“Game On, Moll…”
Second thoughts on vitriol
Recently I published an article contrasting the philosophical underpinnings of democracy in the US and Australia in response to Conor Friedersdorf’s query as to whether pandemic Australia could still be considered a liberal democracy. (Short answer: Yes.) In it, I discussed some of the measures Australia has taken to combat the spread of covid.
My friend in Greenland, stranded overseas despite being double vaccinated, had this to say:
Nicely done! I kinda felt you wrapped it up too quickly though — there is plenty more to say … though I guess I just want more Scotty-from-marketing and Gladys bashing. They make me so angry!
(For the uninitiated, Scotty-from-marketing refers to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, and Gladys is Gladys Berejiklian, the Premier of New South Wales.)
My first reaction was, to quote the classic Puberty Blues: Game on, moll!
There is so much I could say about Morrison-no-relation and his shallow, self-serving responses not only to the pandemic but to leadership in general … when he bothers to lead at all. I could vent my spleen over his preference for making announcements over taking meaningful action. I could question whether his religious beliefs contaminate his prime ministership; I could highlight his associations with both pedophiles and the far right. I could shake my head in horrified wonder at his social awkwardness (despite his carefully crafted folksy dad persona). I could cry out in anger and shame about his two-faced approach to probity, or the environmental crisis.
And Gladys “Koala Killer” Berejilkian? Where to start? As a Victorian, I could make smoke rise from my keyboard as I bash out paragraph after paragraph about how her mismanagement of the delta variant outbreak put not only lives in her own state at risk, but threatened the health and livelihood of people in my state and, indeed, across the nation. I could question her government’s management of major infrastructure projects. I could question whether race plays a role in the approaches to infection prevention in the wealthier, whiter eastern suburbs versus those much more draconian measures in the poorer, more multicultural western suburbs.
You know what? I had been going to write that article. I was all set to do it; I’d done my research, marshalled my thoughts, and even had the laptop open, ready to type.
But I didn’t.
It’s not because I’ve changed my mind about Morrison-no-relation’s capacity as a leader, both here and abroad.
I haven’t.
It’s not because I’ve reconsidered my critique of Koala Killer Berejilkian’s priorities, deciding that perhaps she had been wise to value her state’s economic progress over the health of the nation.
I haven’t.
I didn’t write it because there’s enough vitriol in the world today. My voice doesn’t need to add to that burden.
A more considered approach
Don’t worry, I’m not going to preach you another sermon on the benefits of kindness and of turning our thoughts away from anger — we know that already, right?
Instead, I will add to those voices calling for respectful dialogue (even if I have to grit my teeth while doing so).
Why is this important? Let me give you an example.
“Freedom rallies”
Here in my state, our excellent leader Dan Andrews has done a fantastic job of minimising the health and mortality effects of the virus. When a lockdown has been necessary, we’ve gone early and gone hard. In fact, when October 4 rolls around, the state capital Melbourne will surpass Buenos Aires as the city which has spent the most time in lockdown during the pandemic.
Has this been hard? You betcha. I’m at the point of literally dreaming about visiting my sister and hugging my nieces. My American friend sends me pictures of gathering he’s been to in the US and I feel severe crowd envy. Oh to feel the press of people again! To hear a babble of voices! To be able to visit a gallery, go to a concert, or even just duck down the street for a coffee!
I’m one of the lucky ones. As a teacher, I’ve retained employment during the pandemic. Countless others have lost their livelihoods. Businesses have gone bust, with all those dreams and years of hard work destroyed.
The construction sector has been able to continue operating, albeit under certain conditions. Unfortunately, some operators have breached those conditions, resulting in increased infections. In response, the Andrews government closed the sector for two weeks from 11.59pm, Monday 20 September 2021 and mandated vaccinations.
Needless to say, many in the construction sector were not pleased with this development. A major protest was organised for 21 September. Did I say protest? Perhaps riot would be the better word, as what could have been a lawful rally against an unpopular government decision was hijacked by far right extremists, including neo Nazis and anti vaxxers.
I just don’t get it. I just don’t get how fanatics can convince otherwise sensible people to act in a way which is counter to their interests. If you want to proselytise that the world is ruled by lizard people, go ahead; but why on earth would you want to gather en masse with a group of people who are statistically more likely to carry an infectious and potentially deadly disease? Why would you protest against an inoculation which could protect you and the people you love from harm?
What are these people trying to achieve? Do they think I’ll agree with them because they surround some poor person’s car and menace her? Do they think that seeing them march across the West Gate Bridge will make me think “Oh, perhaps they have a point, after all?”
Calm yer farm
[Sorry, I just had to duck out of the room and take a few deep breaths.]
There’s no point going toe-to-toe with people like that. You can’t argue with crazy. It’s a bit like how meditation teaches you that you can’t out-think thinking; you can’t out-argue someone whose sole purpose seems to be the argument.
It’s exhausting to even try. As Joe from You said:
It’s very hard to think clearly in the river of crazy you’re spewing.
That’s why I’m dialling back the vitriol.
I still think Morrison-no-relation is a sorry excuse for a Prime Minister. I still believe Gladys “Koala Killer” Berejilkian should have acted faster and more decisively in the face of the delta variant outbreak.
However, with apologies to my friend, today I am choosing not to go down the rabbit hole of ranting and raving against them (even though it’s so, so tempting).
Today I’m choosing to be:
- more focussed on rational conversation
- more open to different ideas
- more accepting of the fact that there is more than one way to view the world and that people who think differently to me aren’t necessarily wrong or evil.
It’s a more spacious, open, lighter way to be.
A final invitation
My invitation to you today is twofold:
- Join me in reducing the level of vitriol.
- If you disagree with anything I’ve said, hey — that’s OK! Let’s have a conversation about it. I’ll look forward to reading your ideas in the comments below.
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