THE ongoing covid-19 crisis has brought home to us just who the important people in society really are.
These clearly include NHS workers, food production workers and supermarket staff, teachers, especially those who teach vulnerable children, those who help the most marginalised in society and care workers.
Many of these are often poorly paid.
We must remember who was there in this crisis and make sure that society in future respects them properly.
We must also build a gentler, fairer society for all.
The crisis is also a reminder that, although we like to feel that as humans we are above nature, we aren’t.
It is a reminder of the wisdom that we need in dealing with nature, whether it be viruses or the climate crisis.
Hopefully some wisdom will be gained by this experience.
As the Ancient Greek poet Aeschylus wrote in one of his more famous poems: “He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.”
We can only hope that against our will or not, wisdom does come to humanity after all this is over.
Peter Sagar, Newcastle upon Tyne.
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