My dear learning community,
Last year, I showed a video by American spoken-word artist Prince Ea to our incoming class of students, on the topic of environmentalism. Prince Ea has just released a new video, about COVID-19, titled “Before You Get The Virus,” which is quite captivating and inspirational. I want to share it with you today.
This letter will be about COVID-19: Before You Get The Virus
Here is the link on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBi85WjeDyg
I highly recommend that you watch the video, as the delivery of the message by Prince Ea is fantastic. However, for anyone who has trouble accessing the video, I am providing the transcript below:
Before You Get The Virus
By Prince Ea
Are you scared yet?
They say this thing it
Kills your immune system
Attacks your lungs
Makes it
Hard to breathe
And it’s spreading…
Spreading like wildfire
Causing havoc
Your friends and family
Are gonna get it
If they don’t
Already have it
It’s tragic I tell you,
Madness
Scientists say
Old people get it worse
But most
Get it eventually
And they say this is new
But no, no, no
This has been around
For centuries
Look at history
It’s just a different name
A different strain
And now there’s no way to contain it
It affects
The rich, poor, young, old
The unknown, the famous
It’s dangerous
Everyone’s on edge
Locked inside of their homes
Nervously
Borders are closed
Countries declare
State of emergencies
Grocery stores are empty
Nobody’s praying in church
The world
Has
Gone
To
Crap
No wonder toilet paper
Sold out first
The stock market crashed
Thousands laid off work
Hand sanitizer is going for
A million dollars a squirt
You better not sneeze ‘cos
No one’s gonna say
God bless you
They might even arrest you
I don’t mean to stress you
But washing your hands obsessively
In the restroom will not protect you
Friends, I’m not talking about Coronavirus
No, this…
Is a virus even more deadly
The F-virus
You’ve seen it
It spreads every minute
Like an epidemic
It lives on surfaces
Most commonly
Remote controls, TV screens, cellular phones
It makes you desperate
Doctors say every time you
Scroll down your feed
You get reinfected
It invades the brain
And when it mutates
It turns into hatred
And blame
China did it,
No, Italy did
No, Iran
No, Spain
Oh I didn’t make it clear?
The F virus ladies and gentlemen
Is FEAR
But don’t be afraid
Despite what you hear
Or see on your tv
There is good news
During this tragedy
To fight loneliness
People are performing concerts
On their balconies
The UAE sent aid to Iran
Japan donated supplies to China for free
Written on them
Was a poem that said
We are waves from the same sea
Listen to me
Like every tragedy
We can let this
Destroy us
Or we can use it
To our benefit
And repair relationships
With our sisters and brothers
Wipe away silly grudges
Because when it’s all said and done
All we ever really had
In this world
Was Each Other
So yes
Let’s flatten the curve
And expand our hearts
Let’s social distance
Boost our immune systems
Be mindful
Of where we put our hands
But also
Where we put our attention
Be alert not fearful
Because the F virus
Is a pandemic easily transmitted
If you contract it
Or exhibit symptoms
We recommend
Immediately dialing the hotline
Of a level-headed friend
If you are exposed
Through your tv
Change the damn station
Decontaminate yourself
Through dance, laughter
And meditation
2020 has been morbid
From Kobe to COVID
May we use these tragic moments
To finally wake up
To what’s important
Right now, tell someone
That you care for them
Yes, right now
Tell them that you cherish them
If they are not in the same room
Ring them up
And tell them
You will always be there for them
Because TOGETHER
Is how we will rise above
The only vaccine for this F virus
And every other virus
Is LOVE
Always, with best regards, stay safe, Semper Gumby
Dawn Dekle, PhD
AUN President (Vice-Chancellor)
Teaser: stay tuned for the next letter from the desk of the AUN President, on the topic “COVID-19: Health War”
