During the time of Coronavirus pandemic, one of the must see tv shows is Governor Cuomo, the governor of New York’s, briefing on Corona in Albany, New York.  The show is broadcast by CNN everyday between 11:00 am to 12:pm. 

I watch it religiously everyday and not only get the facts about the spread of and latest information on the virus, but learn lessons of life, encouragement, resilience, hope and how to come out of a disaster stronger and more knowledgeable than before it.

Every time that I get fed up with politics and politicians, some politicians surprises me with his/her decency and integrity. Politicians like: Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) from India who liberated India from British Rule; Mohammad Mossadegh (1882- 1967) from Iran who also liberated the Iranian petroleum from British Rule; Nelson Mandela (1918 – 2013) from South Africa, anti-apartheid activist and the first black president of that country; Vaclav Havel (1936 – 2011) from Czech Republic whose party played a major role in the Velvet Revolution that toppled Communism in Czechoslovakia. These politicians with their dignity, sincerity in helping and serving their people changed my mind and like-minded people like me.

The latest amongst the aforementioned politicians is Andrew Cuomo, the present governor of New York State. He is of sound mind, reasonable, fair, compassionate, sympathetic, and, last but not least, a humble person.

In his everyday briefing, he separates facts from his personal opinions. At the beginning of his briefing, he talks factually about Coronavirus and sometimes at the end of the session, he gives his own opinion with the emphasis that what he says it is his own opinion and viewer/listener can throw it into the garbage, which is to me an indicator of his humbleness and at the same time, his self-confidence.

He, simultaneously, acts as a fact checker, teacher, pastor, father, brother, friend and a cheerleader for his fellow state-men and countrymen.

He is a politician who seeks goodness and wellness for the people whom he governes over with no personal or hidden agenda and ambition.

Watching somebody like him, especially, in the hard time that we are in and in comparison with his counterpart at the national level is so heartwarming and encouraging.

Wouldn’t it be great if we had more politicians like him in this apocalyptic like Coronavirus pandemic?  

Mahvash Sha

5/4/2020

Florida