It's Just
Throughout the pandemic, it seems that the ethical and moral substance of society has been tested and in some areas redefined. What sort of society do you want to live in?
It’s just three weeks to flatten the curve. That was largely the message on the 23rd March 2020 as Boris Johnson delivered his grimmest speech (to date) as Prime Minister informing us all of the first national lockdown. Many will have listened to that speech in disbelief as liberty was stripped away from all of us, but at the time, with such limited data, what else was to be done?
At the time, many who spoke out about the loss of freedom, the draconian regulations, the overzealous policing were told a variety of “It’s just” statements, It’s just to stop the spread, It’s just a few weeks, It’s just to save the NHS. Many finishing their little tirades with accusations of Conspiracy Theorist or Covid Denier thrown in for good measure. Social media was awash with keyboard warriors pitting themselves against anyone who dared to go against the narrative, or even had the audacity to ask a simple question. It seemed at times that Covid had become the new Brexit as a way to divide society.
As the situation escalated, we heard a lot more “It’s Just’s”. It’s just…… a mask, two meters, non-essential businesses, non-essential workers, three weeks, until we get things under control, a bar, a restaurant, a library, to save the NHS, until cases drop, to flatten the curve, a few more weeks, a church, a mosque, a wedding, a funeral, travel, another three months, until we get a vaccine, until we vaccinate the vulnerable, an app, Christmas, a jab, to show your safe, to protect others, for your own good. This list goes on and on, suffice to say It’s not just anymore!
The mask debate was another example of society being pitted against itself, the government advisors seamlessly switching from their being no evidence that masks help, to, you have to wear one in public to stop the spread. Again anyone who dared to question if wrapping an old t-shirt over their face would be effective was hit with a plethora of “It’s Just”. Even questioning whilst complying was frowned upon by many, met with hostility by some, “It’s just the Science” being an overused retort.
Science – Noun – “the intellectual and practical activity encompassing the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment.” – Oxford Languages.
Far be it for anyone to point out that science is fluid, not static, it is an ongoing process of understanding. That process MUST be questioned or it ceases to function. There was a time that “The Science” said the world was flat, that the sound barrier could never be broken, where would we be today if we had just accepted that as “The Science”?
Throughout the pandemic, it seems that the ethical and moral substance of society has been tested and in some areas redefined. Hypocrisy is a word that comes up regularly. When did it become OK to openly discriminate against people? Masks were the start of this, with come demanding those with exemptions mark themselves in some way. Most recently Farringtons School in Kent, in a letter to parents, Headmaster David Jackson said “exempt students should wear a yellow badge”. How the historical parallel to 1930’s Nazi Germany was lost on someone who claims to be an educator is frankly baffling, especially considering this is not the first time the subject has hit the headlines. Perhaps next we will see the unmasked or unvaccinated pupils being led from class to class “walk of atonement” style, being led by a ringing bell and a chant of “Shame”! Given the opinions of some this might not be so far-fetched as it might at first seem.
Vaccines are the latest battle line, for now, thankfully, England has escaped the discriminatory, divisive and dystopian Covid pass scheme wielded with delight by other governments including the Scottish and Welsh. Not a single government has been able to produce evidence that they have any effect on the spread of Covid, nor do the vaccines stop the spread of Covid, so Covid Passes are pointless when it comes to stopping the spread. They damage businesses forced to implement them and undermine public trust. Those that are vaccine-hesitant are unlikely to be coerced into taking them by covid passes, rather they are more likely to dig their heels in further and all the time fuel is being added to the conspiracy theory bonfire. What Covid vaccines have proven effective at is reducing serious illness, still worthwhile, still worth having, but the way to the Holy Grail of zero Covid they are not.
It’s easy to see how the conspiracy theories around Covid have grown, “It’s Just” playing a major role in this. There has been so much conjecture around Covid measures, with some claims being dismissed as being from the “Tin Foil Hat Brigade”, is it any surprise that those people feel vindicated when proved right. Covid Passes were one such measure that was shouted down as a conspiracy theory by many calling for stricter measures, yet now they are a reality in many countries those same people who dismissed them now claim “It’s Just so others know you’re safe to be around”. When there is talk of mandatory vaccines, “It’s Just for your own good” or “It’s Just your civil duty”. For many it’s just a step too far!
It’s Just may work to talk people around on one or two things, but It’s Just has become one of the most overused and abused phrases of the Pandemic. With the Government’s use of behavioral science being so blatant now, one has to wonder why there is an attempt to manipulate us into blind compliance. Why are questions and debate such a threat? Social Media companies have been one of the biggest instigators of this, deleting content that shows “the wrong” statistics, or opinions that they don’t agree with.
Covid is being used as an excuse to undermine the moral and ethical fabric of our society in many ways, free speech is just one example. Free speech is one area that we must maintain unless we want to descend into a tyrannical society, it’s how we voice our opinion. Ella Wheelan put it brilliantly with “Today it’s the person you don’t like being censored, tomorrow it could be your opinion that is not to someone else’s liking, so you have to take a relatively absolutist position otherwise you just end up with that (censorship) creep inching further and further”. Freedom must apply to everyone or it means nothing, and silencing opinions will just drive those opinions behind closed doors where they will fester and become twisted, far better to oppose with open and reasoned debate.
But it’s not just free speech that’s under threat, even the right to decide what we do or do not put into our own bodies is being eroded. Mandatory vaccines are not a way to solve vaccine hesitancy. Often those hesitant are not Anti-Vax, they just have concerns, which would be better addressed with honest information rather than fear and coercion. Even today with the latest variant, we see the fear being generated by the government and the press. There should be no surprise that the virus has mutated, it’s what viruses do. At this point we have no idea as to the implications of the new variant, it could be 100x more deadly, or it could be 1000x less virulent, we just don’t know. Taking some precautions may seem sensible, but other contradictions do not help. Sajid Javid spoke earlier saying that this new variant may evade the vaccines so it’s vitally important for you to get your booster. It’s no wonder people are confused! 6 countries in Africa will be placed on the travel red list, will this include those arriving by dinghy?
In the UK we are seeing “no jab no job” policies in social care and health care, those hero’s that worked through the pandemic, applauded weekly, exposed to covid every day, consigned to the dole queue for making a choice about taking a vaccine. Thankfully we haven’t gone fully Covid 1984 like Australia or New Zealand. Many found it chilling when Jacinda Arden admitted, with a smile on her face and delight in her eyes, that her government was creating a two-tier society based on medical status. More chilling was the amount of the public who applauded this!
Even the way we spend money could be at the discretion of the state with the talk of central bank cryptocurrencies. Like China, with digital ID’s and digital currency, it would be a simple matter for any government to decide what you can or cannot spend your money on. Before you shout “conspiracy theory”, it’s been openly discussed as a proposal!
The question becomes, what sort of society do you want to live in? An open and free democracy where ideas can be raised and debated, where science can be questioned and where people are free to go about their lives as they choose. Or a tyrannical and controlled, two tier society where everything must be at the approval of the state, showing your papers on every street corner, where even thoughts are sanctioned. To many it seems Covid is now an altar to be worshipped at, everything sacrificed to it. More than a religion it is fast becoming occult! If a free and fair society is for you then speak up and use your voice, do not go quietly into the night. Join up with others who demand the same, the Together Association would be a good place to start (@Togetherdec). Oppose discrimination and division. Reject censorship and coercion. Dismiss fear. Embrace and support freedom of speech even when you disagree with it. Question everything. Insist upon keeping your right to privacy. As Bernie Spofforth would say “HOLD YOUR LINE”
It’s just time to say enough is enough and demand normal!
What a great well written piece