Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

Fighting mask mandates. Fighting vaccine mandates. Saying no to public health directives to battle the COVID pandemic. Eighteen months into the global scourge of COVID-19, people are still resisting requests to act in the best interest of themselves, their family, friends and community. And now the science is clear, the results are in: masks, vaccines, distancing, and even isolation work. COVID is waning in its original form; it mutates when given the chance, and spreads exponentially to those unprotected.

Those unprotected. Focus on that.

The protected may get infected, even re-infected, but their symptoms are mild to indistinguishable. They most often need little medical attention, no hospitalization, and few deaths have been recorded.

The unprotected are vulnerable. They continue to contract the disease, get sick, worsen, and wind up in hospital. The hospitalized often worsen and die. 98% of the fatal cases are unvaccinated patients.

What more proof do the deniers need? Want? What is it they are fighting?

If their wish is to not be told to do something they are uncomfortable with, I get it. I don’t like wearing masks. They are uncomfortable. They make my breathing more difficult. But I wear them because knowledgeable people, professional healthcare staff recommend them. So far I have not been infected by the virus. I’m satisfied with the results but still uncomfortable with the method. However, I do it to help myself, others, and my community.

The uncomfortable, however, have been targeted by political ideologs. They are being rounded up and exhorted to fight the healthcare advisories as a political plot. There are entire states who have fallen for this – Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina. Amazing.

The folly of politicizing the pandemic, however, is people die. The very people who are targeted by the politicians and ideologs, are the ones dying. This is becoming an evident self-fulfilling prophecy. Those who fight the advisories end up dying disproportionate to their base numbers. In time the problem will be solved. They will no longer exist.

Now that is some stubbornness. Prophetic and pathetic.

Freedom yes; doom? No.

August 31, 2021