Kentish Express Ashford & District

Lockdown has made us cowed and fearful

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Once again we find ourselves in another lockdown. If the definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result then we are truly mad.

November’s lockdown saw infection rates climb rapidly. It patently did not work and the wearing of face masks seems of little use other than to remind us to be afraid.

If the objective is to eliminate this virus and any mutations of it from this country then shutting down internatio­nal travel and schools might be the place to start. Viruses spread like wildfire in schools and hospitals and this is widely known. We know which groups are more at risk of suffering from Covid-19 and they don’t need to be told to stay at home!

They are the generation that lived with wartime privation and post-war real austerity and rationing. This current generation is unused to disease, suffering and poverty.

Our reaction to Covid-19 is worse than the disease itself.

Our forefather­s lived with many diseases on a daily basis and did not shut down their economies. Our politician­s and senior officials are more interested in protecting their own backs rather than protecting ours. We are told to protect the NHS but surely it is the job of the NHS to protect us.

It has been known for generation­s that good personal hygiene, fresh air, keeping your distance from the diseased and ‘coughs and sneezes spread diseases’ is the way to stay healthy and reduce transmissi­on of disease. We are herded around like sheep and many seem happy with this arrangemen­t. The cries of lockdown harder, sooner and for longer are shouted repeatedly at us regardless of the economic consequenc­es that are becoming increasing­ly apparent. The debts being run up will surely limit our capacity to fund the NHS in future.

How many will die unnecessar­ily as a result?

The US President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his inaugural address in 1933 that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. That is where we are today. Were are fearful, cowed and have given up so many of the freedoms that millions died for and have been taken for granted.

As a society we need more courageous leaders and leadership. As someone once said ‘ Courage is not the absence of fear but the triumph over it”. Perhaps it’s time we started.

Neil Cox

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