What is Normal?

We all are waiting to go back to normal.

What “normalcy” we all are waiting to go back?

Is it that “normalcy” where more than six million Syrians had been displaced and living dire life in refugee camps? Just because they wanted freedom from a tyrant.

Is it that “normalcy” where more than twenty thousand refugees were drowned in the deep Mediterranean? Just because they were looking for safety for them and for their children.

Is it that “normalcy” where twenty four million Yemenis are in dire famine due to sectarian and regional wars? Just because the regional powers wanted to face off to exploit the sectarian divide.

Is it that “normalcy” where Palestinians in Gazza are living in the largest open air jail for decades and under apartheid rule for half a century? Just because they couldn’t accept that they have to live under the occupation and in an apartheid state.

Is it that “normalcy” where hundred thousands Afghans died in the longest running American war? Just because the Afghans can’t accept the fact that they would live under a foreign occupation.

Is it that “normalcy” where Rohingya are going through an ethnic genocide in front of the world and almost the entire population are now living a subhuman life in refugee camps?

Is it that “normalcy” where the Uyghur Muslims are persecuted and detained in “re-education” concentration camp?

Just because both Rohingya and Uyghur wanted to live with their ethnic and religious identity.

Is it that “normalcy” where systemic racism is so deep that police can kill black persons as if black lives don’t matter in the land that guarantees the “life, liberty and pursuit of happiness”? 

Is it that “normalcy” where three police officers can kill a black man in a slow death kneeling on his neck for a long seven minutes and forty six seconds?

Is it that “normalcy” where five million people die of hunger every year?

Is it that “normalcy” where seven hundred million people are obese by eating excessive but eight hundred million people are undernourished and five million people died of hunger in the world?

I don’t want to go back to that “normalcy”

I want to move forward to create a “new normal” from here

This virus has shown us that we are so vulnerable in front of this invisible non-living thing which is indiscriminately attacking us as mere human and doesn’t spare Palestinians over Israelis, Indians over Pakistanis, Muslims over Hindus, Whites over Blacks, Africans over Europeans, Men over Women. Then, why we, the most finest creation of God, can’t be indiscriminate to our fellow human being to create the better “new normal”?

I dare to dream for a “new normal” that is far from that “old normal”

The “new normal” that would create a world- free from injustice, war, hunger, racism and oppression.

[Published on FB on Jun 19, 2020]