‘WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN?’
As my readers recall, Georg Wilhelm Fredrich Hegel wryly observed: ‘History teaches us that Man learns nothing from History’.
Across the globe a virus is spreading – in the main because of the openness of national borders and the ease of international travel.
There was, initially, an understandable reluctance by national leaders to pull up the drawbridges of their respective castles:
It was as if international travellers were greeted at the airports and docks and road and rail borders with these words:
‘WELCOME HOME! DO INFECT AS MANY OF THE CITIZENS OF THE NATION AS POSSIBLE.’
Will you supposedly rational human beings learn from this calamity or will you once again forget the many lessons that were tragically taught a hundred years ago at the cost of 100 millions lives when the ‘Spanish Flu’ infected 500 million people – a quarter of the world’s population?
(It was called ‘The Spanish Flu’, as my readers will know, because the only country that allowed journalists to report on the disease was Spain – a neutral nation in The Great War. At the end of W.W.I. censors minimized early reports of the illness and mortality in Germany, Britain, France and U.S.A. to supposedly maintain morale.)
All the residents at the zoo are distressed at the lack of visitors. Strangely, despite the historical amnesia of Humanity, we miss you. The eagles are keeping their eyes on our chimpanzee keepers. (They are only permitted to leave the compound to purchase our bananas.)
Gibber! Gibber!
Chugley, The Historically Informed Chimpanzee
P.S. My fellow chimpanzees in the Congo are safe thus far but if Africa allows visitors to return from overseas and mingle immediately with the population, the scenario is terrifying.
Gibber! Gibber!
Chugley
The Historical Chimp
6 thoughts on “‘WHEN WILL THEY EVER LEARN?’”
We are taught history to be able to learn from mankind’s previous mistakes.
It clearly does not work! Back to the Good Book.
How stupid can humans be? They should be forced to watch Forrest Gump once a month – stupid is as stupid does. Gibber! Gibber! Chugley
My wife and I are in the “welcome home” cohort who anxiously await the safe arrival home of our son from Mexico City. He is scheduled to be on possibly the last commercial flight from the US to Sydney before all flights into Oz cease, and Oz goes into lockdown.
Whilst I fully understand the sentiment that the “drawbridge to the castle” should be pulled up immediately…there are a few of us who appreciate government compassion towards loved ones still to return to their homeland. Having said that, our son will be isolating himself on his return to a rented Air BnB Unit specifically rented for the mandatory 2 weeks isolation period. If all returnees did likewise, they should pose no greater threat to public health than any of us, I think.
Very glad to hear that about your son Paul. It is the people who have been allowed to wander off unchecked from cruise ships that are incomprehensible! Gibber! Gibber! Chugley
Anyway, it’s a great time to catch up with phone calls to family members and get a few good books under the belt.
Well you will better understand what it is like for me to be confined to barracks in my compound! Gibber! Gibber! Chugley
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