Dissecting the language of a pandemic

IT is fascinating how words are used in a context. A year ago, former president of the European Commission said Europeans had “lost their collective libido” for each other. What? Libido? Yes, that’s the word. He was comparing the EU’s political malaise to the loss of desire in a marriage. Used by a statesman, the word ‘libido’ might be grotesque and hideous. Yet, the word was borrowed to express the EU situation at that time.