This is aimed at every man, woman, child, whoever you are, that has been made to feel like your feelings are invalid, or that they don’t matter. By and large, because you don’t agree with lockdowns. Because that places you, somehow, in the “anti vaxxer” category, or the “selfish” category or even the “stupid” category.
Never mind that you lost your job because your business couldn’t stay open. Never mind that you couldn’t be there to say goodbye to your father because travel restrictions wouldn’t allow it.
Never mind that you didn’t know what to say to your 10 year old daughter when she told you she’d thought about suicide, but she just couldn’t figure out how to do it.
These are real stories, from real people. These are the people who were out protesting at the “World Freedom Rally” on 24 July. ‘No, surely not’ I hear you say. ‘These are just idiots with nothing better to do than put everyone else at risk”. That’s what the news headlines tell you. Take a moment to think for yourself (God forbid), and ask the simple question, why? WHY did so many people attend this event, world wide might I add, or maybe grasp what got these people to that point? Do you know anyone at these protests? Do you know what they’re going through? They don’t need to be told to “go and visit a covid ward, you selfish selfish people” because they’re already living their own versions of hell.
“Protests aren’t the answer, though” I hear you claim. No, maybe you’re right. But neither is sending letters, emails, phone calls, petitions, because all this is falling on deaf ears. No response, no understanding, no hope. There’s also no end date in sight. “Just two more weeks” Melbourne hears, as we enter lockdown 5. When you’re trying to feed your family, get your lump checked, get your baby treated for a chest infection, but you can’t because you have to keep people safe, you start to lose it a little bit.
Maybe that’s not you. Maybe you’re comfortable staying home, “doing the right thing”, and that’s OK, no one attacks you for that. But when people aren’t coping, when people are at breaking point and it’s either ‘jump off a cliff’ or stand up and make some noise, I think it’s time to have a bit of compassion. Covid isn’t the only thing in the world right now, and with it shoved in our faces every single moment of every day, it becomes quite easy to forget that.
I urge you to take a moment, take a step back, put yourself in other people’s shoes for a moment. Just because you are coping, doesn’t mean your neighbour doesn’t have a right to feel isolated, depressed, at absolute breaking point with no where else to turn. Her feelings are just as valid. It doesn’t mean she doesn’t care or she’s being selfish when she’s worried about how she’s going to put food on the table or why she’s bothering to get up the next day.
These people are tired, tired of closing their business when they haven’t done anything wrong. Tired of explaining why their children can’t attend school when there’s been not a single case in their region. Tired of quarantining despite being healthy. Lockdowns simply aren’t the answer, the fact that Melbourne is entering its 5th should be enough evidence of that. Mental health must be taken into consideration. Covid is not the only illness that matters. To the people suffering and making a stand: I see you, I hear you and I’m with you. You aren’t selfish, you aren’t stupid and you are most definitely valid.
Alanas free thoughts 