almost here again. Unfortunately, that was wishful thinking because the pandemic is still wreaking havoc in many places; India had not yet seen its worst case in May and June. 

It has been almost 18 months since the coronavirus pandemic struck. Many people in the developing countries and disadvantaged people in the developed countries celebrated the mistaken notion that the virus spares nobody. However, the celebration was short lived because it soon became obvious that not everyone was equally vulnerable.