UPPING THE ANTI HAS BECOME NATIONAL SPORT
From anti-vax to anti-mandate and even to certain members of anti-light rail groups, these mobs have one thing in common: anti-social behaviour
FROM anti-vax to anti-mandate and even to certain members of anti-light rail groups, these mobs have one thing in common: anti-social behaviour.
While both wail about their individual rights and the evils of oppression, their actions scream “bully”.
How else to explain the vile invective spat at Burleigh Pavilion owner Ben May, who dared to support the state government’s vaccine mandate?
Forget the fact that he is literally just obeying the law, since when is character assassination and professional vilification an acceptable response to a differing of opinion?
And Mr May is hardly the only target. In October, a Tweed business was forced to close after copping racist abuse for following health guidelines to only serve vaccinated customers.
Let’s not forget either the death threats sent to our CHO, the threatening letters sent to chemists offering vaccinations, the hate mail that lands on my own desk … wow, way to show how much you value human rights.
Meanwhile, our police are standing by as they prepare for an expected physical backlash from the unvaxxed as they are prohibited entry from our venues.
Don’t even get me started on the businesses who insist on posting the most passiveaggressive “antidiscrimination” stances on social media.
The latest local case in my neighbourhood came courtesy from a favourite cafe in Nobby’s, which stated they are “open to everyone”.
“No discrimination here, everyone is welcome! We strongly believe your medical history is no one’s business!!”
First of all, way to go in making yourself target number one for police who are patrolling mandate compliance – here’s hoping that 10 per cent unvaxxed population that you’re catering to will cover your fine.
But more importantly, don’t you dare imply that because other businesses are abiding by the law that they are part of some evil empire.
Personally, I greatly appreciate that the vast majority of this state and this country are making our world as safe as possible for my 81-year-old mother.
As Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said when asked if he had a message for businesses intending on defying the restrictions: “This is a big picture, it’s not only around the mandate, and it’s not around the directions. It’s around people’s health.”
It’s not just a case of local stupidity, either. My brother, based just outside of New York City, tells me that his granddaughter’s primary school has been shut down after a mass outbreak among young children, and parents are not happy … although not for the reason one might suspect.
“About 800 parents and students left their shoes piled outside the school to protest possibly having to wear a mask. I assume it was symbolic of the Holocaust … because wearing a mask is very similar to being burned in the ovens of Auschwitz,” he said sarcastically.
It’s beyond anti-social, it’s simply disgusting.
Look, I understand that vaccinations are a personal decision … but the physical consequences are communal. Covid is a
virus that goes … viral.
Mandates and restrictions are not to punish these outliers, but to ensure that as we open our borders and businesses, our Covid case numbers slowly climb rather than skyrocket.
It’s about protecting all of us. And hopefully, once these first few months are over and our vaccination rate climbs ever higher, we can welcome the unvaccinated safely back into society.
To which, no doubt, they will show their gratitude with some more verbal abuse.
It seems the words and actions of these anti groups are more about signalling some misguided moral superiority and provoking conflict rather than any attempt to accept differing opinions – let alone to find common ground.
While I frequently find myself on the end of anti-vax
and anti-light rail attacks, I accept that as the consequence of offering a public opinion.
To be clear, these two groups are anything but interchangeable. After all, there is absolutely nothing morally questionable about opposing the light rail.
In fact, one group is no way related to the other … except by the anti-social behaviour of some members.
To illustrate: I was shocked when a reader contacted me to say he had been privately messaged by one anti-light rail radical and likened to a racist and a killer … all for simply liking a pro-light rail post on social media.
That’s right, he clicked a “thumbs up” icon on a very mild post … and was then bombarded with dozens of vicious messages.
It’s beyond disturbing that someone actually took the
time to check the names attached to every “like” and then direct message some insults and threats.
That seems … not very rational.
There’s no doubt that whether pro or anti vaccine, mandate or light rail, there are good and bad apples in every bunch.
But the overwhelming anger displayed by the anti groups is what worries me. They are fighting against public safety and public transportation … two categories I struggle to interpret as evil.
I do understand, however, that we are living in an era of tremendous change on the Gold Coast. And fear of the unknown is what is at the heart of all of this fury and anti-social behaviour.
And that is what is truly frightening.