Andrew Lawton, blogger and regular panelist on the Michael Coren show is critically ill in hospital and by all accounts, is fighting for his life. I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of everyone here at The Volunteer to express our best wishes to Andrew and his family, in getting well and getting through this terrible ordeal.

In times like this, I think a lot about politics. But not because I want to politicize such tragedy. Rather, it’s the opposite; I feel the need to de-politicize the way in which we view each other as human beings in times like this.

Now, I am aware of nobody using this occasion to take a swing at Andrew over his stance of the Canadian healthcare system, given his now critical dependence on it, but I know enough about human nature and the spitefulness of people to safely assume that there are some people out there who are probably thinking just that.

If you have, in fact, thought about a political angle on Lawton’s condition, I really think you really need to step back and think about what it is in life that is really important to you.

To politicize the plight of other human beings is something we ought never do.

Lawton’s current predicament in no way makes any points about Canada’s healthcare being good or bad. Nor does a peace activist being killed in war, amount to poetic justice. Or a tenacious blogger who rails against social workers, finding herself helped by one  in a time of need and distress, undermine some “political position”.

To think these things, is to try and elevate the sick and vapid nature of everyday politics to the level of being irredeemably malicious and without the worth of further consideration.

As for myself, I’m going to spend the next little while thinking of my family, and Andrew’s family, instead of thinking about politics today.  And I’m sending a “get well” card to the following address:

Andrew Lawton, Patient
Victoria Hospital, Critical Care Unit
800 Commissioners Road East
London, Ontario
Canada N6A 5W9