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The occurrence of a pandemic in any society can be distressing and can compromise one freedom and rights. Pandemics are life-threatening and call for uncomfortable measures to be undertaken for the good of the majority of people. The occurrence of pandemics can instigate measures such as forceful or deliberate quarantine which limits one’s freedom of movement. This means ensuring numerous changes are undertaken to secure the health and safety of the population. The changes involve both personal and community changes that guarantee self-care. In this paper, I will explore several resources to get a closer understanding of caring for oneself during a pandemic. I will review What is Enlightenment?” By Immanuel Kant, “atsumori” by zeami motokiyo and US. Slave spirituals and secular songs: “Deep Down in My Heart” to review various experiences.
According to Kante, enlightenment was defined simply as a man’s freedom from self-initiated guardianship. Enlightenment meant that people found free themselves from intellectual limitations and seeking the light. After carefully analyzing the factors that cause tutelage, Kante comes up with several proposals to attain enlightenment (Immanuel, p.45). His desire is for the public to develop a free thought, act with wisdom and finally be treated with the deserved dignity. According to Kante, tutelage came up as a result of various reasons. The first cause of schooling as he claims is laziness. People were lazy and found it a hard task to express their thoughts and even idea about anything substantial. People did not seek to expand their knowledge and were comfortable with what they knew. The people subjected themselves to loyalty without question.
Kante adds that the second factor, cowardice is to be blamed for the people’s laziness. The people were not brave enough to challenge the establishment and the underlying rules. The people feared that they would fail in trying to chart the new path. The third factor as elaborated by Kante is the class at the top who had knowledge and education at their disposal, and they denied the people who were not privileged with schooling to get knowledgeable just like themselves (Immanuel,p.45). Therefore, the elite few rejoiced in the ignorance, cowardice and fear of the majority by ensuring that they suppressed them. The final reason that Kante offers for guardianship was blind obedience. The people followed the rules without questions and thus did not challenge the existing establishment that compromised their wellbeing. This caused more suffering and trouble for them. After coming up with the most convincing reasons for schooling, he comes up with the best moves to attain enlightenment.
Kante first suggests that attainment of full freedom is the most fundamental requirement for enlightenment. Freedom to express thoughts and desires is the most conspicuous sign of civilization. One needs to be allowed to express their thoughts and feelings without being vindicated. One shall be entitled to express their views without fear of being restricted and fear. Kante advocates for peoples expression of their thoughts, without being restricted. Kante also gives a warning that the freedom of expressing one’s thoughts and desires need not stop one from performing their duties. He urges that the leaders need to get enlightened first before the people get enlightenment. According to Kante, if the people at the helm of leadership are not taught and enlightened to give their subjects the desired freedom of thought and desires, them the pursuit of enlightenment shall be in vain. He makes a robust opinion considering the establishment of the monarchy authority by saying that,” his lawgiving power rests on his uniting the general public will in his own” (Immanuel,p.46). He argues that the rule of the Monarch and their actions must be true reflection and demonstration of what the public desires and in the interest of the people they are governing. He goes further to say that the republican Government needs to comply with the wishes and the interests of the citizens they are leading and that they should not subject their citizens to foolish obedience. Kante proposes an authority that does not seek to intimidate the citizens but a body that encourages the peoples and gives them hope. Although it is a fact that the Monarch abused the people’s rights and denied them freedom and violated their rights, he blames the public for being comfortable with the tutelage.
Atsumori is a Japanese play by Zaemi Motokiyo that looks at the Taira No Atsumori, a young Samurai who was murdered in the genpei war and his executioner Kumagai Naozone. The death of Atsumori is expressed tragically in the “Heike Monogatari”.It is from its tale that several other works trace back to. Atsumori, who was approximately 15 years during the period of war in 1184, got murdered by the Minimoto fighter called Kumagai Naozone. In the Tale of Heike and many other works that it got derived from, this was widely considered as a tragic occurrence. Kumagai was said to have had shown sincere regret for what he had done(Royall,p.57). This came at a time when his son, almost of the same age, had also been injured. Atsumori, just like the other Taira men illustrated as a courtier, he was not adequately ready for the war. He is accused of having carried a fluit to war. This is actual evidence that he was actually peaceful and not interested in conflicts. Kumagai also points out that none among his fellow Genji fighters would be persuaded to the point of engaging in battle with a flute.
The Noh play occurs just a few years after the termination of the Genpei war. It is a clear illustration of the dream or the murgen genre of Noh despite that it has significant variation in the fact that the ghost has no relation to the person who views it. The ghost of Atsumori, who has his identity hidden as a grass cutter, plays the role of the Shite and the Kumagai changed his character to Rensei is acted by Waki. The play starts with Rensei arriving at the Suma. This place has been featured many times in various classical texts. This makes it very important in the Noh. Various references are made regarding occurrences that took place there. The monk tries to ask for forgiveness from Atsumori, and by so doing, he intends to cool his spirit(Royall,p.57). He then meets with a flute playing the young man and his friends. He seats with them and discuss what entails fluting and concerning Atsumori before the Youth confess that is connected in some way with Atsumori.
The second act of the play starts where the first act was terminated. Rensei prays for Atsumori after appearing. The actor who acted as the Youth in the first act plays the role of Atsumori. The actor who worked as the Youth in the first play now serves as the Atsumori. This feature is common in most Noh plays. The impression made was that Youth in the first act Atsumoris ghost. Atsumori relates his tragic ordeals from his own experiences and reenacts it in the form of dance. The plays end with Rensei denying to reenact his positions in the sudden death of Atsumori, the ghost then declares that there is no vile between him and enemy and requests that the monk pleads for his release.
The African American songs were performed at a time when slavery was practised, and songs were formed to inspire people to pursue freedom from a slaver. The songs became popular in the last years of the 18th Century. Its ultimate success was when slavery was abolished in the 1860s. The African American spiritual society comprises one of the adverse and most essential forms of African folksong. “Deep Down in My Heart” is a Famous spiritual that is derived from King James Bible and a translation of Ephesians 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” That talks about singing spiritual songs and making melody for God(Gordon,p.21). The song has its roots in the informal gatherings of African Slaves in houses and open meetings. The African American songs were performed at a time when slavery was practised, and songs were formed to inspire people to pursue freedom from slavery. The songs became popular in the last years of the 18th Century. Its ultimate success was when slavery was abolished in the 1860s. The African American spiritual society comprises one of the adverse and most essential forms of African folksong. Spiritual was majorly used in referring to someone religious or just a mental thing.”The spiritual songs by African Americans were instrumental in agitating for equality and liberation from slavery”. The song, “Deep Down My heart,” for instance, was sung in crusades and drew large crowds of black people. Negros spirituals were used to express protests against slavery and oppression by the whites. Negro spirituals were a way of expressing religious beliefs.
Some were also used in the socio-political protests to pass various ideas to the White Americans who cherished slavery and the operation of Black across America (Gordon,p.23). They originated from enslaved Africans in the United States. Forced labour was introduced to other British colonies in the early 17th Century. Enslaved the Black population massively replaced casual labourers in America. They were forced to do manual jobs that demanded a lot of energy use at a lower wage. In the United States, the slaves continued to remain slaver for the whole of the 18thCentury and even up to 19thCentury. Most of them were not granted liberty until the thirteenth amendment was enacted in1865.
African American Civil groups championed the rights of African Americans and the abolishment of laws that were unfair to the Black community. Federal aid and funding from the Government were greatly lauded for the financing of African American medical schools after massive demonstrations and pleadings. It must be recognized that the American Bill of Rights was crafted with the aim of attaining equality and fairness in society. Everyone was to be treated well, and the legal system was to be blind to race. The Anti-racism campaigns spread rampantly as it attracted support from multiple quarters even from some whites who believed and knew that racial segregation was inhuman and unfair to one race Today, the American society is close enough to attain equality compared to what it was decades ago. The Anti-racism campaigns spread rampantly as it attracted support from multiple quarters even from some whites who believed and knew that racial segregation was inhuman and unfair to one race. This, however, did not go smoothly as it received rebuttal and opposition from governments, both state and federal, as well as whites who believed that African Americans were a burden, and they did not deserve to live. Freed Black slaves were limited from accessing various facilities and accessing a number of services. This was unfair in every manner. They were required to carry around papers that proved they were free or else risk getting forced into slavery once again. Following the end of the Reconstruction in 1877, laws were passed o curb slavery. The rules were enacted by various southern states, and they revolved around segregation and massive racism.
The Government has been faulted often for threatening people by physical harm as well as activities that tend to compromise their freedoms and rights. Through such experiences and operations by governments, people often fear to speak up against evil, such as injustice by the Government. Authoritarian governments all over the world have been using fear to water down protests and even limiting press freedom in order to protect the image. These actions have been condemned and termed sinister. Fear paralyzes the freedom of movement and also expression. When people are fearful of the intentions of the Government, there is little they can do to restore their independence. This tool helps leaders with ill motives to advance their plans and suppress democracies and freedom of expression all over the World. Fear has often been used by Governments across the World to justify specific actions. For instance, the Government can justify the instillation of fear and suppression of freedom by stating that it is for the sake of security. The Government has been termed by many as a perpetrator of fear and the biggest violator of freedoms and rights. Another way in which the Government can justify its actions is through surveillance. Surveillance of citizens is by far a way that the Government has managed to limit the freedoms of its citizens. Constitutions all over the World acknowledge the existence of the right to privacy, and yet the same Government continues to violate such fundamental rights.
In conclusion, the Works above have, in a way, shed light on how people need to protect them on the occasion of a pandemic. People need to make sure that people in positions of authority do not compromise their rights and privileges. The occurrence of pandemics can instigate measures such as forceful or deliberate quarantine which limits one’s freedom of movement. In the Enlightenment, Kante pleads that the public to develop a free thought, act with wisdom and finally be treated with the deserved dignity. He argues that people need to be mentally liberated in the sense that they need to be free to express their thoughts and opinions without being censored by those in authority. However, the Folksong Deep Down my Heart also came at a time when slaves and the Black community were seeking liberation and freedom from slavery. The songs became popular during the Anti-slavery Crusades mobilized by a number of Anti-racism protesters to advocate for the banning of slavery and discrimination of members of the black community. All these works had a significant role in how people need to take care of themselves in the rise of a pandemic by asking people to express their concerns openly can be vigilant in making sure that their rights and freedoms are not compromised. The emergence of a pandemic can be detrimental to any particular society as lives can be put under threat. It is even more threatening when peoples rights and freedoms are limited by initiatives such as quarantine which might be implemented by the Government to control the spread and infection of the disease. Although the action might be useful and means well for the safety and health of the masses, it can violate peoples freedoms and rights if not well initiated.
References
Kant, Immanuel. “What is Enlightenment?” Internet Modern History Sourcebook. 7 September 2008. Pp 45-46 Retrieved from http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/kant-whatis.html.
Robert Winslow Gordon. Folksongs of America: 1922-1932.pp 21-24 Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/folklife/Gordon/sideBbandB1.html
Sexton, Timothy. “What Is Enlightenment? Summary”. GradeSaver, 14 July 2018 Web. 27 April 2020.Retrieved from https://www.gradesaver.com/what-is-enlightenment/study-guide/summary
Tyler, Royall (ed. & trans.)(1992). “Japanese Nō Dramas.” London: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-044539-0.pp.57-59Retrieved from https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/4579259/Atsumori_(play)
- M. (Billy) Givens; Folk-Songs of America: The Robert Winslow Gordon Collection, 1922-1932. Retrieved from http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/deep-down-in-my-heart–collected-gordon–1926.aspx
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