We’re in the Middle of a War, and We’re Resorting to Political Mudslinging

I’m a political junkie who has stayed far away from politics over the last few months in my social media. Politics, the one thing I love more in the world, literally drains me every time it is brought up.

18 months ago, Australia, alongside the rest of the world, was thrown into a war we did not see coming. A war against an invisible enemy — a virus.

We have had to learn to ration, only leave the house for essential reasons for our own safety and find ways to protect our most vulnerable population. We are seeing many ‘injured’ and many casualties.

My partner wanted to make breakfast for me during the first week in Canberra’s most recent lockdown. “I’ll just go down to the shops,” he volunteered. I stared at him like he’d grown two heads.

“Are you insane?” I asked. “It’s too dangerous.”

I know our safety from other humans is fine — we’re not in a war that is being perpetrated by people, and I am grateful for that. But I still put myself in that mindset to protect myself.

I am unvaccinated. This is for two reasons. Firstly, I have not been eligible in my age bracket. Secondly, clinical trials for people suffering from autoimmune disease were not published until recently, so even if I were…