I’m sure we’ve all had events and happenings that change you. Big or small, for whatever reason, they force you to consider your position on things, and can sometimes change your mind. Hopefully these changes are for the better, for you and the people surrounding you. Thirty years ago, a significant event, and a subsequent conversation, changed the way I thought about some important things.
I was working in a retail store in Wagga Wagga. I was only there for a short time, however during that eight or nine months I became good friends with one particular workmate, Mark. When I look back, it seems that we shared very little in common. I think it was our slightly different humour that we both appreciated.
One of the things that my workmate and I had in common was an admiration for the music of Queen. One day, my workmate walked over to me and said “Did you hear? Freddie Mercury is dead”. The world had learned only one day earlier that Freddie was suffering from AIDS. To be told that he was in fact dead came as a bit of a shock.
AIDS filled the media during the mid to late 1980’s. AIDS was certainly around during my final year of school, which was 1984.
At the time AIDS was known as the “Gay Disease”, as it spread very quickly around the gay community. The media pushed this narrative for years, which in turn made for a very fearful public. We were fearful of contracting this deadly mystery virus which reportedly came from monkeys. And we were fearful of homosexual people, especially gay men.
This narrative was developed by the US Chief Medical Advisor to the President at the time, Dr Anthony Fauci. Dr Fauci told us that AIDS was a “homosexual’s disease”. He told us that we could catch AIDS from casual contact. He told us that children were at risk, simply by living in the same house as someone suffering from AIDS.
This, of course, turned out to be totally false. The truth around the spread of HIV/AIDS and the media’s narrative didn’t change until much later, when Princess Dianna was photographed visiting an AIDS ward of a London hospital, shaking hands and embracing AIDS victims without wearing gloves or any other Personal Protective Equipment.
However, most people - and I’m ashamed to say myself included - took too much notice of the media scare tactics, and were very fearful of AIDS, and, gay men. It was a stigma that I carried with me through my late teens. To my own shame, this is despite sharing the final couple of years of school with a gay man, who I considered to be one of my closest friends at the time.
So when my new workmate told me about Freddie Mercury’s passing in November 1991, I was saddened and angered. I was sad that someone whose talents I admired was dead. I was angered by the proliferation of a deadly disease that was being spread everywhere by gays. I can’t remember my exact words, but I expressed this outrage to my workmate. His reply was something along the lines of this: ‘Just because someone has a different set of values to you, or a different lifestyle, why should they suffer any more than any other person? Why should your personal beliefs be considered any better than anyone else's?’. Or words to that effect. He gently reminded me that people are people. He reminded me that I had no place in casting judgement upon another person.
He was right of course, which I realised almost instantly. So I started looking beyond the media hype, and especially beyond the pub-talk, into the truth behind HIV/AIDS. And what I found then is what is known by everyone now: HIV does not discriminate.
Fast forward to now, November 2021. I rang my former workmate and left a voicemail message. I said “Thirty years ago today, you came up to me and said “Freddie is dead”.
He returned my call a couple of days later. We attempted to set a date to catch up over a meal and a few drinks, as we do every couple of years.
I explained that they would have to travel to our home. Because I am unable to visit pubs, clubs and restaurants. I am also unable to travel outside of my LGA. Because I am refusing the Covid “vaccination”.
He went on to explain that we wouldn’t be able to catch up any time soon. He and his lovely wife are double vaccinated. He told me that he would be concerned about passing Covid on to his elderly mother-in-law., who is also double vaxxed.
I told him that I understood his concerns, especially regarding the elderly. Not to worry, maybe next year.
Over the last few days since the call, it’s been bugging me. I don’t blame him for his unfounded concerns. The mainstream media are doing an excellent job at maintaining the fear. Just like they did in the 1980’s with AIDS. And they are still being guided by Dr Anthony Fauci. (But I’ll save the Fauci rant for later.)
I don’t understand how people are willing to see our population be divided into two camps. How it’s OK to discriminate based upon someone’s own personal health choices. That Government has removed the ability for someone to work and provide based upon their non-compliance is abhorrent.
I don’t understand how seemingly all levels of Government in this over-governed free and liberal society of Australia have totally forgotten their place in our society and became instant autocracies with that central power being gifted to unelected bureaucrats.
Our sensationalist, biased, activist media; our power-hungry politicians, our gutless leaders, and our censoring social media, have a lot to answer for.
When this is all blown over and has been forensically examined - unfortunately and probably when I’m dead and buried - I’m sure the historians and researchers are going to be saying “what were they thinking?” But not before our grand-children ask us “what did you do?”. “Did you stand up for people?” “Did you defend your workmates who were sacked?”
I’m disappointed that my friend and former work-mate can no longer look at the covid issue with the same clarity, foresight and humanity that he helped me with 30 years ago.
Yes, we are still good friends. And I’m sure that we will remain so.
(Footnote: In the early 1990’s I eventually reached out to my gay friend who I hadn’t seen for several years. He is now back among my small circle of friends and his friendship is certainly one of my most valued).
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