Out of interest, I recently checked up on our human rights legislation and was intrigued to read that our law differs from that of some other countries. While South Africa’s human rights legislation, for example, specifically names rights that citizens can enjoy, ours focuses on things that must not be used to discriminate against groups or individuals. Our Human Rights Act 1993 is closely linked to the Bill of Rights Act 1990 and largely deals with discrimination and how it will be avoided or dealt with, if perpetrated. Also interesting is the implicit links to overarching United Nations legislation. Take from that what you will.
My interest was stirred by recent developments in relation to mandatory vaccination for a growing proportion of the population. I have already outlined my own journey concerning the jab so it is on record that I personally support voluntary vaccination. In fact, it has been pointed out to me that, because I had quite a violent reaction to my first injection, I may have had a life threatening response to catching the real thing. However, when people are losing their right to work because they make a decision about what is injected into their bodies, I believe we are heading to a slippery slope. Let’s explore the facts.
The argument from the government is that it is in the public interest for all to be vaccinated, presumably because then the virus will go away. Well, that doesn’t stack up as I, as a fully vaccinated person, can catch and transmit Covid to anyone with whom I come into contact. Further, because I am vaccinated, I may catch it and remain asymptomatic, thus being in a position to spread it widely while unaware of my contagion.
I have listened to various impassioned treatises from both sides of the argument and remain neutral but fully convinced that I made my decision in my best interests. I am aware there is a proportion of people who have come to a different conclusion and I totally respect their right to do so. So when confronted with the news that they may lose their livelihoods as a result of that decision and that they will be deprived of other libertarian activities, I’m concerned that we really are heading to a two tier society, where one tier can enjoy the rights and freedoms that include the right to work and earn a living and the other tier cannot.
It further concerns me that the actions of promoting such a rift are affording opportunity for vitriol to be unleashed from the side that is upheld as the true and correct position in the argument. Much has been made of the rabid anti-vax pronouncements emanating from social media – I love the reference to ‘social’ when clearly much of it is not – but I personally have been exposed to outpourings of highly emotive ventings from people who support compulsory vaccinations. Some of the language used and the spurious arguments employed feel little different from some of the vocalisations of the other side. This is a no win situation created and encouraged by our policy makers.
I will watch with interest as this drama plays out but already I’m experiencing sadness that a split and divided society is not a healthy one and I cannot help feel there will almost certainly not be good outcomes for many. I might feel less uncomfortable if I felt the empowered faction had the moral high ground but I remain unconvinced. When a battle that goes to the heart of our society, as this one does, is so one sided, it is inevitable that the disempowered faction will become bitter.