Thread by @drjanaway

Wish the papers would stop with the "bring back the pub wave the flag" narrative. Lets not fall at the final hurdle and force another lockdown.

Just wait, vaccinate, be patient. Act with caution, not bluster and negligent populism.

We are all tired, lonely and fed up. We are all survivors. But lets rejoice in what, as a people, our restraint has afforded. It has saved lives. It has gifted years for connection, love and experience. I will happily delay a pint for that.

Noone ever thought this would be easy. But for those who claim, whether innocently or with vehement rage, that the "spirit of dunkirk" (or similar misappropriation of the sacrifice of others) is cause for the relaxation of lockdown, please consider what stoicism really is.

Stoicism is the nature of inaction and restraint in the face of adversity, the measured response knowing that time and resilience will win the day. It is the opposite of throwing caution to the winds, waving a flag and charging into Wetherspoons.

That is not to say that socialising is without value, it is a human necessity. There is no hard and fast solution to what ails the human condition, only compromise and empathy. We can be proud of what we have achieved, but let us wait so we may celebrate it with more souls.

I wont speak for any fallen hero, but I will speak for those watching a flag waved callously toward more death. Do not put idealism or nationalist delusion over sense. Listen to the logic and restraint. Better to wait and save lives, then charge into the breech with abandon.

This virus is no human foe, it has no sense of valour or victory, it is an ocean caught in a storm, it sees and feels nothing, it cannot be overcome with rage or bravery, only by time and reserve. It is not a competition or excuse for bravado, it cares little for history.

It will not be defeated by symbolism, op eds or quotes, allusions to military might or the aspiration of dead empire, it is beyond human narrative as it is simply nature. So we must stand slow, wait, act in defiance of our own need to act. That is where stoicism wins.

If you are looking for heroes of this "war", look not just to the NHS or other key workers, but those who have taken pause to bend the rules, who have considered the value of patience against quick resolution, those who restrain to save lives of distant souls they may never meet.

We are all human, we can all feel the pain of isolation, but we can all find strength in the universality of a shared goal. Thankfully we can have each other through a phone, just a little longer. The pub garden will still be there, but we risk leaving more seats empty.

Be well all. X

#justwaitandvaccinate