Let’s Get Rational — Freedom Doesn’t Mean Free of Responsibility

Social distancing is a privilege not everyone can afford

‘Mbok’ selling fabrics by the streetside of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

When I came across this video on a friend’s page, I cringed at the title he gave “Why Collective Stupidity Can Be Dangerous”.

For those that don’t speak Indonesian, the video above basically shows an activist investigating the opinions from real people on the streets of Jakarta in regards to what they think of the recent outbreak of coronavirus in the country. To the question of “Are you scared of coronavirus?”, all of the interviewees in the video replied “No”. Some even elaborated, “Why should I be scared? Any disease can be cured”.

The same attitudes followed around the world before citizens were finally told that the threat of coronavirus was actually … as real as it gets (surprise, surprise why do you think a whole city of 11 million people went on lockdown). One of the most famous examples is “If I Get Corona, I Get Corona” spring-break-boy, whom I am trying to avoid using as a mascot of ignorance because:
1. he had enough 5-minute of fame/trashing;
2. we need to be aware that ignorance is widely spread amongst the globe, not only in Miami every year during March and April; and most importantly,
3. this boy later publicly apologized for his statement — which is more than what most people can do.

‘Mas mas’ playing card games on the street of Malang, Indonesia

While I agree that this video demonstrates the blatant ignorance, or at best, a complacency of the general public (in stark contrast to the paranoia spurring amongst the Indonesian netizens), this story is far more complex. Elizabeth Pisani*, a writer, journalist and scientist, specialising in infectious disease epidemiology, opened her Ted Talk with a headline in a UK newspaper, The Guardian “People do stupid things. That’s what spreads HIV”.

Sounds a little familiar to our coronavirus situation and the increasing societal pressure to #staythefuckhome? Similarly to those who do stupid things such as having unprotected sex or sharing needles, and end up catching HIV, amidst this pandemic, some people also stupidly still go out for drinks (or wander around the globe), potentially harming the rest of the population in the process.

However, as I said, the story is far more complex. I am one of the fortunate ones whose work can be done at home and for an extended period of time at that. I am guaranteed salary and my contract dictates should the company decide to end my contract early, I am owed damages/termination fee. That is NOT the same case for 18.6% of the total Indonesian workforce who works in the service industry. That’s 23,994,000 people. This figure does not even include Gojek (rideshare) drivers, kaki lima street vendors, satpam security guards, office cleaners, for whom, no work means no food. This story is repeated all across the globe, both in developing and developed countries.

What’s rational for us may not be the same as what’s rational for someone who may not have anything to eat tomorrow.

For them, their choice is either:

1. To stay at home and accept the fact that there will be 100% chance of having no food on the table tomorrow, or
2. Go to work and PERHAPS get a disease that MAY or MAY NOT kill them.

While everyone can agree that being infected with coronavirus is bad, we can also agree that it’s worse to see your children starve. Granted, from a public health perspective, social distancing is the best option for all of us now. But realistically some people just can’t afford to chill at home or pick up a new hobby for the next month or so.

As of this week, this situation has changed. The danger of coronavirus is now acknowledged by the general public in Indonesia, even amongst the poor. However, the problems remain. When they don’t work, they don’t eat.

For those people who cannot not work, I urge you not to be ignorant and ‘leave it to God’ — while yes, faith may help some to cope in this time of uncertainty. I urge you to be vigilant: avoid close contact with people; wash hands with soap and water; cough and sneeze into your elbow; and wear masks if available. Because like MOST diseases, ignorance can be cured.

‘Mas mas’ cooking one of the best noodles in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Freedom isn’t Free

For the fortunate ones, count your blessings and just remember apart from medical staffs, these people who cannot afford to stay home are the ones who need masks and disinfectants the most.

As for the people who marched to protest because apparently being kept at home for your safety is a violation of human rights, you know what violates human rights: risking the lives of others who cannot afford not to stay at home: the health care workers; the homeless; the supermarket staffs and those managing the logistics of food and deliveries. Do you know who wants to trade places with you? The people who have to share living spaces with tens of other people, where maintaining 2m distance is plain impossible.

If you believe this protest is about human rights at all, you are kidding yourself. If you can’t bear another minute inside your home, you can literally step outside and purchase some food as an excuse (the strictest lockdown measures I’ve read still allows citizens to go out and purchase food or medicine, which in Wuhan was not even allowed) instead of protesting and violating every code of social distancing, putting others at risk. This ain’t got anything to do with Bill of Rights**.

Had this protest been anything about human rights, it would have been executed with the utmost respect for safety, just like how thousands of Israelis protested against anti-democratic measures, while wearing masks and standing 2 metres apart.

Note:

*I urge you to watch Pisani’s Ted Talk, Sex, drugs and HIV — let’s get rational (Yes, my title is inspired from her talk) which detailed her experience working in an HIV prevention programme in Indonesia under WHO and UNAid in 2004. While you’re at it, also read her book on Indonesia Etc, which entails her travel across Indonesia’s Sumba, Flores, Sulawesi, the Maluku Islands, Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Java. I recommend this book to EVERYONE visiting or lives/lived in Indonesia since it’s by far the best book that honestly portrays the Indonesian people, the adat (lit: tradition) and government.

**On the point of Bills of Rights, isn’t it strange that there is such a passionate drive in protecting Second Amendment: the right to keep and bear arms, but there is minimal attention in fixing a legal system which supports a bail structure that needlessly imprisons poor people and ultimately violates the Eight Amendment?

This post is part of the series which details my experience as a coronavirus bystander with 2-month 'head start' in China.
1. Beijing Coronavirus Diary: Part 1
The Abrupt and Gradual Changes
2. Beijing Coronavirus Diary: Part 2
The New Normal
3. Humanity vs Coronavirus
Is this really the face of humanity?
I hope these stories will show you how parallel our lives can be despite the divide in space and time.