As the number of cases of Covid-19 in Singapore increases and we are bombarded with daily reports locally and from across the globe, it is understandable that many of us start to act out of fear.
Every morsel of information on this still new and unknown coronavirus, verified or not, is being shared with family and friends as well as on one’s social media network.
Such a reaction is human nature, so is the deriding of those who fail to verify the information that they are spreading.
But the last thing we need is for Singapore to be divided into two camps.
Indeed, the managing of the outbreak is a test not only for the Government but also for Singaporeans.
And the key to passing this test could well be empathy.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a televised speech that he remained confident of the medical outcome of this outbreak, but “the real test is to our social cohesion and psychological resilience”. He pointed to courage, calm and unity as key virtues during this stressful period, and the hope, surely, is that Singaporeans come out the other side stronger.
Let’s not mince words, we are frightened. That fear forces self-preservation behaviour, like hoarding masks. There are also others who prey on that fear and try to make a profit. Such behaviour is universally derided, but what we need to realise is that hoarding and profiteering are but extreme manifestations of a lack of empathy.
By now, it seems that face masks and hand sanitisers are out of stock virtually everywhere, and disinfectants are flying off the shelves as well.
Despite the authorities telling the public that it is still safe not to wear masks if one is well, and that masks should be worn only if one is ill, as a means to prevent spreading one’s infection, the common response is that masks are needed to prevent oneself getting infected.
This betrays a “me-first” mentality that is prevalent in our subconscious. We create many reasons to justify this thinking.
“You think everyone who has flu symptoms will be so obedient and wear masks to prevent spreading?”
“I could be asymptomatic, so wearing a mask prevents me from spreading it to others just in case I am infected.”
“I have old people at home and I cannot afford to get infected and pass the virus to them.”
Such reactions are intrinsically selfish, though, under the circumstances, all of us are probably guilty of that to varying degrees.
Ask any hoarder why they hoard, they will tell you that they are frightened of running out of the products before the virus runs its course. In that instant, they are not thinking about their neighbour who can’t get any because of the stockpile they have amassed.
Sadly, this behaviour is neither new nor surprising — we saw this during the 2013 and 2015 haze seasons as well, with the stockpiling of masks leaving some with no option but to brave the haze.
This is not to say that there aren’t incidents of other-centeredness — empathy and charity — on display. You can easily find stories of people giving out masks to the needy, very often in anonymity, as well as those who deliver food to those under quarantine.
But the outbreak of the virus has also brought out the uglier side of Singaporeans.
For example, some healthcare workers — those making sacrifices at the frontlines — have been shunned in housing estate lifts and even on public transport.
But let’s be clear, this isn’t something that just surfaced due to the virus. In 2019, we saw incidents where a commuter chided a bus driver for telling him to ask fellow commuters for help so that he could pay the correct fare.
Earlier in the year, another commuter blocked a bus from moving off simply because the bus driver refused to return her to the previous bus-stop that she herself had missed.
It is perhaps a result of our society becoming more affluent, that we expect others to inconvenience themselves for us.
We litter — even irresponsibly discarding used masks outside hospitals — because we know someone will come and clean up after us. We don’t keep toilets clean because we think that’s precisely what cleaners are paid to do.
Ditto for clearing our food trays after our meals at hawker centres and food courts. We keep using plastic bags when we shop for groceries because it’s really “inconvenient” to bring your own bag and besides, how else are we going to bag our trash?
Yes, not everyone has that sense of entitlement, but the number of people who do isn’t exactly small either. Go on social media, and you would easily find that such behaviour is, sadly, commonplace.
If we truly want to be a kind and gracious society, a first world people — we need to constantly reflect upon our own actions and how we treat others. One good start is to live by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
That, of course, is easier said than done. Human beings are often guided by many factors: A sense of self-worth, our insecurities, upbringing, traditions, cultures, religion, politics and, yes, fear. Yet, even if we think we are fully justified, shouldn’t we strive to rise above and be greater?
So, how do we “do unto others”? A good way would be to challenge our own mindset before we do anything.
During these trying times, here are a few suggestions. If you’ve found a website that is still selling the products you need, before clicking “buy”, spare a thought about what you realistically and actually need for you and your family, then don’t order anything above that amount.
Or, if you have “hoarded”, think about who needs it more than you and give it away to those who perhaps are more vulnerable than you.
This empathy could well become more important if the outbreak worsens.
If we can start showing empathy, especially during these tough times, we can hold our heads up high.
More importantly, that would mean we have come out of this trying test as a stronger society, with a sturdy platform to be much better prepared for any other crisis we may face again in the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
William Wan is general secretary of the Singapore Kindness Movement.