The tragedy of us and them

The BBC have reminded us that it’s 30 years since the untimely death of Freddie Mercury, and 40 years since the first patients reaching hospitals with HIV/AIDs. It’s reopened powerful and painful memories for me.

HIV/AIDS was a rapidly growing catastrophe, with strange and devastating effects, becoming ever more apparent each year that the result would be death. The reaction of governments and the media was appalling. The majority of people with HIV were initially gay men. Religious figures said it was the wrath of god. Our UK Prime Minister led a moralizing backlash. People were kicked out of their families, out of the jobs, couldn’t get mortgages, ended on the streets. The research was slow to start. The response was vile. And all along, people lived with the horror that something they had done years before would turn into a death sentence. ?I remember the sense of dread, of living in some kind of horror movie.

Other people stood forward – buddying, support lines, providing nutritious food, opening hospices, getting involved in medical trials, and for my side, providing safe homes. Princess Diana’s handshake to a person with HIV in a hospice was outstanding.

But in the main, it was an us and them. 40 million people have died globally, women and men, mainly in Africa.

And now it is the 2nd anniversary of covid. How different is the reaction. Yes there have been some missteps, but countries that can afford it have turned their entire economic and healthcare systems to respond to the pandemic. Pharma companies have worked at fantastic pace to find and share vaccines. Doctors have improved therapies, identified existing medicines that show value. What could have become a death toll in the tens of millions or even more, has been kept down so far to around 6 million.

And yet it is still us and them. Vaccine wars between developed countries. Just 10% of people vaccinated in Africa. Leaving a big pool of virus which is more likely to spring out a more infective or more lethal version, whether its Omicron or the next.

What is it about human beings that pushes us down to the us and them – of infection, wars, borders, religious disputes, antivaxxers, climate deniers, secessions, racial divides? Is it something from our ancient origins, in tribes? Can we find ways out of this? We will not survive the climate crisis and many other challenges if we cannot avoid this us and them mentality.

If there are fields of work we should really be putting effort in, is the behavioural science and anthropology. We have to understand ourselves far better.

Freddie Mercury worked right up to his last couple of weeks, despite pain and agonizing therapies. His last song – “these are the days of our lives”. His last words to film – “I love you”.

Thanks to the @BBC, @TerenceHigginsTrust, and all the doctors and nurses, the scientists and pharmacists, the buddies and helpers, the survivors and those at rest. Thanks all of you.?