The Faces That Harass Me
Hatching Solidarity Amid the Pandemic Crisis
I.Introduction
The question, "Who is my neighbor?", is one of familiar questions which is asked by a Scribe to Jesus. Facing with that question, Jesus did not provide abstract answers or with rigorous definitions and logics. But, Jesus gave an answer by referring to the concrete reality in the events of human daily life. There was someone on the way. On the way he was robbed, beat and fainted. His body was left on the side of the road. Then a priest passed by, he was in a hurry to visit his people. He saw the person, but just passed by him. Then another man from the tribe of Levi also passed by. He also just saw the person and just passed by him. Then, passing also a Samaritan. When he saw that person, he was moved by compassion. He got down from his donkey, picked the man up, and took him to the nearest village to be treated.
The story above closes with a question from Jesus to the lawyer, who is a fellow who suffers from being robbed? Right answer from the Scribes that the Samaritan who have become brother to the robbery victim. This short story contains valuable values and lessons in life. The action of the Samaritan is an act of solidarity and responsibility towards those who suffer. Then, is this story still relevant to our current reality which is still gripped by Pandemic Covid-19?
Facing with the reality of the pandemic (Covid-19) which is sweeping the world, and having a negative impact on the lives of humanity, various problems arise as a result. Namely, death, poverty due to loss of job and business, crime, and others. In short, this pandemic does not cause a health crisis only, but also an economic and social crisis. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the United States, ever said that the Corona Virus is "extraordinary". This is due to its rapid spread, and it is the faster than any other diseases so far (Kompas, Friday, July 17, 2020).
II.Explanation
a.The Faces That Harass Me
The face is a mystery that conveys human existence. The face is not limited to display things that are sensory. The face goes beyond, in which contained mood, happiness, struggle and suffering that is being experienced by someone. The face is a mystery because it is revealed at the same time hiding something that is not revealed. So it is interesting to place the face as a locus of reflection, especially in the midst of this pandemic situation. The face becomes a means of communication that both strikes and disturbs our existence for solidarity and charity (responsibility) for others.
Emmanuel Levinas' (1905-1995), was a postmodern thinker who was quite famous in the 20th century, especially in the field of ethics. His thoughts about ethics, especially regarding the concept of responsibility, are very touching and relevant to the reality of human daily life. The fact that humans are essentially always living together with others is undeniable. Even Man becomes human as long as he acknowledges that he is always in a relationship with others (Bakker, 2000: 38-43). In other words, my openness to transcendence was made possible by my encounter with the Other. I mean nothing without The Other. The Other shows itself as the exteriority of a transcendence.
