The Only Way Out of This Is Together
It’s what we should’ve done two years ago. Instead of “trusting the science,” we should have trusted each other. Instead of shouting down those who dared to disagree, we should have debated in good faith. Instead of imposing never-tried draconian measures (imported from China) that many claim were based on fraudulent data and ultimately did more harm than good, we should have trusted proven pandemic policies that were already in place; policies that were there to preserve the economy, sustain social cohesion, protect collective health, and individual rights and freedoms.
Deep divisions among people now threaten to rip society apart. Rifts that could have largely been avoided if we had taken the time to talk to each other and respect individual choice. Love them or hate them, the government-imposed health measures were the source of immeasurable strife among family members, friends, spouses, and siblings.
The crux of the divide couldn’t be clearer. The unvaccinated feel like the majority of their friends and families have forsaken them; abandoned them as friends, as equal citizens, and abandoned their inherent right to decide what is best for themselves and their children. The vaccinated, to varying degrees, see the unvaccinated as selfish, irresponsible, and putting their own personal interests above that of the collective.
How many Christmas or holiday dinners were ruined by this divisive atmosphere inflamed by the at-odds medical and philosophical views of different individuals? How many loved ones and friends were ostracized from festive gatherings, marriages, and celebrations because of their medical choices?
A Turning Point
We are now at a critical point in human history. What is clear is that to survive as a species, we will all need to learn to respect each other and work together. The tyranny of the majority now operating in most western democracies will need to evolve into a more inclusive system where nobody gets left behind, ever.
What the Canadian Freedom Convoy has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt is that when you exclude 10–15% of your population from participating in society, they will rise up in revolt. You can’t excommunicate and discriminate against large groups of people without suffering social breakdown and deep economic repercussions.
More importantly, however, the Freedom Convoy has shown us that by being inclusive and respecting everyone’s beliefs and needs, we can pull through anything, as long as we do it together. We can overcome the challenges of this virus, but if and only if we do it hand in hand with mutual respect and cooperation. Dealing effectively with the virus and respecting the medical bodily integrity of every individual are NOT mutually exclusive.
Those who believe in the power and protection of masks, vaccines, and distancing will have to learn to live with those who don’t. And vice versa. We will need to heal on a global level and show compassion and respect for one another; to trust and live and let live. We already do this to a large degree every time we get in our cars. We have no idea who the other drivers on the road are, what training they’ve received, or how they drive. However, there is an implicit trust, a leap of faith that is taken, every time we roll out on the highway.
The two-year experiment we’ve had with forced health measures has failed miserably. It’s time for governments to be humble, release the reigns of authoritarian rule, and allow people to get back to living their lives as they see fit. When people are deprived of the right to make critical medical choices for themselves and their kids free from punishment, pressure, or coercion, they rise up in protest.
There very well may be (for a while at least) people who choose to self-segregate from those with different medical views. And that will be their right. We’re going to have to find a way to transform fear into trust. Perhaps covid will provide us with the opportunity to see what we can really achieve if we all pull together. But the opposite is also true. If we allow the forces of fear, division, and anger to flourish, we may find our world plunged ever deeper into darkness and despair.
We need to heal now. And we need to do it together.
