Ghost In The Machine
By
Manoj Kumar
I have self quarantined myself after an emergency visit to the dentist to extract a cracked tooth, risky in covid time, not much social distancing or wearing mask or airborne infection control at the dentist.
While I watch the news American cities like Minneapolis, St Paul, Chicago, LA are suffering riots and violence. Millions are out of jobs. There seems to be anger all around. The only good news was the SpaceX launch today. Drums of war and pestilence like Chinese amassing soldiers on the Indian borders and locusts moving across India and Pakistan.
Migrant workers walking hundred of miles with family. Brazil’s crazy leader having no sympathy for his people. Covid cases rising in US with only other good news of its decline in NY under the very able leadership of Governor Cuomo. I so wish he could be a candidate for President instead of Biden or the current interloper.
The Chinese and the US at loggerheads over myriads of issues including HK and US withdrawal of special trade and travel status.
Arthur Koestler had written a book years ago called “Ghost in the machine” not an easy reading but a favorite of mine. It does touch on the physiological basis of human destructive tendency which shows up in cycles of war.
The human brain structure as it evolved is designed for war and seems to invent reasons to engage in senseless destruction from time to time.
I just hope the Ghost is contained during this critical moment of human history when the world is challenged with disease, pestilence and conflicts that have caused the highest levels of refugees ever and poverty looms on the horizon. It seems the world is moving apart rather than coming together.
Only everyday simple acts of kindness by ordinary people cheer us up. Only love and kindness shown by doctors and nurses during this pandemic cheer us up. I hope the cognitive brain takes over the reptilian brain.
