Ever since COVID-19 emerged and governments around the world were forced to impose restrictions for residents’ safety, society has split into two main groups:
- Those who don’t mind following the rules
- Those who feel that following the rules is literally a fate worse than death
As you know, the authorities recently introduced differentiated measures for vaccinated and unvaccinated people.
Unvaccinated, unlike those who have been inoculated, cannot dine in at restaurants now. More restrictions in the future will also be relaxed only for vaccinated individuals.
But this is because unvaccinated individuals are more at risk of falling severely ill from COVID-19. All six of our COVID-19 fatalities in August, for example, were not vaccinated.
Of course, it’s understandable that those who are hesitant to take the vaccine are displeased with the new measures.
But when one opposition politician voiced his displeasure recently, he went a little too far.
PSP’s Brad Bowyer Compared Differentiated Measures for Vaccinated & Unvaccinated People to Holocaust
On 10 Aug, Brad Bowyer, a member of the Progress Singapore Party, uploaded a rather controversial post.
Have a look:
Wait, what is he referring to? The Soviet Union? North Korea?
Nope, Singapore 2021.
You see, My Bowyer believes that the recent introduction of differentiated measures for vaccinated and unvaccinated residents is so divisive it’s comparable to the political strategies utilised by Nazi Germany before they mass murdered six million Jews in the Holocaust.
“Singapore is now us and them… God help our nation!” Mr Bowyer said.
Mr Bowyer has never much been a fan of COVID-19 regulations like mask-wearing and social distancing, questioning the need for such measures.
He’s also seemed unconvinced about the efficacy of vaccines, questioning whether they’re still “experimental”.
But with this latest post, he seems to have gone too far.
Netizens were outraged by his post, with some calling it “deeply offensive” and others asserting that Mr Bowyer was the one fomenting division.
What riled netizens more than anything was his exchange with a Jewish woman whose ancestors survived the Holocaust, in which he asked her to “reflect”.
When criticised for his post and publicising his controversial views, Mr Bowyer dug his heels in at first, but eventually gave in to the backlash.
Resigned From PSP, Says Views Are “Diverging” From Party
Yesterday, Mr Bowyer announced his resignation from PSP on Facebook, saying his views are “diverging” from the party’s.
“I believe Progress Singapore Party has massive value to add, indeed its clear from the recent national day speech by the PM that changes in thinking and policy are already being influenced by it, so in that respect I do not want to give anyone the chance to derail their good work,” he wrote.
“…I am tendering my resignation from Progress Singapore Party.”
As for why he chose the Holocaust to illustrate his displeasure with the new COVID-19 measures, he said it’s because unvaccinated people have become “second class citizens in their own country”.
Some accused PSP of staying silent on the matter, but secretary-general Francis Yuen finally spoke about his colleague’s views yesterday.
Speaking to The Straits Times, he said the party was clearly not “anti-vaccine”, and that it did not subscribe to Mr Bowyer’s views.
“The party doesn’t believe in silencing members. We did not make statements (earlier) because we did not want to be part of the controversies that he has created, and the views that he made in his own private capacity, which every Singaporean is entitled to,” Mr Yuen said.
“It’s not fair to interpret whatever he says as representing the party, but we understand that people will read it that way.”
As for Mr Bowyer, he said the gloves are now coming off, as he has “no time for the cancel culture”.
Read Also:
- 3 Men Investigated for Hurling Vulgarities at Safe-Distancing Officers
- 6th COVID-19 Death in August 2021 Reported on 11 Aug; It’s a 69YO Unvaccinated Man
Featured Image: Facebook (Brad Bowyer)