Miraculous Silver Linings



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Most people will be familiar with the saying, "Every cloud has a silver lining." The more cynical amongst us may prefer the waggish alternative version: "Every silver lining has a cloud." Be that as it may, the world is presently 'under a cloud', and perhaps in more ways than one. 

'Under a cloud' has connotations in the human species, of mental consternation or foreboding. Perhaps as a descriptor of our times it has never been more appropriate. However if we are to take the above aphorism seriously, maybe it is a useful exercise to look for and appreciate any 'silver linings'. They may indeed have a miraculous transformative impact on our outlook.

The 'big cloud' that is hanging over the nations of the world and the people in them is the so-called global pandemic of the Corona virus - 'Covid-19'. Even these names are interesting.

'Corona' is so named because (electron) microscopically, its multiple protuberances give a passing resemblance to a crown or coronet. My Oxford dictionary tells me the word, as so many do, comes from the ancient Latin and Greek. In Latin it meant 'wreath' and in Greek, 'anything bent'.  

Yes that certainly resonates. Wreaths are also synonymous with death. As for 'bent' referring to the living saplings intertwined to form the circle, well you can make your own mind up. 

Closely connected is the word 'coronation', namely the formal ceremony of placing a crown on the head of God's anointed. We are told the Queen is very well but self isolating with her consort Prince Philip at Windsor.  The heir to the throne, Prince Charles reported to have tested positive for the virus and suffering 'slight symptoms' but nevertheless quite well, was said to be self isolating at Birkhall, his cottage on the Scottish Balmoral estate, previously belonging to the Queen Mother. The distance between Windsor and Balmoral is certainly a good deal more than the two metres everyone else is recommended to stay apart, fastidiously complied with by most.

Amazingly, now we hear the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson is infected, suffering from symptoms of high temperature and dry cough and is self isolating in 10 Downing Street, though how that is supposed to work we do not know. Soon after both the Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Cris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, were said to have gone down with bug.

With both Houses of Parliament disbanded 'until further notice', the PM and leading members of the Government, the Monach and first in line to the throne effectively in a state of lock-down, it is reasonable to wonder who actually is in charge?


MERS-CoV particles as seen by negative stain electron microscopy. Virions contain characteristic club-like projections emanating from the viral membrane.

Source: Cynthia Goldsmith/Maureen Metcalfe/Azaibi Tamin  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/mers/photos.html

A collection of particles (coloured pink) of the new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, emerging from an infected cell in a scanning-electron-microscope image.

Credit: NIAID-RML/de Wit/Fischer  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00639-8


Who would have thought such a tiny entity that even photons fail to reveal, hence the need for electrons to illuminate it, could cause such panic and disruption? It has succeeded where all the wit and innovation has failed. Without hyperbole, it has shut down the human economic and social world and even if temporarily turned back the mysterious clock of time at least a century. 

It is reliably estimated the whole UK population is severely restricted, whether or not they are suffering symptoms or are particularly vulnerable by virtue of other serious health conditions. It is reliably estimated that three billion - almost half - the world's population are subject to special controls. In the history of infectious disease, this is quite unprecedented. Whether it is proportionate or necessary is another matter.

It has done so by plugging into an atavistic and deep-rooted fear of annihilation, and not just individual and personal but societal and special - in the sense of a whole human species. What else can explain whole nations of people to be prepared to accept severe limitations on one of their most fundamental freedoms of movement, close down all but the most essential of businesses, induce people to keep their distance from one another and bar normal social intercourse? 

The whole nation has become paranoid: in specific cases known to me personally, a person worried as to whether two people talking outside on the pavement might affect them in the bedroom of their house; in another complaining about youths on a skate park and immediately closed down by the police with blue tape as if it was a crime scene; causing a woman shopper to rage uncontrollably because she claimed I was standing too close to her husband (I wasn't!); mass police at supermarkets interrogating shoppers in cars as to the necessity of their trip; others being warned by police not to drive their pets to a walking location; brawls over toilet rolls and pasta! 

This can only be described as irrational behaviour, fuelled by inanimate fear. The ominous overtones of imperious and tyrannical totalitarian control are not hard to see or imagine. It is undoubtedly an object lesson in how easy it seems to be to influence the minds and actions of the masses when required, not by obvious coercion but by a much more invidious propagation of fear. And how willing the police show themselves to be to enforce the 'rules' designed not to prevent crime but innocent movement and contact, even in an area where the dreaded virus is non-existent!

Who could dissent from the view that we have undoubtedly entered the territory of Orwell's 1984, even if somewhat belatedly. One contributor to the debate chose to put it more prosaically: 

Tim Coil shared a post.

Admin · 19 mins

I am currently reading a book by Laurens van der Post entitled 'Brady' which was published in 1991. (Rather strangely this title is not included in a list of his works here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurens_van_der_Post ) 

Post, who was a major influence on Prince Charles and was Godfather to Prince William, died in December 1996 three days after his 90th birthday.  

The book reviews incidents in his long life, particularly recalling the impact of Greek mythology and the interplay it had with his own philosophical interpretation of often harrowing personal experiences in both war and peace. The scourge of cancer in friends and relations and its inevitable relationship to animals, particularly the horse and the wider environment, is discussed in its spiritual and mystical context. 

The book is about the modern plague of cancer but nowhere has the reaction to it anything like which the Coronavirus has evoked and brought into sharp relief.

He alludes to the writings and impact of Carl Jung (1875 - 1961) and in particular his emphasis on the importance of the allegorical and mythological on what he coined as the 'Collective Unconscious'. Perhaps as never before, the 'Covid-19' pandemic has brought this interpretation to the fore, for what else adequately explains the almost hysterical - a term of course invented by his colleague Freud - response to an imagined and grossly exaggerated threat? 

The theme of the importance of the mythological and allegorical has recently been taken up by the social psychologist Jordan Peterson. It has contributed to the phenomenon of the world-wide success of his videos, books and lectures. What he has had to say has clearly resonated predominantly, but not exclusively with a young male audience, affected it would appear with a common ill-ease, even we may say, dis-ease, regarding their psychological state and role - in effect their 'collective unconscious'. Sadly the effort and stress of doing so appears to have taken its toll. In Post's iteration of the ancient aphorism, "the physician must suffer pain" and also not unconnected to the current plague of cancer with numerous environmental causes. 

Humans, particularly in times when Christian and other theology is so relentlessly attacked by such luminaries as the late Christopher Hitchens (1949 - 2011) still evidence a yearning for ultimate meaning, that Hitchens, himself falling prey to cancer, so effectively disparaged. His intellectual and oratorical powers were undisputed, but one cannot fail to be left with a bleak and arid world view. Rationality may be required but so is an appreciation of the immortal and eternal, the metaphysical and miraculous, if the human soul is to be watered and fruitful.

I am reminded of the saying, "if you take a text out of context you make it into a pretext', which I believe in another sense can be applied to this particular SARS virus. 

It appears that morbidity and mortality overall is not markedly different from flu viruses in previous years, but the threat has been hyped up to such an extent, that the international response has been unprecedentedly irrational and extreme. (See the official British Government decision that COVID-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease in the UK based upon all the current available evidence. Why we might add has this significant decision not been circulated as widely as the continuing fear-mongering and lock-down? In fact, the media has largely ignored it.

Of course it would be possible to evoke the same reaction by reference to one of a multitude of illnesses and conditions, not least the plague of cancer that is in fact the cause of around a third of all deaths each year, but government chooses not to do so. In comparison, even when basing the figures on a very select group of the very ill, the death rate is only about 2%. Were all those carrying anti-bodies to the virus included, the true death rate would be significantly lower. It would appear Government and media have played up the risk of death but played down the fact that most survive after being infected. Nor has the comparison with normal death rates from the flu been clearly stated, which would show very little variation from what might be expected in the normal course of events.

So why has Government here and elsewhere taken this extreme approach to Covid-19, an approach that has been so avidly and wholeheartedly supported by the public? Some have argued it qualifies as a gigantic 'scam'. If it is, the public has  proved to be equally 'gullible'.

So now at last we come to the point of this discourse: the 'silver linings', if there are any, of the current crisis.  Covid-19 may be short for 'confirmed viral disease 2019'. I don't really know, but it might as well be. I can't help thinking it has a particularly ominous ring to it not far removed from 'coven', the haunt of witches and divination. It has certainly cast its spell over the world. It would seem that deep-rooted superstitious fear has supplanted a rational, level-headed assessment of the actual risk, rather than the mythical one. Ah the importance of the myth in informing and influencing behaviour!

My father when suffering from the advanced stages of Parkinson's Disease, was obsessed by 'Covies', that lurked behind curtains and elsewhere. When I used to assure him there was nothing there, he replied, "It's OK for you. You can't see them." Perhaps now as the human race we are seeing exaggerated 'Covid' threats where they don't exist? Whether the international scare was started deliberately, by forces beyond our knowledge or control, is quite another matter. We shall have to see how and for what purpose it is manipulated.

But as to the silver linings, the incredible shut down in the economy, business and movement, with people everywhere obeying the command to stay home and 'self-isolate', has meant a swathe of undoubtedly desirable outcomes. Road traffic and its inevitable atmospheric and noise pollution has been cut drastically. Those still able and required to drive must find the empty highways a delight. 

And incredibly the skies are quite clear of aircraft and their resultant condensation - some would say 'chem-trails - quite absent. Never has the sky been so blue or the stars seem so bright, connecting us to the unfathomable universe and our distant mythological past. Perhaps being forced to stay at home, often alone, has also made us reassess what had pre-occupied us before, appreciate our freedom of movement and the importance and inter-connectivity of nature and of our social network (if we have one) Will we ever want to return to our previous state?

Down through history calamity, and particularly plague, has been associated with change - economic, social, political, philosophical. Will that be evidenced this time and for better or worse? Strangely, and perhaps not accidentally, the Corona virus consequences have chimed with the whole CO2/'Extinction Rebellion'/'One World' agenda. We shall have to see whether that proves to be a silver lining or a cloud.


Footnote

Following from: 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid?fbclid=IwAR1gylvbQWaETG22kZkaWOdAqvlGD5gpJlabYCyJ5oCI_jIUovhp4O_ir1s#status-of-covid-19

Status of COVID-19

As of 19 March 2020, COVID-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) in the UK.

The 4 nations public health HCID group made an interim recommendation in January 2020 to classify COVID-19 as an HCID. This was based on consideration of the UK HCID criteria about the virus and the disease with information available during the early stages of the outbreak. Now that more is known about COVID-19, the public health bodies in the UK have reviewed the most up to date information about COVID-19 against the UK HCID criteria. They have determined that several features have now changed; in particular, more information is available about mortality rates (low overall), and there is now greater clinical awareness and a specific and sensitive laboratory test, the availability of which continues to increase.

The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) is also of the opinion that COVID-19 should no longer be classified as an HCID.

The need to have a national, coordinated response remains, but this is being met by the government’s COVID-19 response.

Cases of COVID-19 are no longer managed by HCID treatment centres only. All healthcare workers managing possible and confirmed cases should follow the updated national infection and prevention (IPC) guidance for COVID-19, which supersedes all previous IPC guidance for COVID-19. This guidance includes instructions about different personal protective equipment (PPE) ensembles that are appropriate for different clinical scenarios.

A little local conversation!

Must a Depression cause depression?

Tim Veater

1 hr · 

One pessimistic take on current events: Gareth Williams shared a link.
Admin · 10 hrs
It is coming.

I don't want to be the bearer of bad News, but we are headed on the down curve of a rollercoaster and we'd better hold on for our lives.

Listen very carefully to the warning given by well-respected journalist James Corbett about what we are expecting and what we should do next.

This is is not a test. It's not a drill.

Our Government will be able to control you much more than it is now. There will be curfews, currency controls, you name it.

If you value your freedom and your human rights then you will have to become more self-sufficient, and that means you'll need to be able to grow your own food, conduct your own electricity, etc. if you want to even survive this.

The deaths from the supposed cure will be greater than the cause of all this. The Corona virus will pass and we will look back on this and think: "How did we even allow ourselves to let things go this far?"

Trust me on this, we are headed for the collapse of markets, of jobs, of civil liberties, and the enforcement of mandatory vaccinations and a cashless society.

We will have to decentralise and live off-grid as much as we can to survive. More importantly, it will be about helping each other out as much as we can when we can if you don't want to be controlled by the Government.

It is going to be like it was in the First World War when Government propaganda posters were all around: "Your Country Needs You."

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlTHjAuqRHs...

Ros Anstey Ye Gods ! Where's the nearest gas oven? Thanks Tim......Not... 😰

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  Tim Veater Man-up Ros! It might never happen. he he

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  Tim Veater You know me, one of life's eternal optimists.

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  Ros Anstey Tim Veater In the meantime though everyone feels even more depressed after reading this...not good for man or mouse, our Tim. . We know how bad things are but we need to stay positive... and that means cheerful things...and cheerful posts..x.

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  Ros Anstey Tim Veater Optimist? x

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  Tim Veater Ros Anstey I take the view that the most important thing is to be educated and realistic about current events. It helps no one to pretend what is happening is not happening. We also need to be able to separate our emotional state from external events. We need to look inside rather than outside, for our optimism and equanimity. That is essentially a matter of philosophy and faith. "Let justice be done though the heavens fall." For 'justice', we might also read 'truth'. Under the waves the sea is calm.

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  Ros Anstey Tim Veater We are all so different though, Tim......and some people get emotional very easily..so probably they should not read everything they see, or listen to anything on this threat. It only makes them more anxious and liable to illness..I'm afraid they can't separate their emotional state from external events, so need to keep away from any posts like the one from the video above...education and realism about current events won't help them...🌺🌺🌺

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  Wendy Wilson Tim you need to get back to your Bible.. Prophecy being revealed before I eyes.

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  Tim Veater Much of my effort has been to dispel irrational fear, which, for whatever reason has been stoked, and even possibly created, by world government. The population has been terrorised, yes terrorised, by Government. It is they that have been the prophets of doom. Perhaps that is because they know more about the bug, its creation and dispersion, than we do. I believe a much more sensible approach would have been to step up protection for the vulnerable groups, require isolation for those experiencing flu like symptoms, follow up contacts as much as possible, ban large public events, recommend basic hygiene measures, but otherwise allow the bug to take its course, and society and business to continue as normal. That would have done more to relieve the irrational fear, that is now almost palpable, than anything else. But then of course I am not and never shall be in charge of this biological threat.

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  Tim Veater Wendy Wilson You may be right Wendy but the trouble with prophecy it is all things to all men. Rather than projecting events, events are made to fit the prophesy. No one really knows what all those things in Revelation mean. We might as well rely on the visions and perspective of someone on LSD. That does not mean they do not mean something, just that it is impossible to decipher them with any degree of certainty. Adverse circumstances, both personal and societal, cry out for explanation intellectually, viscerally and spiritually. This has been true throughout the ages with every plague, massacre and natural disaster. In the Second WW many thought Hitler was the Antichrist. Maybe he was and these are indeed the last days of human civilization. Only God knows!

Veater Ecosan

7 hours ago 1.4.2020

The best and in fact ONLY defence to the disease is natural anti-bodies that can only be achieved by exposure to the virus. The government and media has tapped into irrational, and deeply embedded, plague fears. Peter Hitchens should be applauded for challenging the prevailing narrative.

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Daniel Doucet52 minutes ago

What is your evidence to back up your claim ? The current facts do not support what you are saying at all. Listen to experts, not just Mr. Hitchens, who is not an expert in infectious diseases. He is an expert in journalism. You may want to listen to him because you like his opinion, but the truth does not conform to our desires. That is a very dangerous way of thinking.

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Veater Ecosan49 minutes ago

@Daniel Doucet If anti-bodies are not the only defence against pathogenic viruses, what is?

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Veater Ecosan30 minutes ago

@Daniel Doucet See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UO3Wd5urg0

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Daniel Doucet4 minutes ago

@Veater Ecosan A vaccine, which could take months or even years to develop. The virus mutates quickly, which makes treatment even more difficult. This is a novel virus which means no human has ever had it. Building immunity is a pipe dream. This is, by far, the worst public health crisis since the Spanish flu. The US has nearly 200,000 cases and approaching 4000 deaths because of the way Trump's administration handled it and his own expert is saying 200,000 will die before this is contained. This is serious, scary shit.

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Veater Ecosan1 second ago

@Daniel Doucet As you say, there is no vaccine - ergo you must agree with me. If you watch that video you will see that there are no reliable figures on death rates because no one knows how many in the general population have immunity from earlier exposure. The Iceland study suggests over 50%. There is clear evidence that the virus causing Covid-19 was bio-engineered because of four specific spikes in the genome. The next question is to what extent anti-bodies to Corona virus, which has been around for decades, confers immunity to this specific one. The profile of the people most seriously affected identifies the elderly and those with serious underlying health conditions and men more than women.

Funny business?

‎Mark Lea‎ to Gordon Bowden, 788 - 790 Finchley Road, Pandoras Box

1 hr · 

Just been handed some info. Do you know of any of these addresses? These people currently run the country it seems.