Here’s the conÂtext to a soberÂing newÂly-released video from The New York Times:
In the video above, AlexanÂder StockÂton, a proÂducÂer on the OpinÂion Video team, explores two of the main reaÂsons the numÂber of Covid casÂes is soarÂing once again in the UnitÂed States: vacÂcine hesÂiÂtanÂcy and refusal.
“It’s hard to watch the panÂdemÂic drag on as AmerÂiÂcans refuse the vacÂcine in the name of freeÂdom,” he says.
SeekÂing underÂstandÂing, Mr. StockÂton travÂels to MounÂtain Home, Ark., in the Ozarks, a region with galÂlopÂing conÂtaÂgion and — not unreÂlatÂed — abysmal vacÂciÂnaÂtion rates.
He finds that a range of feelÂings and beliefs underÂpins the low rates — includÂing fear, skepÂtiÂcism and a libÂerÂtarÂiÂan strain of defiÂance.
This doubt even extends to the staff at a regionÂal hosÂpiÂtal, where about half of the medÂical perÂsonÂnel are not vacÂciÂnatÂed — even while the intenÂsive care unit is crowdÂed with unvacÂciÂnatÂed Covid patients fightÂing for their lives.
MounÂtain Home — like the UnitÂed States as a whole — is caught in a tug of war between priÂvate libÂerÂty and pubÂlic health. But Mr. StockÂton sugÂgests that unless govÂernÂment upholds its duty to proÂtect AmerÂiÂcans, keepÂing the comÂmon good in mind, this may be a batÂtle with no end.
SoberÂing indeed…
RelatÂed ConÂtent
“And what counÂtry can preÂserve its libÂerÂties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their peoÂple preÂserve the spirÂit of resisÂtance? Let them take arms. The remÂeÂdy is to set them right as to facts, parÂdon and paciÂfy them. What sigÂniÂfy a few lives lost in a cenÂtuÂry or two? The tree of libÂerÂty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriÂots and tyrants.”
- Thomas JefÂferÂson
“We hold these truths to be self-eviÂdent, that all men are creÂatÂed equal, that they are endowed by their CreÂator with cerÂtain unalienÂable Rights, that among these are Life, LibÂerÂty and the purÂsuit of Happiness.–That to secure these rights, GovÂernÂments are instiÂtutÂed among Men, derivÂing their just powÂers from the conÂsent of the govÂerned”.
- DecÂlaÂraÂtion of IndeÂpenÂdence
LibÂerÂty is not a ”priÂvate right”. It is our funÂdaÂmenÂtal right. The priÂmaÂry duty of govÂernÂment is to preÂserve libÂerÂty, not to preÂserve “pubÂlic health.” As danÂgerÂous as Covid 19 is to many peoÂple, it does not threatÂen the surÂvival of the counÂtry. But the eleÂvaÂtion of “pubÂlic health” above libÂerÂty does.
With “soberÂing” you mean that libÂerÂty is put into quesÂtion — in “the land of the free” — don’t you? With overÂly emoÂtionÂal (tragÂic) casÂes of only unvacÂciÂnatÂed peoÂple shown sick or dying. After all, showÂing vacÂciÂnatÂed sufÂferÂing as well would not fit the mesÂsage. BTW, did the othÂer peoÂple who were shown surÂvive? And what about all those who had Covid and surÂvived — withÂout the vacÂcine?
I don’t see much “seekÂing underÂstandÂing” in the video but lots of emoÂtionÂal manipÂuÂlaÂtion and a disÂreÂgard for indiÂvidÂual rights for a vagueÂly-defined overÂall “pubÂlic health” goal (which doesÂn’t fly when it’s the unvacÂciÂnatÂed who are shown sufÂferÂing).
PerÂsonÂalÂly, I agree with the perÂson who did die. If that sounds insane and beyond conÂsidÂerÂaÂtion, you are not “seekÂing underÂstandÂing”. FreeÂdom is worth a lot, and it natÂuÂralÂly comes at a high cost. When peoÂple decide for themÂselves, they will have to shoulÂder the conÂseÂquences, good and bad. That’s part of freeÂdom and that is part what gives it its valÂue. The alterÂnaÂtive is turnÂing peoÂple into catÂtle.
In the case of Covid this can mean getÂting it and likeÂly surÂvivÂing it, or getÂting it and (dependÂing on comorÂbidÂiÂty) rarely or very rarely dying from it. And sure, the latÂer would suck and you might have surÂvived with a vacÂciÂnaÂtion. You might have also still died from it. Or you might even have adverse side effects now, or in the future.
Health deciÂsions are comÂplex and perÂsonÂal — and it’s the freeÂdom of every indiÂvidÂual to make that deciÂsion.
And yeah, I get that you (and the makÂers of that video) have the best intenÂtions, but you also know where that road leads.
Here is some EnlightÂenÂment thoughts. Social conÂtract politÂiÂcal phiÂlosÂoÂphy which is part and parÂcel to the founÂdaÂtion of AmerÂiÂcan freeÂdom, clearÂly states the need for humans to give up cerÂtain perÂsonÂal freeÂdoms found in natÂurÂal law in order to creÂate a sociÂety that benÂeÂfits all who parÂticÂiÂpate in that sociÂety. This conÂtract will by necesÂsiÂty evolve with the sociÂety. Nobody is being threatÂened with loss of libÂerÂty unless of course, you include those who must be isoÂlatÂed in hosÂpiÂtals due to Covid. In times of nationÂal emerÂgency, AmerÂiÂcans have been called upon to make sacÂriÂfices for the good of the nation. A panÂdemÂic that has already been responÂsiÂble for more deaths than any war or othÂer disÂasÂter to ever strike AmerÂiÂca cerÂtainÂly qualÂiÂfies. The probÂlem here is the inabilÂiÂty of too many AmerÂiÂcans to be willÂing to do what AmerÂiÂcans in the past have done in order to meet a nationÂwide threat. They too often do this while labelÂing themÂselves patriÂots. This is misÂguidÂed and indiÂcates a seriÂous misÂunÂderÂstandÂing of our hisÂtoÂry and the philoÂsophÂiÂcal underÂpinÂnings of AmerÂiÂca.
With “rights” and “freeÂdoms” come responÂsiÂbilÂiÂty and accountÂabilÂiÂty. OthÂerÂwise, you are operÂatÂing from a childÂish stance of, “I want what I want when and how I want it.” There’s no matuÂriÂty or reciÂprocity or the obligÂaÂtions of an adult citÂiÂzen. In a ‑society‑, where we live togethÂer in ‑community‑, the govÂernÂment is burÂdened with seekÂing the highÂest good for ALL, which unforÂtuÂnateÂly may interÂfere, from time to time, with our selfÂish and self-cenÂtered immeÂdiÂate wants and desires. But as grown-ups, we learn that someÂtimes we have to sacÂriÂfice our desires for the good of the many. When YOUR actions, (or lack thereÂof) nameÂly, demandÂing not to be vacÂciÂnatÂed, impinge on MY health, and MY freeÂdoms and those around you/us, and your conÂcern remains YOU and you alone, the govÂernÂment may step in as one would with a recalÂciÂtrant, obstiÂnate, and defiÂant child who seeks only his own best welÂfare (and not even that). UnvacÂciÂnatÂed peoÂple are spreadÂing this virus and creÂatÂing an enviÂronÂment for more virÂuÂlent strains. You and peoÂple like you are the ones keepÂing this econÂoÂmy from openÂing up more freely and creÂatÂing a feelÂing of safeÂty so that my famÂiÂly and friends and I feel safe to travÂel and go to restauÂrants and live life more norÂmalÂly. How you think ANYONE ‑enjoys- wearÂing masks and not livÂing life as we once did is DELUSIONAL! RealÂly? I just don’t want to die like my cousin did, my friend from childÂhood or my husband’s partÂner in the police departÂment just this last week. You are the one twistÂing realÂiÂty to suit your narÂraÂtive. Try workÂing in an ICU unit or the ER for a month and come back to us spewÂing about your “rights” and libÂerÂty. How about the rights of nursÂes and docÂtors to not have to treat the 95% of patients sick with the variÂant who refused the vacÂcine that would have preÂventÂed their care. The selfÂishÂness of anti-vaxxers bogÂgles the mind. We’re supÂposed to uniÂfy on such crises—the UNITED States. You are only about YOU. TogethÂer we stand, dividÂed we fall, and all that. And we are falling.
AMEN
Well said..but how do you reach to those unvacÂciÂnatÂed, selfÂish peoÂple before anothÂer and even stronger variÂant comes along? Their behavÂior is someÂthing I canÂnot comÂpreÂhend. Maybe they should not be givÂen priÂorÂiÂty at ICU’s instead of the heart attack, or acciÂdent or canÂcer patients. I don’t mean to be heartÂless but someÂthing has to be done. I don’t want to be a staÂtisÂtic because of them.
ManiÂacs. DoesÂn’t matÂter that the “vaxxed” are more likeÂly to be infectÂed as non, there are already 13,000+ deaths from them just in the U. S. (which actuÂalÂly indiÂcates 100,000+ to 1,000,000 deaths, accordÂing to HarÂvard studÂies on the VAERS reportÂing sysÂtem), the PfizÂer CEO openÂly says he doesÂn’t want a “vaxx” since he’s “59 and in good health,” “vaxxes” worsÂen ADE, those of us who’ve had “COVID-19” already have betÂter natÂurÂal immuÂniÂty than those who’ve been “vaxxed,” the “vaxxed” have more breakÂthrough casÂes, the “vaxx” doesÂn’t stop the disÂease or its transÂmisÂsion, it’s linked to miscarriages/prostate problems/infertility/permanent heart damÂage, that these “vaxx” comÂpaÂnies are known vioÂlaÂtors and killers who’ve paid out bilÂlions in fines in the past, that Israel’s COVID casÂes surged after mass “vacÂciÂnaÂtions,” that Big PharÂma pays for 75 perÂcent of the FDA’s budÂget, etc. etc. etc. Are you that gullible? It’s like livÂing with peoÂple perÂmaÂnentÂly stuck in “I BELIEVE THE FAUCI GOD” menÂtalÂiÂty. All for what? A virus that 99.7+ perÂcent survive–with the mediÂan age of “COVID deaths” (openÂly known as WITH “COVID,” not FROM “COVID”) in the 80s. Such peoÂple are simÂply desÂperÂateÂly clingÂing to a crackÂpot reliÂgion and canÂnot be reaÂsoned with. When they believe that masks actuÂalÂly stop virusÂes, and that the elites aren’t affectÂed by “COVID” and thereÂfore can do withÂout lockÂing down, masks, social disÂtancÂing, etc.–their brains are hopeÂlessÂly short-cirÂcuitÂed. TotalÂly bonkers.
The PfizÂer CEO has been vacÂciÂnatÂed. You’re referÂring to a social media post that is a flat out lie. The PfizÂer CEO delayed a trip to Israel because he was waitÂing on his secÂond shot. The reaÂson he hadn’t already had the secÂond shot was because he didn’t want to “jump to the front of the line”. Look it up. Do your research before you spout off. Any corÂreÂlaÂtion between HarÂvard and VAERS is a lie. Do your research. The VAERS webÂsite colÂlects anecÂdoÂtal reports. AnyÂone can post anyÂthing they want. The VAERS webÂsite does not proÂvide the results of a study. It’s a pubÂlic bulÂletin board. Do your research. Do your research. Just because someÂthing is postÂed on social media it doesn’t mean it’s true. It means it was postÂed by someÂone. Ask yourÂself who postÂed it and what are the sources for their asserÂtions. I’m a pasÂtor. I had 2 non-vacÂciÂnatÂed parishÂioners die or Covid last week. Do your research. Do your research. Do your research. Who told you these things? Who are they? What are their creÂdenÂtials? Just because someÂone posts someÂthing in FaceÂbook, TwitÂter, or some wack-a- do webÂsite it doesn’t mean it’s true. We pay too much for drugs. No doubt. But “Big PharÂma” doesn’t need to start a panÂdemÂic to make monÂey.
AnyÂone can claim anyÂthing to be true. That doesn’t mean it’s true. The anti- vaxxers talk about sheeple. I do funerÂals for the non- vacÂciÂnatÂed.