Belarus: Safely through the Corona crisis with old normality

16.03.2022 | www.kla.tv/21944

Hello, do you still recognize life as you lived it in earlier years? Keeping your distance everywhere, the smell of disinfectant and always that mask. So many events have been banned that used to simply be part of the annual routine. But there is one European country that has maintained its traditions: Belarus. You can find a lot of information about it on the internet. They show folk festivals, football matches in front of audience and even mass events, which have been banned even in Sweden since March. The pictures and the Corona infection figures contradict the alleged threat used to justify the countless bans and regulations for the rest of Europe. Why don't our media report on this? To find out how the Belarussians experienced the pandemic this year, I travelled there and asked them myself about the situation in their country. First of all, I notice: I can move freely in what is said to be Europe's last dictatorship! Nowhere did I have to wear a mask or disinfect my hands. Everywhere I was welcomed as a guest and not as a risk of infection. Here, the old normality still seems to be taken for granted. I met and interviewed people everywhere in Belarus. Only one was infected with the virus himself. Few had a sick acquaintance and only Tanja and Dima had a dead relative to mourn. Everywhere I asked if there were overburdened hospitals. But the hospitals everywhere were able to quickly adapt to the situation. Moreover, no one was aware of any cases of short-time work or unemployment. This is so self-evident there that no one would have mentioned it on their own. My journey took me through almost all regions of the country and numerous cities of different sizes. In the process, I came to places I already knew from my research. In Polozk, I met Nina, who had taken part in the feast of Saint Euphrosyne three months earlier. Was this a superspreader event, as major events are said to be in Germany and banned? “I was also at this festival. And everything according to faith. We prayed, everyone prayed. And the good Lord protected us. And that's probably why it didn't hit us. And I don't know of any cases after this festival.” Neither the mosque, nor the synagogue, nor any of the numerous churches I saw were forcibly closed by the state this year. For me - as for millions of other Europeans - Easter 2020 will be remembered as the first Easter in which they were not allowed to go to church with others. In contrast, people here could celebrate Easter twice: first the Catholics. And a week later, the Orthodox Christians. "I'm tired of talking about these microbes. We should only talk about life and life with God, a beautiful life, a full life, do you understand? Christ is risen! Christ is risen!!!" How happy I would have been if our bishops had tried with such a message to take away the fear of the virus that our politicians and media incessantly spread. Here in Vitebsk, the graduates of the local high school were able to celebrate their prom - in the open air. How many young Europeans have been robbed of this unique moment in life? The city is known for its annual cultural festival, which took place for the 29th time this year. As Tanja explains to me, outdoor events were always allowed and in July the bans were generally lifted. "At the time of Slavic Bazaar, that was already July, then they were already allowed, Because supposedly now Corona was already not as serious anymore. Additionally, the number of infected people went down. And at the time of the Slavic Bazaar, all the events took place outdoors." I'm driving to the cultural festival "The Call of Polesia". Can I attend a mass event in the middle of Europe? Indeed! Here people can celebrate together - as we were used to everywhere until recently. This festival did not take place because politicians had both eyes firmly closed, but was even organized by the state and opened by politicians who do not keep their citizens at a distance as a risk of infection. Here I meet Ivera and Sergey. "This is the first festival this year that we are attending in person. But all the clubs are still open. And if people weren't afraid to visit them, they visited them. And those who were afraid just stayed at home." And so people are having a carefree day. And even prominent singers have no fear of contact – "Oops! Now they got me too. Have they completely forgotten about the virus here? - No. I said: What? The virus won't recognize me if I wear a mask? I wrote a note as a precaution: Mr Virus, fear God! I have many diseases, please get in line. And it stands." If I have to put my journey under a motto: "With NNN through Belarus" - Closeness - Naturalness – Normality. Can Belarussians ever imagine bans like those we had imposed on us? "Everyone has to decide for himself. If you want to go to church, you want to go to church." "It is very difficult to answer this question. Everyone is free in their faith." "Coming to the funeral to say goodbye with relatives, that is an important thing for many. That's what everyone has to decide for themselves." "I don't think so. The state may not prohibit such things across the board. I mean, the state can give instructions, or advice, but not forbid such things. And each person should decide for himself." "No, of course not. The state may not prohibit something like that. People should talk to each other. It's cruel when children cannot visit their parents. People need communication, they need to communicate with each other again and again. In doing so, they draw strength and are all under God. God protects us. I can't imagine sitting alone in the house. And not see anyone and just keep thinking about this disease?! That would be impossible for me." Belarussians can decide for themselves what security measures to take and they decide quite differently, just as we were allowed to choose our own risk until recently: "When it started, I started working from home. And Dima had that option too. That's why we didn't leave our flat and stayed there all the time. (...) I know many friends who just do nothing. Who just enjoy their lives and say: What? Corona? My brother is like that. He thinks it's all right. He didn't think it was really dangerous and spent his time as usual." I leave the final word to the Belarussians themselves: What advice do you have for those Germans who are still restricting themselves out of fear of the virus? "These measures should be dosed. If people stick to the rules, if they wash their hands and don't get too close to a group of people, then they can visit the cafés and visit their parents too. Sticking to the rules just a little bit, then you can do everything." "Everything according to faith and everything with faith. You will get what you believe,. The good Lord is kind to us." "Fear kills. Therefore: Do not be afraid! Of course, people have to abide by certain rules. If they are afraid, they must not stand so close to other people. And wear masks. But so that they should always sit at home with this fear?! If people always live in fear, then they get sick. That's why: Don't be afraid!" We will do everything to make the virus die. We will show the coronavirus a fig hand. We eat onions and garlic by the kilo. And we have enough desire to love. The coronavirus doesn't scare People like us."

from jmr

Sources/Links: Festivals in Belarus https://deu.belta.by/fotoreportage/view/colorfest-in-minsk-51309-2020/
https://deu.belta.by/fotoreportage/view/kupalje-fest-in-alexandrija-der-erste-tag-endet-mit-feuerwerk-51315-2020/
https://deu.belta.by/fotoreportage/view/tag-der-feuerwehr-in-minsk-51558-2020/
https://deu.belta.by/fotoreportage/view/konzert-bei-der-eroffnung-des-festivals-slawischer-basar-in-witebsk-51420-2020/
https://deu.belta.by/fotoreportage/view/polozk-feiert-tag-der-hl-euphrosyne-50546-2020/
https://deu.belta.by/fotoreportage/view/abiball-im-witebsker-gymnasium-nr-8-50651-2020/
https://deu.belta.by/fotoreportage/view/street-art-fest-die-sieben-winde-in-witebsk-51443-2020/
Events in Belarus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8NeOEC676I&feature=youtu.be&t=28m31s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNnnBfNoqPY&feature=youtu.be&t=64m
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxAi83heF4U&feature=youtu.be&t=252m50s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00vaEllY8zA&feature=youtu.be&t=77m34s
Restrictions in Sweden https://www.thelocal.se/20201008/sweden-postpones-decision-to-lift-50-person-limit-on-public-events
7-day incidence in Belarus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Belarus