Need to come together as Americans
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Dear Editor,
I’m writing to voice a concern I have – a growing feeling of a potential warning to every American. We as Americans enjoy freedoms promised to each and every one of us within this nation’s Constitution.
We are promised life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. My concern is with the new executive order from our commander in chief that mandates approximately 80 million American citizens get a vaccination, whether they have personally chosen to, or not to, based on individual medical or religious reasons. Each and every American citizen should be able to choose for himself or herself how to best protect themselves. Let me get this out there. I’m not an anti-vaxer, nor am I a pro-vaxer. I’m a freedom of choice advocate based on the rights identified in the Constitution.
Liberty, as defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “the quality or state of being free,” “the power to do as one pleases,” “freedom from physical restraint,” “freedom from arbitrary or despotic control,” “the positive enjoyment of various social, political, or economic rights and privileges,” and “THE POWER OF CHOICE.” When we remove the power of choice for 80 million Americans, we are crossing a line that we may not be able to cross back over.
I fear for my country’s freedom. I once stood in front of an American flag and raised my right hand and swore to defend this country against enemies both foreign and domestic and vowed to support the Constitution. I did not, and I do not, take that oath lightly. I have proudly supported our nation for well over a decade and will continue to, simply because I believe this is still the greatest nation on Earth.
Every day news reports across this country show a division between vaccinated individuals’ rights and the unvaccinated individuals’ rights. I see lines being drawn and sides being taken when we should all be standing up for each others’ rights as Americans. Regardless if we personally agree with others vaccination choices, it’s our duty as Americans to support each person’s individual liberty and freedom.
This touches home for me personally now. My current employer has no idea if I’m currently vaccinated or not. I have told them that I prefer not to answer. Not because I’m intentionally trying to stir the pot. I just still believe in liberty and the freedoms I enjoy as an American citizen. I don’t believe I should have to tell my employer about any medical choices I have personally made for myself based on the knowledge I have after consulting my personal physician.
It’s my opinion that this issue has become an issue of control, but they would rather you believe that this is purely an issue of public safety. I believe this issue is being politicized, and the divisions we see between neighbors is in part intentional. We are all Americans and should all enjoy the freedoms that come with being an American. There’s no time to hate. We need to come together as Americans and stop feeding into the political divisiveness that is attempting to pit us against each other.
Whether you’re vaccinated or not, please know that I respect the choices that you have made for yourself and pray that we all maintain the rights and freedoms that are promised us in this great republic’s Constitution. May God bless America.
Sincerely,
Coosa resident