A letter to @ianbrown

Ian, we met once and I thought you were charming. You were keen and interested in what I had to say and although we were peers to a small degree, I felt humbled that someone I admired so much showed interest in me.

I loved the Roses as a young man (forgive me, I’m a touch younger than you) and other than the sublime melodies and harmonic aesthetic; one of the things that caught my heart was your politics. The band felt resolved and uncompromising and I admired that.

If you're reading this, I’m sure you’re expecting the direction this is going and you’re right. I’m not naïve, I don’t expect to change your mind but I hope that what I’m about to write might offer a scintilla, a ounce of consideration from you to an opposing point of view.

I want to tell you about one of my sisters and the work she does. She went to a state school, did well, and after her A levels managed to get a place at Oxford studying applied mathematics– no mean feat back then for anyone from a comprehensive.

After her degree she spent a further four years at Oxford studying statistical epidemiology. She married an American and in her mid twenties, moved to Illinois where she’s remained to this day.

She is now one of America’s leading epidemiologists. She runs the department (for Illinois) that tracks infectious diseases across the USA and is responsible for recommending the distribution of resources to meet those needs.

I’ve seen your feed in the last couple of months and you have suggested that people aren’t doing enough research into Covid-19. Well, with the respect you of course deserve, I’d like to know what research have you done that you think my sister (30 years in epidemiology) hasn’t?

She is an expert in her field. If she suggested a lyrical change in ‘She Bangs the Drums’ I would hope you would ignore her (please do, she’s a terrible lyricist), so I ask you, what information are you party to that she isn’t?

My sister’s work over the years has saved lives, from infants to the elderly irrespective of class and advantage.

I can assure you (with a hand firmly clenched to my heart) that she isn’t part of some deep state cabal or a slave to Soros or Gates (Soros for right wing conspiracy theorists, and Gates for the left equivalent).

I know in the last couple of months people have mocked your opinions which naturally would make anyone dig their heels in but, I firmly believe that the narrative you are promoting is killing people.

It’s the narrative of the far right, the narrative of Trump, Bolsonaro and Orban.
Written with respect to the Ian Brown I loved as a nineteen year old.