Understanding unlearning is tough in crisis
Understanding unlearning is tough even at the time of fatal emergency. So many questions arises. If we are not sure of the idea of unlearning, where are we going to start? It is important for us to understand and appreciate the need of unlearning. It is very important to answer few questions.
- How can we find what to unlearn and when?
- How can we know why to unlearn something?
- How can we make sure that unlearning is needed to save life?
- How do we know that unlearning will help new learning?
Definition of unlearning - When I talk about unlearning, it means that we should have capability to forget, discard and give up our previous beliefs, perceptions and ideas if we find it contradictory to new ideas or new needs. We need a capacity to leave things, traditions and concepts.
Covid19 has exposed the cost of not unlearning old outdated things. This has come in terms of life and death. The simple step of unlearning could save life if followed and could not save life if person lacked unlearning.
The example is illustrative in terms of USA where as on date thousands of people have died. More than 2000 have died due to corona virus in last 24 hours. The country is in shambles. But starting from USA President Donald Trump to down the line, simple Americans are not ready to unlearn. They saw something happening in China, India, Italy and even in UK but are unable to unlearn their way to fight with corona virus. They thought they can fight this virus with their medical facilities, infrastructure and money. Slowly things have gone out of control, positive corona patients are increasing fast and people are dying. Even during 9/11, some 3000 people died but more than 10,000 people have died in America when I am writing this article.
Lack of unlearning is costing very heavy to a country like USA, UK, France, Germany, Italy and others. After so many painful days, Millennia Trump, first lady, first Americans on Thursday i.e. 9th April 2020 for the first time talked to to protect themselves from the corona virus by wearing face covering in public.
The simple idea of covering the face in this crisis does not come to mind of the most powerful person on earth easily. It does not come to mind because he doesn't want to unlearn their superiority complex. He can not unlearn past perceptions. He feels covering the face is for the other people, not for President.
This reluctance has costed most of the top leaders, Kings and Queens across Western Nations in dangerous in this corona virus pandemic.
Trump says he's not interested in wearing mask. He says wearing a face mask and how to greet President, Prime Minister, Dictators, Kings, Queens, ... don't know somehow... I don't see for myself.... I just don't.... maybe I will change my mind but this will pass and hopefully it will pass very quickly.
Unlearning for even President Trump is not easy. He cannot behave like a common person even in crisis if it has resulted in life and death. Not only for him but it is becoming costly for Americans. He is not able to unlearn and thus most Americans are unable to accept unlearning.
The same lack of unlearning was seen with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. When world was talking about Namaste, he did not unlearn his hand shaking habits. He kept on doing hand shake even with Corvid19 patients. Initially it looked a fearful game but when he was declared Covid19 positive. It was horrible day when he went to ICU. Hope he recovers but the idea of unlearning must reach to British so that they can forget and discard shaking hands habit. I wish that British PM start unlearning and make British unlearn to fight this war.
Even Trump is not leading from the front, lacs of American are affected by corona virus and now they are dying. Unlearning is important to survive. Unlearning is forgetting & discarding. Leaders must have capacity to unlearn. Leaders should be ready for unlearning so that he can cover his face with mask and tell others to cover. America will not face such heinous crime. As on date, more people have died due to corona virus than even Atom Bomb in 1940s. World is suffering huge due to lack of unlearning.
Associate Director - Media Planning & Buying at Dentsu Creative | Branding | Performance Marketing | 10xer Club
4 年The article has shed good light on how the new epidemic has turned out to be an equalizer, surely not in the context of the physical world, but definitely in the mental world. I would not necessarily agree that other countries should accept our culture in terms of greetings. However, your point on unlearning unwise behaviour and following measures as the one of the most powerful leaders on the planet is surely the need of the hour and it shall not go unnoticed!