Denialism Convoy.

 

Denialism Convoy.

In the beginning, the world woke up to a reality that humankind gained an unknown threat, a pandemic. Many medical professionals were very knowledgeable about how to handle it. No longer do humans believe the devil is punishing us or that black magic and witches are involved, but a few Flat-Earthers types and their likes looked for a scapegoat to sacrifice. Big business and their champion in Washington strove to convince people that nothing is wrong and that lives are not as important as the stock markets. The virus killed many of our parents and grandparents. We isolated and appreciated those who risked their lives to save ours.

Soon, the storytellers invented stories that it was all a hoax and hid the bodies pretending they didn’t exist. There is no pandemic and almost a million Americans didn’t die. Sure. The selfish and the healthy fought against masks. 

In New Zealand, a lady Prime Minister called the shots. She closed the borders and did what was necessary. Now they opened up with no worries. They reported 53 deaths.

In Canada, we have a “Sunny ways” Prime Minister. He invested heavily in vaccine development and was told to wait his turn when we had one. Canada lost over 35,000 souls, some from hunger and neglect in their care homes. The provincial leaders responsible for health partied it up to the last moment and blamed the PM for the deaths. I was watching a horror show. Onwards we went, slowing the virus down some, reopening and losing more people, repeat. The big neighbour down from us was doing much worse. Freedom, as some call it, played skillfully against us. China succeeded where we were failing, but who wants to be like China? Not me. Now someone was paying for propaganda, convincing people not to use the vaccines. The people were divided. 

There is no way to get all our stories to match. The people in charge take action and the rebels counter the information with made-up stories. Since the old and weak suffered most, many people wanted to abandon caution and let them die. They, after all, have served their purpose. Preachers ignored Christian teachings advocating helping the needy and hollered about the loss of freedom, or money in collection baskets.  

I spent a lifetime advocating for freedom and equality. Being trained as a historian, I am convinced that inequality breeds discontent, causes revolutions and wars, damaging the human fabric. Politicians said we must learn to live (Or die) with COVID.

We are designed and created to act like brothers and sisters or perish by our own hands. The dinosaurs ate each other with no empathy and are gone. The God I believe in is trying to raise creatures in His image, but our free will makes our survival rest on our ability to learn. Fascists believed in the “strongest survive” principle and destroyed themselves. Americans, after the last big war, learned the lesson. After the war, they applied the Marshall Plan, helping the enemy regain the ability to succeed and achieved the north Europe of today and the new Germany that we all envy. A country that was monstrous for a while is now an example of how to do well with what we have. Japan also demonstrates the principle. East Germany under Communism didn’t do well.

I believe in the rights of minorities and in keeping our freedom. I don’t believe in terrorizing people or demanding that an elected government will resign and let any who want to rule the country do it. Nor do I want some corporate power to take over and wring every penny from those who have no power. I don’t want people who don’t care about the country or the world to lead me. Never do I advocate using force, but we must be ready to fight for justice. Not fight for the right to enjoy the sufferings of others but to fight for those who can’t do it for themselves. I never know when I will be in their place. I know we will all get old and don’t wish to be disposed of. 

I know that before Trump, people didn’t make denialism their favourite religion, and they believed in science. What will happen now if a new variant of the virus attack? It is very possible. The governments will hesitate to act. Soon it will be out of control and people will die in the streets without medical help. The economy will collapse and countries not paralyzed by denialists will wait a bit and just march over and take what they want. It will not be “freedom”, it will be free.

This continent was taken over before when pandemics killed the original populations, and it can happen again.

I am not fear-mongering and I don’t wish to spoil anybody’s fun. I know that science is true and that Buckley’s taste is horrible but stops the cough.  

We have a group of us ready to destroy the country crying that their freedoms are taken away. A few are chronic cases of phobia-inflicted individuals worried about needles and some are using kids as human shields. OK, let them be if we must, but let’s not destroy democracy over it. Just consider the other options. 

What is encouraging in this bleak picture is the rise of patriotism. 

On my drugstore calendar from Coleman, Tuesday, February 15th is Canada flag day. 

People this year began celebrating it two weeks prior. I had never seen such a display of Canadian flags before. Canadians realize that we have a beautiful country where there is freedom and are displaying the red maple leaf with pride. Thanks, Canadians, it’s good to be here. You could have been in Russia, China, or even North Korea instead. We never choose where or when we are born, but we, all of us, lucked out. Where else we could have had so much time and “freedom” to party for days in the capital city?

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