Yes, it IS possible to change people's mind with kindness, patience and facts.
Bravo to the group in Bathurst who used the criticism of a local councillor as an opportunity for education and understanding. And Bravo also to Cr Fry for being open-minded enough to change his mind!
It all started with this Facebook post (now removed) by Councillor Benjamin Fry of the Bathurst Regional Council.
Councillor Fry had heard about a Forest of the Fallen display that had been erected in a local park and straight away, he called the posters which depicted photos and stories of those killed or injured by COVID jabs “Anti-Vaxxer propaganda”.
He also claimed that the posters posed a threat to the long-term health of the people in the area and he’d reported them to the police and Council staff.
The icing on the cake was his statement that one shouldn’t engage with any of the so-called anti-vaxxers should they approach you because they are likely to be carrying COVID (probably…).
Where have we seen this language before?
This sort of rhetoric comes straight from the Nazi playbook: associating a class of people - in this case, those who were injured or killed by vaccines rather than the Jews - as people who spread disease and are somehow dirty or tainted.
And though I’m sure this wasn’t Cr Fry’s intention, it is how it comes across - to me, at least.
To Cr Fry’s benefit, he was approached by many of those in his local community - most of whom were not even associated with the display - and he listened. A rare thing in a politician, from my experience.
He took down the original post and has now issued an apology letter (see below).
Bravo to Cr Fry! Maybe he will speak with the Mayor of the Mornington Shire in Victoria who has been quoted in the following article:
Shire Investigates Park Protest
MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire is investigating the positioning of dozens of signs along the path through Mornington Park on Sunday by anti-vax protesters.
People out enjoying the weather could not avoid walking past the confronting signs while a small group of anti vaxxers remained in the park to talk to onlookers.
The signs purportedly tell the stories of people who have had adverse vaccine reactions and claim that people are being “conned”.
One woman who took photos of the silent protest said she felt the signs were “misleading” and should not have been placed in a public space. (emphasis added)
“I didn’t believe half of what they say, they are spreading false information.”
The mayor Steve Holland said it was not a legal protest and the shire was looking into it. He said anyone wanting to hold an event in a public space must first seek a permit.
I honestly don’t know why the mayor insisted on calling this a protest - it isn’t. It is a display to honour those who have done what they were told and suffered as a result. It is an opportunity to inform and educate the public that COVID jabs can and do cause permanent injury and harm. And it is also a chance for like-minded individuals to come together and be heard when the media, the authorities and many in their community are telling them to shut up!
I hope that those who live in the Mornington Peninsula Shire will contact Mayor Holland and ask him to please speak with those putting on these displays and to retract his statement as Cr Fry did.
I also want to remind everyone that this is the same shire that forced the VaxXed Bus to leave this same park when we were there earlier this year even though we had sought and received permission to park there.
It is unconscionable to refuse to allow shire residents to use the public land they fund for this or any other lawful purpose.
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