Get involved; get vocal
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In My Humble Opinion
Jodi McDade
I hope everyone survived the holidays and are now getting back into the swing of “normal” life – like we really even know what THAT is anymore! We are starting a third year with the threats of mask mandates, schools closing/distance learning and businesses closing because of COVID-19 related issues. We are getting to some tipping points between the believers and the non-believers, also.
Many of us gave in and got the first round of vaccinations – many because our ability to travel and live a normal life were threatened. THEN, we have a variant and the need for boosters. THEN, we have a second variant and the idea of continued boosters and annual vaccinations. Yes, in the first round, there were deaths, but only a very low percentage of the overall population. Yes, there were some deaths during the first variant. I really have not heard that much about deaths in this last variant that is described as having the same symptoms as the common cold.
Even the “experts” are divided on what is going on and what should be done. Issuing a federal mandate for all people to be vaccinated or they will be unable to work is NOT the answer. Doctors, nurses, first responders, medical workers, military members, and government employees are being forced to get the vaccination even if they have survived working around infected people for more than two years. We are seeing the experienced people in the work force being pushed out, and we are left with only those who will blindly follow the dictates of the federal government.
The last time I checked, America is still a free country, and these mandates are unconstitutional. But, we also have courts that are filled with judges who interpret the Constitution very differently than the majority of Americans.
I am tired of living in fear – fear of a virus that may be bad, but is not wiping out the population like yellow fever or smallpox did. I am not an anti-vaxxer, but I also don’t trust the federal government over the medical community to determine exactly what the risk factors are and how this virus should be treated.
I am tired of seeing children being raised forced to wear masks and not being able to see the faces of their friends, family members, or even strangers. They can’t see the emotions that only a face can show – smiles, frowns, anger, love. They are also being deprived of an education, and I’m beginning to think that may be at the bottom of all of this! Our education system (again regulated by the federal government) has been destroyed over the years by no longer emphasizing reading, writing and arithmetic (plus cursive writing). A growing number of children graduate without the ability to read at even an eighth grade level, and they are only required to get close to a correct answer in math. Without the ability to read, our children cannot learn science, history, or even current events. Without cursive writing, our children cannot read our founding documents or even sign their own names.
Uneducated people can be controlled so much easier than educated people. Now, let’s go back to the laws before the Civil War. It was against the law to teach Black people how to read or write. The theory was – get ready – slaves were easier to control if they were illiterate. Most of the slaves back then were Black, Asian, or poor whites. Educated people were the elite and wealthy in most cases.
Where are we now? The elite and wealthy (now of all races) are able to send their children to private or charter schools where they get the best education money can buy. The poor, working poor and illegal immigrants are stranded in the public/government schools. In growing numbers middle income people are choosing home schooling so they can be certain of the type of education their children receive. And, in MOST cases, home school children score better on tests than public school students and, in many cases, better than private/charter school children.
I’ll stop here on my tirade, but please understand these two very important issues when you are researching how you will vote in this year’s elections. Both of these topics relate to our personal freedoms that are being taken away by our elected officials at the federal and state levels.
If you are okay living in the new slave category, just sit back and enjoy the ride. But, if you are not happy with our new normal, you better get involved and get VOCAL! There are more of the former than the latter so, if you don’t want things to continue to decline, you have to speak up and speak LOUD.
What I’m tired of the most is hearing people complain, but then say “somebody needs to do something.” But then, when I ask why they don’t get involved, they say “I can’t do anything.” If you aren’t interested enough to do something yourself, quit relying on the “somebodies” to do it for you. I’m getting tired of being “somebody” and may just sit down and join the “nobodies.” The call to do that is getting louder and louder, but I’ll see this election through and then make my decision for the future.
If you would like to be a “somebody,” get in touch with me, and I’ll be glad to guide you. If you just want to complain, don’t bother me – I will not listen anymore.