German Corona: fascism vs panic

In Berlin this early in the quarantine it’s ok, the sun is out and I would love to be out in it, I imagine people here might be finding it daunting at the end of a long low skied winter to have to stay indoors for longer. Seems to be one of those instances (unlike, say, individual freedoms) where German collectivism shines. Everybody is leaving plenty of toilet rolls for everybody else. We’ve been home four days apart from raids on the food store and I feel fortunate to have so much reading and writing I want to do. My partner’s college and all colleges have shut down, buses are running but their front doors are closed and the drivers don’t have to sell tickets. From Wednesday all clubs and bars shut down, restaurants not; because they’re purveying a service.

Ludicrous given the scale of things right now but one of my preoccupations is making sure I come online in little sips, like a refresher or palate cleanser a hundred times in a day, and not just slump there like a barfly for hours. I’m guessing most people are dealing with that – the ultimate outworking of our collective and so recent addiction.

I have learned how deeply Germans are conditioned to incline to potential fascism – that is, hyper conformity – but not really to panic. It’s impressive. When we all need to act in the common interest Germans shine, even if the sun does not.

Meanwhile the macho flab of narcissist ‘leaders’ putting everyone so chronically at risk can do so that much more acutely right now. They’re really showing their sociopathy as well as their slackness. Johnson. Morrison in Australia. Tr*mp. Everyday people outshine them in every way, our common generosity and kindness is so moving. My heroes this week are people singing from their balconies in Italy. People offering shopping trips to their elderly neighbours. Nurses and doctors working at risk and through the night. We can be this. Thank god and hurrah.