The New Classism

 

 

 

It’s not the white class

Or the rich class either,

The LGBTQI or the feminist-

Of these two it’s neither.

 

Let me tell you what it is

And you won’t be surprised,

It monopolizes the daily news

With its protests and cries.

 

It has created a huge division

Like the rich and the poor,

The haves and the have-not

Like so many more.

 

Segregation is setting in

Not to mention discrimination

And it threatens the employed

In various organizations.

 

To be or not to be

Is the question to consider,

“Get the vaccine!” some demand

“Not for us,” say some others.

 

So, there is a division

Two classes have emerged,

Protests have already begun

And is beginning to surge.

 

Rights are being withheld

And some are being scorned,

“Get vaccinated or else!”

Others have warned.

 

Some want laws amended

In favour of the vaccinated,

And a growing number believe

Vaccines must be mandated.

 

COVID is the new leprosy

And vaccines are the only cure,

The unvaccinated has become

The proverbial life sore.

 

An automatic ban from sports

And from socializing,

Classism at its best or worse-

COVID vandals vandalizing.

 

“Let them all die

If they do not vaccinate!

Privileges for the vaccinated!

The unvaccinated eliminate!”

 

“Give them another chance

To get on board!

Otherwise, incarcerate them

Like a criminal horde!

 

We’re developing among us

Another social class,

It’s the vaccinated among us

I pray it won’t last.

 

It was quite innocent at first

Or so it appeared to be,

Now this form of classism

Is growing like a tree.

 

If things really get bad

Regarding this COVID-19,

Medical services will be reserved

For who took the vaccine.

 

“It won’t be mandatory,”

That’s what we heard at first,

But it is the unvaccinated

That brought on this curse.

 

It is clearly a pandemic

Of the unvaccinated,

Therefore, we have no recourse

But become segregated.

 

 

Better put them on an island

All by themselves

Or else they will compromise

The entire country’s health.

  

Resources are growing thin

Our health care stretched

All because of the unvaccinated!

Each one is a wretch.

 

Herd immunity, Yes!

But not herd behaviour

With the unvaccinated vilified

And the vaccinated favoured. 

  

A new classism is among us,

Another privileged group,

Be warned, fellow citizens,

Classism is a brute!

  

Classism is utterly selfish

And as such, morally blind,

Therefore, the morally enlightened

Must treat it as a crime.

 

Do not give up on suasion

Re the vaccine hesitant

And regarding the anti-vaccine

Be lovingly persistent.

 

I still have my doubts

Regarding all that I have heard

And I am still undecided

With what to concur.

 

Think of another, I ask,

In whatever you do

And seek always to embrace

What you know to be true.

 

Communicate and educate

But do not violate,

The real enemy is COVID-19

Hence, COVID eradicate!

 

Stewart Russell © September 14, 2021