Just Exactly what is The New Normal?

Summary

The article contemplates the concept of "The New Normal," questioning the definition of normalcy and the resistance to change, especially in the face of a global pandemic and social unrest.

Abstract

The article "Just Exactly what is The New Normal?" delves into the human fascination with the idea of a "New Normal," suggesting that our tendency to cling to familiar routines often prevents us from embracing necessary changes. It highlights the irony in the aversion to change among those who are comfortable with the status quo, despite the fact that change is an inevitable part of life. The author argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a reevaluation of what is considered normal, revealing the fragility of economies and the importance of public safety. The text also touches on the hypocrisy of condemning public protests while promoting a return to work, emphasizing that the "New Normal" must involve greater equity and the amplification of previously marginalized voices. The article concludes that normalcy is not a static state but a dynamic process that requires active participation and ownership from all members of society.

Opinions

The author expresses skepticism about the concept of a "New Normal," implying that it may be a superficial diversion from the deeper issues plaguing society.
There is a critique of the human tendency to resist change, particularly when it threatens the comfort and privilege of those in power.
The article suggests that the pandemic has exposed the flaws in our previous way of life and has served as a catalyst for change, whether people are ready for it or not.
The author points out a contradiction in societal responses to the pandemic, with some advocating for a return to work while simultaneously criticizing public demonstrations.
A strong opinion is voiced that the "American Dream" is faltering, and that the "New Normal" should strive for more equality and justice.
The author believes that the "New Normal" should not be dictated by a select few but should be shaped by the collective, especially those whose voices have been historically silenced.
The text emphasizes that "normal" is a state of constant change and that embracing this change is crucial for progress and the betterment of society.

And who gets to decide what is normal?

There are any number of things in the normal world that defy logical answers. Like, why does the smoke from a lit cigarette always flow toward the nonsmoker? Or why do people with a grade twelve education at best, think they’re smarter than medical experts? It boggles the mind.

I can’t help wondering then what the fascination is with a so-called ‘New Normal’. It would seem to me anyway, we’ve butchered the old one so badly, a new normal would be a welcome diversion.

“Not so fast”, you say. “We prefer the way things have always been done.”

Aversion to change is a basic trait of human nature. We go to sleep at night completely forgetting that the earth still spins, and while we remain cocooned, other people are awake and moving and affecting our perception of normal. We rise to see the goings-on in our slumbering absence, only to poo-poo them as unfortunate circumstances. We can deal with the news of our outside world so long as we aren’t personally troubled.

But, the events that go on outside of our influence are normal occurrences in the lives being directly affected. These people can’t wait for a new normal to appear. ‘New Normal’ for them is like an oasis in the desert, and for far too long it has been merely a mirage.

New normal, or the old one for that matter, simply does not exist because…

The quicker we learn to embrace change, the better off we’ll all be. Ah, but there’s the rub. Upsetting the status quo is not a welcome change for a selected few. Change means loss of control. Changing “The way we have always done things” becomes a harbinger for unrest.

Controlling the winds of change has been the great undertaking of elites and power-seekers for centuries. We who live in comfort and yes, privilege, experience a trained complacency that has been programmed into us since birth. We accept the teachings from on high, of a hierarchy that assures us a certain way of life if we just toe the line. Human consciousness has evolved to the point where change is the disease, the virus.

Funny then that a real virus of pandemic proportions has become the catalyst for change to ‘The New Normal’. Employers and community leaders spin new ways to convince us that getting back to a good day’s work is… ’Normal’. The pandemic everyone is worried about “will just go away”, some say. Meanwhile, profits will be restored to their rightful places and we can carry with our daily diversions. Our economies certainly need rebooting. Many savvy retailers and service industry leaders have gone to extraordinary lengths in the name of public safety. Life throws curveballs and we learn to adjust.

That’s how normal works, but something seems very different now. The trust factor has eroded. The ‘American Dream’ seems dead on its feet.

The ‘new normal’ suddenly got a kick in the teeth in Minnesota, in Wisconson, even here in our own neighbourhoods. Soon the entire planet woke up to a change that was gathering steam.

People who were told to believe in returning to their jobs as normal, were suddenly being berated for gathering together in public protest. Quelling the banter of protest became the new focus for the pandemic.

So, which is it ‘New Normalites’? Who are we protecting, and from what?

If the slogans and the chants of protest make you uncomfortable, that’s good. Count me in for the changes about to come. Too few of us have had it too good for too long. Yep, that means me too. A return to complacency is a return to inequality.

I don’t see that happening anymore, do you?

‘Normal’ in any sense, demands more equity. Now that long-silenced voices are finally being heard, this ‘new normal’ has to be better than the old one, as long as more of us own it.

Which is precisely the point. Ownership of ‘normal’ is shifting. Fail to engage with it at your own peril.