Australia’s fault lines: will we ever reconcile?
A post-war German responds
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Dear Readers,
Recently I posted a letter from a jabbed reader “To my unjabbed heroes” that gained lots of attention, mostly positive.
I believe this letter was so interesting because it was a perspective we often don’t hear: a jabbed person who appreciates the sacrifices made by the unjabbed. It was also a powerful call to unity, which is something that ‘they’ certainly don’t want, because it means that whatever ‘they’ try in the future, there will be fewer people who comply. We depend on each other for survival: let us never, ever forget that. Indeed, our jabbed writer stated:
When these (covid quarantine camps) first came about, my initial reaction was “I WANT A JOB IN ONE”
Why, you may ask? Because, like others, I had a fear these would become internment camps for the unvaccinated. As a jabbed person, I wanted a job there so I could give the people there – the unvaccinated - a voice! I wanted to record stories of the wrongdoing, the bullying, the separation, being ripped from your life. I would still do this today. I’m not real tech savvy but I’m damned sure if I had evidence/stories I’d find a way to get that out there. As it should be.
According to the government, as of February 2022, 95% of Western Australians over the age of 12 had been injected with at least two doses of the covid injections. What this means at its core is that the unjabbed are isolated from society and extremely vulnerable to state-based violence. The camps were built, we were vilified, scapegoated, used as a blunt weapon to instil fear, and now, completely ignored as if we no longer exist. The fact that we are alive and exist as a control group is extremely inconvenient (n.b., see Arkmedic’s substack for a deep dive on the New South Wales hospitalisation data).
The interesting thing about being unjabbed is that we are a really diverse bunch and come from all walks of life. Lots of believers (Christians and Muslims especially), lots of scientists and doctors, tradies, teachers and military, and when you go to the rallies you meet all types: black, white, old and young. The thing that unites us is that we all have a healthy suspicion of authority because we either have come from the power structure and know how morally bankrupt it is or have been f*cked over by it (usually both).
The one thing that I haven’t really seen discussed yet is the level of rage that is bubbling along just under the surface with many of us. The police are definitely terrified (yet excited) by this aspect, which can be reflected in the way they handled the incident with the Train family in Queensland.1 Regardless of motive and how this incident played out, police were desperate to pin any tiny hint of violence in the community on people who had ‘anti-government, anti-police, anti-vaccination views who happened to be Christian.’ What does this mean?
The police are desperate for violence and disunity to crack down further on our rights.
Therefore, the calls for unity with the vaccinated are the right way: we need them because we are the minority. They need us because we provide leadership. Next time, it will be worse and we can feel it. We need our fellow Australians to wake up and join us. Damn the job, the holiday, the home, everything. We unvaccinated have already been there in the cold and we can show you how it’s done. Reflecting on the above quote from our jabbed letter-writter provides a feeling of relief that there may be someone minding the camps on our side. However, if people had resisted the jabs in the first place, there (for example) would be no need for the camps.
That is the faultline as the unjabbed grapple with ‘reconcilation.’
There is a searing rage that cannot heal without a proper reckoning. We cannot heal and unite because we cannot trust you. Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behaviour and if you bent the knee once you will probably do it again. This is the feeling that the police and government are exploiting to their advantage. Do not take the bait.
Nevertheless, there is no escaping that every person who jabbed made our lives harder. Next time, you will have to prove to us that you can stand shoulder to shoulder with us and not stab us in the back. In particular, every miner and pilot and doctor and stevedore who took the jab prolonged this nightmare. You are the most important people in society and could have ended this in 24 hours. We begged you. We walked off the job. You watched us. When we came back, you said nothing.
Something is broken. There is a fault line in our country. A Substacker I enjoy called Sage Hana says that we live on different islands and his social commentary is hilarious, heartbreaking and ruthless. If only we could live on different islands and the people who want to be left alone could just be left alone. But we can’t. We live together on one island called Australia and have to work through this. If, when ‘next time’ rolls around the eager jabbers want to throw me under the bus again by word and deed I cannot stop them. I can only hope that there will be fewer of them and more of ‘us.’
A comment on the article about “Unvaccinated Heroes” was so raw and honest that it blew me away and I thought deserved its own article. It perfectly articulated many of my feelings, and is a living contemporary example of the quote by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: “If only it were all so simple! If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being. And who is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?”
A post-war German responds to the letter “To My Unjabbed Heroes”
Here (is) some clear speak, not of the minced variety: a reaction not unlike the one many of the unjabbed will have after reading this odd letter.
I regret having to say this, but this individual is at best an unrecognizable knock-off of her Anzac ancestors, and at worst a mind-boggling disgrace to them.
In western societies, 15-25% of the population suffered the unspeakable because they chose to resist. Not much said about them here; 95% of what was written reads like an egotistic, self-indulgent rant meant to justify one’s actions, which — as mentioned — clearly were not of the Anzac, or hero variety (the lack of self-reflection, or cynicism of even mentioning her ancestors is astounding).
The fact is, the author contributed to each and every one of the tragedies she witnessed by being compliant. She chose not to charge the hill into a hail of bullets.
Every person who resisted paid a terrible, personal price. Many will be traumatized for life. The ones who went along with this barbarity were either criminally stupid, or criminally complicit (to make life easier on themselves, or because they had drank the cool-aide).
Why so exacting? Because I grew up in post-war Germany, educated to understand exactly what the dynamics were that led to 6 million Jews being gassed while most cheered on. Later, many cynically and cowardly pleaded ignorance and victimization. Few were able to admit their inhumane complicity and dark shadow. Even less had a metanoia and apologized. I learned from that when we examined this in school. I am not taken in by this kind of apologia. Why so exacting? Because I learned to operate according to other standards: ones that allow you to look into the mirror the day after.
This writer wasn‘t willing to pay her personal price to resist and stand shoulder to shoulder with the hunted, maligned and killed. She feels sorry for herself now and pulls people into her little story ostensibly by wanting to give a homage to the one‘s destroyed and killed, but in reality just wants everybody to feel sorry for her own drama.
It doesn‘t work that way. She was a part of the oppression, but says no word about this.
She only gets pity from me, not respect. As regards forgiveness: she didn’t ask for it.
There are those who will say the jabbed were led behind the shed, as were the unjabbed; both were victimized. Fair enough, but there is a big, important difference.
The jabbed —regardless of their story — contributed to everybody’s misery and death because they went along with the program and many with alacrity. Where are their heart-felt apologies that move one to tears and the necessary healing embrace?
Does anybody really think that this will never repeat if people don’t have to convincingly face the truth of their actions, clearly understand where they failed, and vow to never repeat their mistake? They have to spell it out with unmistakable, convincing conviction.
Reconciliation between both sides cannot truly happened by offering such a trite little rant and fake homages. This will never ever re-establish the balance between people.
A real homage and apology is gonna have to look way different.
Jim Brandt
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Orientation for international readers. At the end of 2022 a shoot-out occurred on a rural property in the state of Queensland resulting in the deaths of 6 people: 4 civilians and 2 police officers. To this day, it’s unclear what happened on the day or leading up to it although rumours abound. What is clear is that the media and police constructed a clear narrative around the ‘perpetrators’ (civilians) being ‘anti-vaccination, Christian, loners, anti-government, anti-police, conspiracy theorists,violent hunters and posting on conspiracy theory websites.’ A good example of this narrative can be found here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-12-15/qld-police-shooting-offenders-nathaniel-gareth-stacey-train/101766720
A typical response by the media can be found here:
A typical response from the police can be found here:
Not to mention that probably the majority of the jabbed don’t even think they made a mistake or did anything wrong. They will do exactly the same next time and feel justified doing it. It’s the doctors and nurses for me. The doctors who were too afraid to write people exemptions or speak out. The ones who swore to do no harm. I will never go to a doctor or hospital again if I can help it. Yes I have the rage. I fear it will never go away.
I was moved by the original letter but I am even more moved by the second, very much more so. Midway through, I was shaking my head in disagreement but by the end, he had me completely. Now, as it happens, it's not so much pity that I feel for them but mainly contempt. I'm still waiting for any of them to offer that full and frank admission of fault and begging for forgiveness. It's not going to happen, is it?