Large Fierce Mammal

Source: How liars create the ‘illusion of truth’

Of all the developments I have observed arising out of this noble experiment in “authoritarianism lite” currently in vogue, I find most onerous the politicization of science down to its very foundations. In this, it can daily be found subverting mathematics, medicine, epidemiology, microbiology, and every other field of study wherein an “expert” may be found willing to pontificate in favour of “The Science” claimed as being ever so diligently followed to our mutual salvation.

Next most troubling is that in the moment, no matter your accomplishments and demonstrated value as a member of society, notwithstanding that your way of being in the world has stood the test of time and travail so that none can point to it as a framework for any measure of failure, and immaterial that your example may have illuminated the way to the betterment of your fellows so that some now live, even thrive, because you somehow crossed their path when they needed you most; I invite you to consider these:

Hero.

Teacher.

Mentor.

Elder.

Father.

Grandfather.

Mother.

Grandmother.

Brother.

Sister.

Leader.

Saviour.

To be complete, the list of titles uttered when we speak of those to whom we owe all that Truly matters in our lives must needs be much longer than this, and will vary by individual, yet those one actually cleaves to are no longer of any consequence in the wider sphere. You see, while your own list may exclude some mentioned and include others that are not, a threshold of debasement has now been crossed that casts all we once held dear into ignominy if it comes packaged with another — Unvaccinated.

To be Unvaccinated is to be among the stupid. The misled. The irresponsible. The unclean. The Outcasts. In defining them, nothing else matters before the court of Public Opinion where personal choice is always in favour as long as it’s the “right” choice.

In past weeks we have seen politicians conflating, inflating, and launching trial balloons bearing inscriptions promoting “A tax on the unvaxxed“, and most recently more “expert opinion” on how “Public outrage over the unvaccinated is driving a crisis in bioethics“.

This latter consideration is particularly and knuckle draggingly hateful in that it springs from the opinions of physicians any one of us may come to meet on any day, for any reason, in a hospital emergency room anywhere. The inclusion of a patient’s personal medical care choices as a measure of worthiness for treatment aimed at mitigation of suffering and preservation of life is an absolute dereliction of duty in favour of rule by public opinion poll.

“Vaccinated majorities in wealthy western countries are growing increasingly impatient with a science-denying minority being blamed for prolonging the pandemic and stretching critical care resources to the breaking point.

“Governments are responding to that anger by turning up the heat on the unvaccinated with policies intended to inconvenience them, curtail their social lives, drive them out of the public square, make them pay or even criminalize them — measures Ravitsky (Vardit Ravitsky teaches bioethics at the Université de Montreal and Harvard Medical School) said are ‘politically meant to appease the vaccinated majority.'” ~ Public outrage over the unvaccinated is driving a crisis in bioethics

I will posit that after two years, anything Truly worthwhile to society should by now be sufficiently self-evident as to not require daily doses of contradictory news coverage, blatant falsehoods, shameless fear mongering, dutiful repetition of a narrative long since grown unsupported by observed evidence, and creation of a two-tier society to sell it, but yet here we are.

Much needs to be said, and ultimately done, but one mind numbing omnibus is not the format this nation, indeed the world, needs right now. So having come to the conclusion that everything I have to say in these matters must be served up to you, Goode Reader, in manageable bites, and as part of a highly digestible meal, let this stand as the appetizer.

Your vaccination status and reasons therefore is immaterial here. What really matters is how you feel about letting the word “citizen” become equated with “chattel of the state” through common usage and absent opposition.

See you next time.