Storytellers were once important figures in a community. They acted as the guardians of our cultural history. The folktales and myths of our ancestors are the building blocks for every story that has been told since, and in many ways, for our identities and our understanding of the world and one another. Among other things, storytellers were the intermediaries that taught people how to put incomprehensible events in the right perspective.
For example, rhapsodes were the professional storytellers of Ancient Greece, who recited poetry - especially epic poetry - to an elite audience ranging in numbers from a few dozens to a few hundreds.
Griots, or Jelis, were (and still are) the traditional keepers of a society’s history in West African cultures. Hanashikas in Japan told tales of daily life and reinforced historical and moral lessons.
In Ireland, the seanchai were the traditional Irish keepers of stories. They would travel from village to village, reciting ancient lore and tales of wisdom. They told the old myths as well as local news and happenings.
The ability to tell stories effectively and memorably was a valuable skill in past centuries because people needed a way to remember the courageous deeds, conflicts, and events that defined their culture. Stories were kept alive by being told again and again. During this process, the material of any given story naturally underwent several changes and adaptations.
In modern times, our storytellers no longer perform before crowds of people in the marketplace, around a fire, or in a castle hall. They now appear on the television or computer screen. Unfortunately, these new storytellers have come down a peg from those in ancient times and are no longer known for their eloquence, imagination, or intellect.
Our world leaders and newscasters cannot hold a candle to Aesop, Homer, Shakespeare, or even Walt Disney, but still we allow them to define our narratives. They tell us about events in the world. Our first impulse is to believe them, especially when they tell us what we wish to hear. Nevertheless, depending on who is telling the story and from which perspective, the same event can vary considerably.
In Times of Coronavirus, the Covid-19 narrative has been presented in a wide variety of contexts. However, the general storyboard is always the same. At the beginning of the pandemic, the virus was an invading enemy that caught us unawares.
When it began decimating the countryside, those who were warriors took up arms and began to wage war against it in hospitals and grocery stores. Others of us swore a solemn oath of solitude until the pestilence was purged from the land. Later on, the invading forces became a tsunami that swept away everything (and everyone) in its path. Against tremendous odds, we continued to persevere, hoping that the tide would turn.
For the last few months, this has been the basic narrative that our leaders have constructed for us, and we have mostly accepted it. However, since nations are now lifting restrictions in an effort to salvage shattered economies, the coronavirus folktale must be further expanded and more richly embroidered. In order to justify reopening, the story requires a happy ending. Little does it matter that the story has still not ended.
This is particularly the case for nations such as Russia, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. In these countries, lockdown restrictions are being prematurely lifted despite the fact that there has been little or no decrease in infections and deaths.
The new expanded coronavirus folktale explains how the valiant heroes (i.e. the national population led by their great leader) after much suffering and a long battle, were finally able to vanquish and slay the Covid-10 dragon.
This great victory was only possible because the people followed the wise advice of their great leader and willingly made immense sacrifices. Their oath of solitude is now no longer necessary because the dragon has disappeared forever. Life in the country will be able to return to normal.
President Vladimir Putin, the dragon slayer of Russia, has stated that according to a panel of (unnamed) experts, the peak can be considered past. Now that the worst is over, he is back at the helm and says that everything can return to normal.
His first measure was to reschedule the World War II victory parade for 24 June. Opportunities to display strength and channel national pride are critically important to him, particularly now that doubts are creeping in about how the coronavirus pandemic was and is being handled in his country.
When the pandemic hit Russia, the president did not dust off his sword and shield, and ride out to do battle with the evil virus. Instead, he uncharacteristically retired to his dacha in order to distance himself from the mess. Worried that the coronavirus would affect his approval ratings, he temporarily surrendered power to regional governors, who were not accustomed to acting on their own, and allowed them to impose unpopular confinement measures. His calculation, however, did not work out because the mayor of Moscow became the media star, whereas President Putin’s popularity fell 20 points. Now he must recover lost ground even though the numbers of infected remain very high, and the dragon is still very much alive.
In Mexico, President López Obrador is much too old and jovial to assume the role of a dragon slayer. However, he has done the next best thing to killing the dragon. In a recent declaration, he says that he has ‘tamed’ the virus and that the measures taken against Covid-19 have been very effective.
Economic activity can thus begin again and the country can be reopened. Sadly, the Mexican people (with the exception of the president’s most fervent supporters) do not share his assessment of the situation and rightly believe that even a tame dragon is not the best choice of household pet.
Mexican friends have told me that they plan to remain in confinement because it would be insane to return to work. Surprisingly, there is a reduced sector of the population that believes the story told by their president, and is convinced that Mexico has done quite well. They have not looked at the statistics.
In the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson fought with the coronavirus dragon in hand-to-hand combat and almost died. Fortunately, he survived…. but so did the dragon. According to his own account of the battle, the fierce dragon was slain, but as anyone can see, the numbers of cases and deaths in the UK have not improved. The best that can be said is that they remain at the same depressingly high level.
Nonetheless, on 1 June, schools and businesses will be able to open again. Many of his scientific and medical advisors have warned him against this unwise course of action, but he refuses to listen to their story because it conflicts with his own.
However, the dragon is still with us.
