In every country and culture, some terms grow organically and become a permanent part of the country’s dialogue.

In Bermuda, we have many terms brought to the mainstream via the long-running Not the Um Um Show and, more recently, Bermemes.

Terms such as “Gombey”, “Greeze” and “Acegirl” have now made it into the Oxford Dictionary owing to the hard work of Bermudian linguist Rosemary Hall.

Aunt Haggie’s children

One term that has not yet made it into the Oxford Dictionary is “Aunt Haggie’s children”.

Now you ask, who exactly are Aunt Haggie’s children?

The term “Aunt Haggie's children” describes persons who are impossible to please or those who constantly complain without seeking viable solutions.

As prime examples, we all know someone who constantly complains about those who are overweight. Yet, they themselves are perhaps one chocolate bar away from becoming diabetic.

Then we have those who always blame someone else for their own personal financial predicaments; however, every week they are buying new clothes online and/or ordering takeout food.

Let us be honest; we all know we have people that we have called “Aunt Haggie’s children”.

Cyber Scientist

For the past 18 months, the entire world has been in the grip of a global pandemic that has killed millions, crippled economies, and stretched the limits of those working on the front lines.

No country has been left unscathed.

Unfortunately, these realities have brought out a host of “cyber scientists'' both globally and locally.

Those who have done a sum total of two or three-day research via social media now claim that they know more than medical professionals who have dedicated their lives to real study and everyday treatment of patients.

Yes, these social-media scientists sit up and pass around all forms of non-scientific information via WhatsApp, Facebook and e-mail.

They then go one step farther to accuse governments and the medical community of some of the most outrageous crimes such as world depopulation, racial biological warfare, and the implantation of microchips for tracking purposes.

All this while they use mobile phones, which have their personal information, their complete contact list and their every move via geolocation.

Yep, you guessed it, they are definitely classified as “Aunt Haggie’s children”.

Negative energy

During this same 18 month period, many of these same folks have actively persuaded thousands in Bermuda that they should not get vaccinated. They don't need to social distance and that the government was trying to control a person's “personal liberties.”

As a result, in the past few weeks, Bermuda has seen an unprecedented spike in Covid positives — more than 1,000 active cases, 40 persons in hospital and, sadly, four deaths.

Scores of businesses have had to close their doors, at least temporarily to in-person service, because of staff testing positive. The public transportation system has been brought to a standstill, and both public and private school systems have gone to remote learning.

With statistics clearly showing that more than 95 per cent of those in hospital with Covid-19 are not immunised, it is obvious that these “cyber scientists” have been espousing false theories.

Yet, that small factor does not stop Aunt Haggie’s children from finding yet a new angle to complain about.

Their latest rant is that, during this health crisis, the population has been “left abandoned” by the Government.

Yes, the very same government that they accused of setting too many regulations.

If nothing else, Aunt Haggie’s children are persistent.

The real saviours

The truth is that there are thousands of persons on the front lines and behind the scenes keeping our healthcare system together.

Co-ordinated by the Government, they have been conducting tests, working in laboratories, contact tracing, answering thousands of calls, administering Travel Authorisation forms, working in the hospital, or, sadly, having to comfort those who have lost loved ones.

After 18 months, they are fatigued mentally and physically.

Yet, through it all, they and the Government continue to serve our country with pride.

Considering the health crisis we are in, as a country, we must collectively give thanks to these workers. At the same time, we must also collectively ignore Aunt Haggie’s children.

They, through their nonscientific propaganda, literally have blood on their hands.

• Christopher Famous is the government MP for Devonshire East (Constituency 11). You can reach him on WhatsApp at 599-0901 or e-mail at carib_pro@yahoo.com