Prag
Petra Hůlová, Author
By Petra Hůlová
What would you say are symbols of your current situation or the current situation in your country?
The facemask is Czechia’s symbol for the current situation. The initial scarcity of facemasks is a story of the failure of the Czech state. The necessity to wear a mask is a story of disciplining the Czech nation to wear facemasks, a story of Czech people’s compliance. The whirlwind production of homemade masks is a story of the Czech DIY spirit, ingenuity and solidarity. And the quick follow-on production of 3D-printed respirators is a story of technological innovation and altruism working hand in hand with enterprise.How will the pandemic change the world? What do you see as the long-term consequences of the crisis?
A crisis is supposed to be a situation in which we choose between catastrophe and alternatives. That’s how the Czech philosopher Václav Bělohradský once put it. This idea is quite fitting to the current crisis, which I see as an opportunity for change. What we are all currently experiencing is pushing the boundaries of our imagination. We have always been told that we live in a system that cannot be changed, one for which there are no alternatives. Yet, now we see how radically life can change within a matter of days. This experience in itself is valuable.People’s self-discipline and compliance have taken me by surprise. Positively in terms of people’s self-restraint and willingness to limit their activities, and negatively in terms of their unquestioning obedience. We had defined ourselves as a society that was highly individualistic, where the state played an ever-diminishing role. The epidemic has proven this to be contrary. The role of the state has been strengthened – it will now be more confident. And people have demonstrated solidarity, even if under conditions that have not ‘hurt’ too much.