By Chantal Ashley

As more lockdowns loom and fear continues to be sold wholesale by all levels of government and established media, a palpable sense of malaise is building amongst Ontarians and all Canadians.

Uncertainty abounds as to when the next lockdown might come and what elements of its now globally-established ‘toolbox’ it might employ. The threat of any combination of business closures, restriction on movement, social activities, sales of goods, curfews, school closures, border closures are creating levels of stress that are contributing to severe instability in our lives and communities. Combine this heightened tension with increasingly harsh enforcement of the COVID rules with each new wave of lockdown and appeals from our leaders for us to snitch, shun, and publicly shame anyone who appears to be non-compliant, and we encounter a situation ripe for violence.

Division between and among citizens is increasing and this is not without design. The government has long used divisive techniques to keep the focus off of itself and the oppression it perpetuates. The term given to this practice is lateral violence. This “displaced violence directed against ones peers rather than adversaries…is a cycle of abuse and its roots lie in factors such as: colonisation, oppression, intergenerational trauma and the ongoing experiences of racism and discrimination.” (Wikipedia)

In Canada it is recognized that lateral violence has been employed to maintain discord and disorganization within the Indigenous community by destroying their social fabric. It is sometimes also called internalized colonialism to reflect how people in positions of powerlessness covertly or overtly direct their dissatisfaction inward toward each other, toward themselves, and toward those less powerful than themselves.

The COVID campaign narrative dominating traditional and social media spaces explicitly encourages us to these types of violence against our peers who are not following the rules of the ‘new normal’ without pausing to take a moment to wonder about their individual circumstances. Because we’re being conditioned to think we’re doing the right thing by calling out these ‘troublemakers,’ it ironically becomes easier to act in ways that are inherently anti-social. By participating in these types of aggressions, we unwittingly trade in our familial, interpersonal, and community dependence that make us human, for greater dependence on unknowable, impersonal institutions, technology, and the material comforts of consumer culture.

For those who have physical or mental impairments that make it dangerous to wear a mask, who require a larger social circle to maintain functioning in their lives, or those who wish to exercise their legal rights as laid out by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the threat of state-sanctioned violence is spreading- and much faster than the virus. The risk of experiencing harassment and violence when going out in public is growing, and much of that violence is perpetrated by people in our immediate communities and even families.

There have already been more than a few deaths directly related to the COVID public health measures and restrictions, including a young man shot to death in a Scarborough LCBO parking lot by another patron over social distancing and a 73-year old man in Minden killed by the police after a masking dispute escalated quickly. Similar incidents have been reported in Los Angeles, New York, and Michigan. In Louisville, a doctor was arrested after being filmed strangling a teenager for not complying. Regular people have been fined and dragged out of public spaces.

The state, through its relentless media campaign, has now made it clear that curiosity is a sin worthy of exile in the new ‘cancel culture.’ The chasm between friends, family and neighbours that is created by statesanction social prohibition is widened by the repetitive messaging that paints anyone who has questions about the state of our society, government, and policies is written of as a ‘far-right conspiracy peddler’ and censored online. If the person in question is involved in the wellness industry, they might be deemed a sucker for ‘conspirituality’ who has sadly been led astray. By taking away the possibility of personal accountability, these people are essentially dehumanized and written off by mainstream society.

This push to crush curiosity is being combined with a simultaneous effort to dampen nervous system responses that promote true mind-body health, including optimal immune functioning. The restrictions on close human contact and mandates for social distancing are no accident. By isolating us, and then creating a constantly shifting yardstick over long periods of time, it is ensured that ingrained trauma will be passed along to the next generation. Bullying culture is one that instills fear of one another, rather than the powerful government bureaucrats and corporations which are the true and historically-proven sources of violence in our society.

As Brene Brown, the author, researcher and popular Ted-talker on vulnerability and shame has said, “You cannot shame or belittle people into changing their behaviors.” Instead, it tends to lead to resentment and rebellion as is evidenced by the tenacity and willingness of average citizens to stand up, even to certain brutality, that defines social movements throughout history. Those of us who have questions that are going unanswered by politicians unable or unwilling to engage in thoughtful debate about the facts while remaining deafeningly mute about the harms caused by the lockdown measures are only getting more curious.

As our collective mental health declines and violence against self and others increases, please remember to remain connected to your humanity and have empathy for others. Keep an open mind about what others may be experiencing and keep having transparent, authentic conversations about the important issues of the day. Most of all, be kind.