The Other Virus and its Variant

The Other Virus and its Variant

By Nejoud Al-Yagout

We are in the midst of a pandemic, a pandemic that has yet to go away. 2021 is a whole lot more promising than last year with the vaccine, but we are still facing countless deaths, and we all know people being admitted to the ICU, along with tragic stories of suicides, families separated, loss of jobs, failing businesses and people with no access to oxygen.

But there is another virus which, for now, has no cure. It is a virus which is inconspicuous and travels among all of us. At any moment, any of us can become infected with it. The virus is known as fake news-itis (aka FNI). And we can label its mutation as conspiracy-itis (COI). FNI and COI are so pervasive that people can no longer tell truth from lies.

There are symptoms which the two viruses have in common: Both bring with them arrogance, anger, paranoia and can even cause tension among families. In worst case scenarios, the critical care version of Fake News-it is and conspiracy-it is, victims cause pandemonium on the streets in the form of insurgency, violent protests and even death.

There is an inherent obsession with viewing the world as a horror