Quote:
Originally Posted by roddy1960
As a non Victorian it wouldn't be right for me to truly appreciate the frustration with the recent lockdowns but now that things are easing and the numbers look pretty good again how do our Victorian AFFers feel about both the protestors actions in the last couple of days and the beach goers etc stuff today (Tuesday) that was shown on the news ..
Especially the protestors , how do you feel about that going on ? Is it justified or not in your more informed opinions having endured the frustration ?
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We live in Regional Victoria, and, because of that, the effect on us has been quite minimal.
Yes, we would have liked to travel to another state for a break in the middle of winter, but we understand that the restrictions placed upon us were there to protect other citizens, who happen to live in different states. Each year we have a social gathering of friends as time changes occur. Those had to be foregone, but our friends understand the reasons that this was necessary. The same group of people have put their own social gatherings on hold.
As to the protesters:
Methinks that they are confusing a pair of differing things.
Firstly, the country has been (is?) facing a unseen, potentially fatal, virus that propagates through the community by aerosol transmission. That kind of propagation is enhanced by gatherings of many people, especially in confined spaces, or in close proximity in open areas.
Currently the only defense we have is to limit the chance of the virus propagating. This is achieved by limitation of people gathering together. The use of masks provides a greater defence since they minimse propagation.
Secondly, the people have right to protest against things that they find unacceptable, providing the protest is peaceful and courteous. We celebrate that freedom.
However, if exercising that freedom puts others at risk, even if that risk is distant from the activities of the protesters, then the authorities have a need to minimise the risk factor. This is especially true if the protesters take actions that may harm the police officers, or their animals, tasked with controlling the actions of the protesters.
The first of these things is urgent, given that the first responsibility of a government is the protection of its citizens.
The second of them is important. People should have a right to protest against what they see as an infringement on their rights.
But, is it not the case that anyone can protest against an in office government at the next election?
In my view urgent is paramount and therefore takes precedence.
So my advice would be: Do not congregate un-necessarily, and wear a mask if you do.
Cheers