*manifesto, n. - A public declaration or proclamation, written or spoken; esp. a printed declaration, explanation, or justification of policy issued by a head of state, government, or political party or candidate, or any other individual or body of individuals of public relevence,as a school or movement in the Arts (OED s.v., “manifesto”). *manifesto, n. – A statement of convictions and a call to actions that will,we hope,create a better world in the future (REL 361).
A claim that this is “the end of the world” is a rhetorical performance not a description of a given fact.
“Ends” motivate endeavors in the present and recast meanings of the past. They influence and determine decisions to take action to avert, dismiss, exacerbate, or accelerate the coming of perceived ends. The validity of a claim about “the end” is inconsequential to its preemptive force.
As a rhetorical performance, such a claim can invite an abdication of responsibility for participation in practices resulting in the continuity of life, even when the claim is designed to spur action toward positive, necessary change.
An end is not equivalent to the end. Human beings die. Social, biological, and technological systems shut down. But the claim that certain ends are proofs of some final end is patently false. Life continues, even when certain human projects and lives do not.
Continuities, not beginnings, are the counterpoints to “the end.” What dies provides the provocation and the nourishment for what must and will continue to live. There are no beginnings that begin from nothing.
The claim “this is the end” does often diagnose a set of desperate circumstances; dissatisfaction, marginalization, helplessness, and despair are real. But “this is the end” can also exaggerate those circumstances, obscuring the resources that are or may be available, making it seem as if there is no other possible end but death, destruction, and even violence.
The claim “this is the end” anticipates the end that is not wanted and, in the process, may well bring about that very end.
Fatalism is an enemy of continuity. Caution is continuity’s friend.
The claim “life continues after ends” invites a different response to an end. “This is the end” may encourage selfish actions like hoarding, group-think, and attempts to identify who is deserving and who is not.
Conversely, “life continues after ends” invites creative solutions, diagnoses of the circumstances that have led to this specific end, and (ideally) compassion for those suffering from ends.
Since there are always ends (deaths, destructions, shut downs, changes) and also continuities, living on involves both a shared recognition that everything will end, including us, and a shared desire to live on in a world that is bigger than any one person, group or nation.
Collective action motivated by a shared commitment to continuity keeps final ends at bay.
Acknowledgement that there are ends need not lead to acquiescence in the face of any particular end.
Confronting an end-in-process with courage and hope rather than mere acceptance is part of our shared work.
Therefore, COVID-19 is not the end but it is an end out of which will be built continuities that we will create together.
Signed:
James Allen, Jessica Bullock, Tyler Chery, Lizzie Fleming, Bliss Gordon, Veronica Hineman, Jennifer Knust, Molly Mansfield, Schuyler Nowicki, Cameron Pey, Kelsey Reznick, Max Rothman, Livia Seibert, Mehreen Shafqat, Perry Wallack, Jason H. Zhang, Jason Z. Zhang
