Crisis sells the news. Besides, if they talked deaths, people would just question whether they're actually covid deaths or caused by comorbidities. The death stats are easy to manipulate for whatever narrative you want. It's like a grown-up game of "cooties" with the shot and everything, only the consequence for some, however few or many, is more than just a little anxiety from being stimagtized and teased (they just say "bullied" these days). Some people really die or lose people they care about, and for some it really would not have happened so soon were it not for Covid. Other people really do have their business or their livliehood disrupted or shutdown.
A real dilemma Covid is presenting is how to express compassion and care toward people when an ideological opponent has assummed ownership of and has identified with the few sensible measures to demonstrate care.
The radical-liberal/progressive/Democrat/tyrants jumped on this pandemic early because they saw it had the potential to disrupt the Trump re-election train. They identified with masks, vaccines, moratoriums, shutdowns, and everything that would wreck the overheated economy that Trump was banking on for re-election.
I'm young, I'm healthy, and I'm not afraid of Covid, but I want to show compassion for the people that are being affected by it in very real ways. I want to wear a mask to say, "I care about your Grandma. I don't even know if it will work or not, but I'll do what I can for you." But if I wear a mask, I'm identified with the dicks that wrecked your business and ruined your life savings.
I want to get a vaccine so I'm less likely to be a vector for the disease where I spread the virus to you or someone you care about. But if I get a shot, I validate the adoption of these vaccines about which there are still a lot of questions, and I become part of the population that's distinct from those who exercise their liberty to abstain from it. They become the persecuted minority, vulnerable to those who would tyranize them with mandates and passports.
Before everyone could get vaccinated, I isolated myself because it was the best way I could figure out to show compassion for others. Once vaccines were available to everyone that wanted one, I figured they then had a better way to protect themselves than for me to continue isolating. I also got vaccinated so that I would be less likely to infect others. I don't think the vaccines work as effectively as the popular claims, but I think in many cases they do improve the outcome of exposure. I don't think face masks are effective either, but I will wear one wherever it's requested because I'm willing to do what I can for compassion's sake.
I know some of my brothers and sisters who are called by our Lord Jesus are strongly opposed to masks and vaccines, especially because the opponents of the love of God, the pro-death sons of the devil are for masks and vaccines.
"With your permission," said Tock, changing the subject, "we'd like to rescue Rhyme and Reason." "Has Azaz agreed to it?" the Mathemagician inquired. "Yes, sir," the dog assured him. "THEN I DON'T," he thundered again, "for since they've been banished, we've never agreed on anything—and we never will." He emphasized his last remark with a dark and ominous look. "Never?" asked Milo, with the slightest touch of disbelief in his voice. "NEVER!" he repeated. "And if you can prove otherwise, you have my permission to go." "Well," said Milo, who had thought about this problem very carefully ever since leaving Dictionopolis. "Then with whatever Azaz agrees, you disagree." "Correct," said the Mathemagician with a tolerant smile. "And with whatever Azaz disagrees, you agree." "Also correct," yawned the Mathemagician, nonchalantly cleaning his fingernails with the point of his staff. "Then each of you agrees that he will disagree with whatever each of you agrees with," said Milo triumphantly; "and if you both disagree with the same thing, then aren't you really in agreement?"
What I want to know is how we can show compassion in a real and tangible way. Our adversaries have learned to ascribe empty "thoughts and prayers" to us and mock them. Especially if we're not willing to accept masks and vaccines that so many people are convinced might be able to help, how can we demonstrate any kind of real care and compassion? Is really caring and compassionate if we're just waiting an hoping that as this drags on longer and more people are affected by it that the failure of masks and vaccines validates our position?
You seem like a nice guy but I’m pretty sure I won’t let “feelings of compassion” win over common sense and logic. Follow your gut and do the right thing.
