Apparently, we humans can’t live without contradiction. And when I say “we humans,” I include myself, for surely, I am as guilty of contradicting myself as any other and certainly as guilty of hypocrisy in some way as any other human I critique. But I find a particularly puzzling contradiction and possible hypocrisy in the current push by some on the American Left to require vaccinations against COVID-19.
I’ll note here that I have been vaccinated, have been “Pfizered,” so to speak. But I would not force anyone else to receive any COVID-19 vaccine out of respect for an individual’s wishes and on the grounds that those who already contracted the disease probably have antibodies, have immunity, that, if enhanced by a vaccine, might make the body over-immunized, leading to something akin to that talked about cytokine storm, that is, to some auto-immune response. Yet, I see teachers’ unions and Left-leaning pundits and politicians pushing for that universal vaccination, regardless of one’s having natural antibodies. What happened to that argument about “it’s my body” so repeatedly expressed with regard to abortion? I guess that’s my simple question. What about that “it’s my body” argument?
Therein lies the contradiction and hypocrisy of one segment of American society. Of course, that segment will argue that I’m mixing fruit here, comparing my apples to my oranges. Regardless of that counterargument, I would suggest that if “it’s my body” applies to one issue, it also applies to the other. The Left advances causes like physician-assisted suicide. That’s a version of “it’s my body,” isn’t it? So, if someone chooses not to get “Pfizered” and then by chance dies, isn’t it that person’s right to choose non-physician-assisted death?
Am I missing the point here? Isn’t the universal vaccination supposed to protect others? Isn’t that the justification for the vaccine? I suppose, but consider that the vaccine is designed to protect those who have the vaccine the way a castle wall once protected medieval populations. If the wall doesn’t work to protect those who chose to build and hide behind it, why did they bother?
Sure, I might get some variant of COVID-19. There is that possibility. But life’s a risky business. I’ve taken what I’ve been told is a reasonable precaution; I’ve hidden behind the wall. Was I duped? Should I walk in anxiety that the wall of protection behind which I seek security will fall to the cannonball of COVID-19? Has the virus developed the trebuchet that destroys the castle wall? If it has, then what do the people do? Do they run to this vaccine, then to that one, all sought out in a panic derived from the threat of attack? Someone might call me out for hypocrisy: “Hey, don’t you get an annual flu shot?”
In fact, when I think about the flu season, I do get the shot, but I miss some years. And in some of those years without the flu shot, I get the flu; in some of those years, I have remained healthy. And if I should get the flu as some have gotten COVID-19, should I still get the flu shot during or after my sickness? Haven’t I developed through sickness a natural immunity? Haven’t those who already had the pandemic’s virus developed immunity? Yet, I recently read that universities are considering for the 2021-2022 school year a requirement for vaccinations, and that NCAA sports teams might be required to get the vaccination—even for players with antibodies.
Seems to me that those who keep hounding us about diversity want little more than uniformity.
I’ll note here that I have been vaccinated, have been “Pfizered,” so to speak. But I would not force anyone else to receive any COVID-19 vaccine out of respect for an individual’s wishes and on the grounds that those who already contracted the disease probably have antibodies, have immunity, that, if enhanced by a vaccine, might make the body over-immunized, leading to something akin to that talked about cytokine storm, that is, to some auto-immune response. Yet, I see teachers’ unions and Left-leaning pundits and politicians pushing for that universal vaccination, regardless of one’s having natural antibodies. What happened to that argument about “it’s my body” so repeatedly expressed with regard to abortion? I guess that’s my simple question. What about that “it’s my body” argument?
Therein lies the contradiction and hypocrisy of one segment of American society. Of course, that segment will argue that I’m mixing fruit here, comparing my apples to my oranges. Regardless of that counterargument, I would suggest that if “it’s my body” applies to one issue, it also applies to the other. The Left advances causes like physician-assisted suicide. That’s a version of “it’s my body,” isn’t it? So, if someone chooses not to get “Pfizered” and then by chance dies, isn’t it that person’s right to choose non-physician-assisted death?
Am I missing the point here? Isn’t the universal vaccination supposed to protect others? Isn’t that the justification for the vaccine? I suppose, but consider that the vaccine is designed to protect those who have the vaccine the way a castle wall once protected medieval populations. If the wall doesn’t work to protect those who chose to build and hide behind it, why did they bother?
Sure, I might get some variant of COVID-19. There is that possibility. But life’s a risky business. I’ve taken what I’ve been told is a reasonable precaution; I’ve hidden behind the wall. Was I duped? Should I walk in anxiety that the wall of protection behind which I seek security will fall to the cannonball of COVID-19? Has the virus developed the trebuchet that destroys the castle wall? If it has, then what do the people do? Do they run to this vaccine, then to that one, all sought out in a panic derived from the threat of attack? Someone might call me out for hypocrisy: “Hey, don’t you get an annual flu shot?”
In fact, when I think about the flu season, I do get the shot, but I miss some years. And in some of those years without the flu shot, I get the flu; in some of those years, I have remained healthy. And if I should get the flu as some have gotten COVID-19, should I still get the flu shot during or after my sickness? Haven’t I developed through sickness a natural immunity? Haven’t those who already had the pandemic’s virus developed immunity? Yet, I recently read that universities are considering for the 2021-2022 school year a requirement for vaccinations, and that NCAA sports teams might be required to get the vaccination—even for players with antibodies.
Seems to me that those who keep hounding us about diversity want little more than uniformity.
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