In a free country, the individual gets to decide. Decisions must be made based on logic, reasoned analysis, input from credible experts, along with an element of faith in one's own judgement and experience.
If the leaders are making all of the decisions, you are not free. When a lot of people agree on something, THAT is when free men should tread with caution. One size never fits all. If everyone agrees, it is likely that something is awry. All good equations require balance. Success requires balance. Life requires RISK, period.
0 Comments
If you have had Covid19 and recovered you are a central piece in solution. Your immune system is the answer. Your body had fought and won the battle. You are not a carrier, and you will not be a carrier. You are vaccinated. The solution for this crisis is the same as for every pandemic crisis before. Society must stop the transmission of the disease from person to person. Every immune individual is a barrier. We must build enough immunity to stop the spread. This is math. This principle is actual science. That is what the vaccines will do. That is what the “distancing” guidelines do. This is what masking says it does. The reality is that if you have been “vaccinated”.. either by surviving the disease, or by taking a vaccine, there is no longer any reasonable reason for you to continue to distance, or to mask. Basic LOGIC dictates this. The mob screams.. “but you must set an example”… My response is that as an immune survivor, I am an example. My example is the very one that allows for a return to normalcy. If you are under the age of 50 or so.. your chance of mortality from covid is virtually non existent. The vaccine will likely make you sick and have side effects albeit milder and much more controlled than the disease itself. Getting Covid will make you sick. In both cases, your immune system will be charged and YOU ARE THEN PART OF THE SOLUTION. Your immunity is real. You should also be immune to the escalating societal FEAR factors. We the people, particularly the immune, MUST stand against the fear and speak out. We must set an example rooted in safety and freedom. Society needs us now and in the future more than ever. If this “lockdown” safety first, flatten the curve, approach is really about safety, then it must recognize that Covid Recovered is the goal for EVERYONE. If it is about power, and control, and manipulating the people for influence and authority.. then the go along to get along, just do it until it is safe, translates to kneel before the medical authority for the collective greater good. Time will tell US which is true. I suspect it is a both and scenario, and I hope that the immune champions will see through the fog of fear and act accordingly with their example. I plan to do so wherever I can. The choice to look down on others is a public health crisis. It is far more deadly than most would even consider as it robs us of the ability to respect and serve. As we destroy social links, relationships fail, dependency soars, and the elect elite emerge as morality police enforcing their world view on those without power.
Opportunity and elevation arise from a helping hand and sometimes a shove at just the right time. In individual achievement and liberty the spark of inspiration is fanned into a flame. Virtue and respect flow from results not signals. It is a choice and a profound signal to include but the virtue lies in the acceptance and love not the signaling and public affirmation. The public choice to demean and demagogue, with its associated escalating division, destroys by planting and then nourishing insidious pride above all. When a “friend” says that you are not needed in their life because of your world views on liberty and life... listen to them and move on. Don’t stop loving them. You may even grieve their loss but do not allow their choices power over yours. Each of us will be held to account for our choices. In this world, tyranny of thought and idea divides, excludes, and destroys. The liberty way is the only way to include.
I’ve lost many friends recently and I grieve their loss but principles are more important than principals. “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” —C. S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (1970) Healing a relationship and asking another to heel are not the same thing. Ask yourself which one you seek when you have power. Consider what outcome your choices require when you do not have power.
Authentic community (family) is what we all seek. A faith community must above all be authentic and honest. It’s focus must be on Jesus Christ and the great commission. Social services are not optional but neither are they the goal. If the seeker sees men first and foremost it is difficult, nearly impossible, to see the good news clearly. We must not be obstacles.
Rigging, manipulation, and influence are not the same thing as a global illegal conspiracy. It seems to me that we the people have bowed in fear and outsourced our intellectual and physical freedom. It is indeed time to circle up and plan legal protests with local civil disobedience coupled with disciplined planning for the next elections. The media and big tech will NOT play fair. 72 million Americans is a strong start. We, conservatives, must align and look to the future.
I’m disappointed that my fellow Americans have embraced this systemic threat to individualism and liberty in favor of corporate communism back by force and fire of government. Cest la vie. When these policies fail in coming years, I and many like me will be far less tolerant, likely less civil, and follow the protest playbook we have seen as a roadmap. Times ahead could be pretty vicious. It seems we are at war for the souls of our states and thus our republic. Biden’s DARK WINTER is indeed coming and will extend well into 2021 and beyond. Consequences will be far reaching beyond just surviving Covid. We have >99.8% chance of surviving that threat. The societal threats could be far more deadly as families churches and businesses are literally blown up. The blame game is done. We must look to the future. Let’s roll. Should Trump concede the election?
no. Did he win the election? I doubt it but I can’t tell. Personally, think that the irregularities are the result of incompetence rather than malevolent intent and a global conspiracy. He has every right to complete his legal challenges, and present evidence for rulings in the courts given the questions and environment. i am mostly concerned with the emotions and the potential for explosive and violent division in the near future. I’d like to hear a speech where he explains his decisions to proceed without all of the Trumpian hyperbole and vitriol. Continuing to escalate and use semantic bullying with limited communications discipline is what is ripping up both sides. All sides. Everyone really. These constant fear bells are destabilizing our sanity individually and collectively. The buck stops with Trump on this one. It IS his fault but it is not only his fault. we are all so freaking tired. I want it to be OVER but it must be a fair and trusted result. Ask yourself what would be happening if the Biden Harris campaign felt that the election had been “stolen” and their court cases were pending. We all know the answer. Violence. Burning. Destruction. I am confident of this. We lose nothing by letting the legal challenges play out over the next few weeks. In the end, there can be only one. Question is when. I hope it is soon and very soon. There are some big wins in this election cycle/debacle.
Americans are learning how important their state governments are. The elections for Secretary of State and Attorney General matter immensely. We better understand the differing roles of states and federal govt. Many of We the people are reading and studying the constitution, Declaration of Independence and even federalist papers. This knowledge is a proven foundation for hopeful future. States matters matter. I had a long discussion with a long time friend this am. We disagree about masking, and the scope of government in society. We may disagree on many other things, but we agree on enough, and we are committed to remain connected. When disagreement is allowed without morality assignment and character assassination, civility is possible and progress ensues. If the relationship matters, divergent ideas must be allowed. Judging your friend and denying their agency and rights is how things come apart and stay apart...
--- In the end, we get to remain friends, and vote our conscience. We choose where to live and how to live. THIS IS THE WAY. Questions that should be asked directly to the Va Governor Lord Northam.
My whole family had Covid19 and is actively sought after to give blood to help with the treatment of other Patients now that we are recovered. Why should we be forced, along with 11 million plus other Americans to wear a mask and live restricted lives? We are available to help Covid patients and have virtually zero risk both personally and to others. Will you admit openly that this choice should be ours and not yours? Once the population has received the vaccines and the state has reached a herd immunity status, the mask and social distancing mandates will be lifted correct? If that is true, then why are recovered patients being treated differently now? As a physician you know intimately how the immune systems work, if our immune systems will work then, then why don’t they work now? Why haven’t you provided an exception in your pseudo science executive orders for recovered Covid patients? Recent studies are showing immunity is likely to last for a very long time, highlighting the importance of the effective vaccination plans. Given the science, do you believe that Covid Recovered Virginians should continue to have their lives restricted? And if so why? How would your Covid advisory explain the recommendations outlined in the Great Barrington Declaration? What are you doing now to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in jobs, domestic violence, mental health and educational achievement brought on by recent decisions and requirements? As an informed and educated citizen of this great commonwealth, I would love to meet with you and discuss these concerns in person. I’ll wait. To voluntarily show respect for another person is a powerful testimony. It is essential to civility and community.
To force respect may be an oxymoron. Compliance can be forced. Respect is earned. Choosing to show disrespect erodes all respect sadly. When a parent, mentor, teacher or elder sacrifices the wellbeing of their child, family, and student for their own well-being a tragic betrayal occurs. It is a blasphemy to the natural and ordained order. The wound created is deep and persistent.
When society exercises this same power collectively terrible things transpire. Terrible terrible things. #musing on the importance of family and responsibility and sacrifice for the future. Leaders lead by example at home first and foremost. We must have the freedom to say anything and the personal wisdom and discretion to not say everything.
You don’t choose for me and I don’t choose for you. That said, each of us MUST choose carefully what we say and to whom because the consequences are real immediate and local. I am sincerely happy that so many friends are encouraged by the words of PresElect Biden. Rhetoric is a powerful tool. Practical progress in change management policy is a very complex process and it certainly begins with awareness and desire.
The arc of my experience has shown me that desire must be followed with knowledge and ability at scale and duration. Results are measured and reinforced. This is the way. The danger zone in governance is the addiction to power and the reliance on power to achieve. The power approach does not past the test. “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” —C. S. Lewis, God in the Dock: Essays on Theology and Ethics (1970) It is difficult if not impossible to find oxygen to breathe elegance, beauty, integrity, excellence and love in a room filled with the fires of hatred, discord, disgust, and demagoguery. As artists, we have a role to play. We must use emotions to influence but not inflame. Fire burns and consumes. It destroys its creator and becomes a living but dead thing. We must extinguish the flames, and then we can begin the process to build. We can make our world great. Will we?
Virtue flows from a focus on higher things. We must stand and be counted but we must stand on a foundation that is solid rather than molten. We as a society have elevated virtue signaling above virtue, and as a result, everything is burning. That is a real challenge that burns in my mind over and over. #Inspiredbyfriend Any time a friend, neighbor, or even family member feels entitled to tell me what I can or cannot say I indeed get #triggered Stands to reason that I may not thrive in a cancel culture run amuck... When you tell me what I must not or cannot say, it inspires my inner insanity to pull the trigger and fire away. free speech is messy but it must remain... there is a reason that it is first in the bill of rights. -- reality is that i am the only one that gets to choose my speech.. I won't choose for you, and you have no business choosing for me. Each of us is accountable for our own language... and the consequences that from that language. A Biden Harris 2020 win could be disappointing but it should not be devastating. There is a path no matter the outcome in coming hours/days.
— unity of purpose is hard enough. Uniformity of action is utopian. If your premise requires ALL to comply then it is unachievable in a free society and indeed silly, naive, and utterly useless.
FB psychosis creates and encourages some really bad behaviors online. I believe that I've come up with a solid formula to keep it healthier. I actively filter my FB "friends" and it has helped tremendously. Here are three questions that set the bar/filter. 1. Do I ACTUALLY know you? If I see you in grocery store, do I know you well enough to speak to you and say hello? 2. Do I want to talk to you and hear what you have to say? respect, civility, tone... all matter. 3. Do we have an ongoing context for relationship? other friends, politics, church, music... The reality is that FB is NOT an effective public publishing forum, but it can be effective, to a point, at connecting me with other people. I can't prove that as I don't really know how to quantify success, but it is my hypothesis. I know that I want to remain connected to my FBfriends and that in most cases, I desire for those FBfriend relationships to progress into deeper personal friendships. It rarely happens, but it has happened.. and it is possible. The list is constantly changing. New friends enter, old friends exit. The filtering is essential to keeping friends relevant and fresh and to ensure that the most valuable relationships get priority. |
VATENORIntersection of principles and practices... Categories
All
Archives
October 2022
|
Proudly powered by Weebly