Police and Drone Technology in the Time of Corona Virus

The Chinese police are flying a drone into a quarantined area and using the drone to spot people violating the face mask and no gathering rules. They then speak through the drone to call out specific people by the clothes they are wearing and tell them to separate and/or put on their face masks. 

"I'm Leaving" by Li Wen-liang

The preceding was shared with me by some Buddhist friends in Taipei. The text is attributed to the 34 year old doctor in Wuhan, who spoke out about the Corona virus and who passed away in the last few days. My translation of the text is below:

“I’m Leaving” by Li Wen-liang

Before I become a mote of dust, I quietly remember the black earth and white clouds of my childhood home. I long to return to my childhood, when the wind danced happily, and the snow was pure white.

It is so good to be alive, but I am dying. I will not be able to touch the face of my loved ones, nor will I ever again be able to take my child to watch the sun rise over East Lake in the spring. I will never again be able to go with my parents to see the cherry blossoms at Wuhan University. I will never again be able to fly a kite up into the depths of the clouds.

I often dreamed that my unborn child would come crying into the world seeking me out among the throngs of humanity. I am sorry, my child! I know you want an ordinary father, but I have become a commoner hero.

It is almost dawn, and I will be leaving. I am taking a guarantee as my only baggage from this life. 

I want to thank all those in the world who have understood me, pitied me, and loved me. I know that you will all be waiting for me to climb that mountain at dawn! But I am too tired.

In this life, I never wanted to be as weighty as the sacred Mount Tai, nor was I afraid to be as inconsequential as a feather. My only hope is that after the snows melt, all living things will still deeply love this earth…

When the spring thunder rolls, if there are still those who want to remember me, please place a small tombstone on my grave! It does not need to be anything special; it just needs to prove that I once existed on this earth with a name, ignorant and fearless.

My epitaph only needs to be one sentence:

“He once spoke on behalf of the living.”