In defense of my friends who are Anti-Vaxxers



It's March of 2021, I live in Arizona, and I will be getting my second COVID-19 shot very soon. I've been reading how wonderfully effective the vaccines are, and doing this just goes into my list of what I call "living forever". And as much as I'd like my friends to do all of the same things that I do, like exercise every day, keep their weight down, eat their veggies, do daily stretching, avoid junk food, floss, see their dentist, take their meds, I know that they won't do all of these things, and I'm OK with that. I'm a little saddened, but I respect their decisions.

This morning I saw the regular group that meets in the parking lot of the McDonalds where I get my coffee. They actually set up a little folding table there, next to the truck of the leader of the group, and even include little traffic cones so people don't accidentally drive into them. Their group is from the 55+ trailer park (oops, I mean mobile home community) that's right nearby. This group tends to be on the higher end, mostly 70s and 80s, and I always stop by to say hello, and today they were eating doughnuts. Can you imagine what that will do to their health, especially their teeth? And oh yeah, they're all Anti-Vaxxers, and although I'm not an Anti-Vaxxer myself, I really do defend their right to choose for themselves.

From what I can tell by looking at them, it looks like a severe case of the flu, especially something as nasty as COVID-19, would be the end of them. And even building up the antibodies after a flu shot seems like would be horrific for them. And they aren't harming anyone, they're just sitting there, eating their doughnuts. They're good about wearing a mask when they go into the McDonald's, and I really have no worries for the people in the future who will be immunized and come in brief contact with them.

I like these people, and if I could wave a magic wand, the next time I saw them they would have gotten their COVID-19 shots, be eating plain non-fat yogurt, doing Tai Chi, and maybe even sweatin' to the oldies, but I know that isn't going to happen. Why I feel an emotional urge to protect them is something that I've been thinking about today, and I think that I'm beginning to understand.

Doing the kind of things to protect yourself and your community is what has made the human race such a successful species. We are, ultimately, social animals, who band together, protecting the sick and weak, the old and the young. And this spirit can be wonderful to see, as an expression of love for the people we care about. But a fortress of love can all too easily become a prison, and freedom is a wonderful thing.

If you're reading this, I care about you, and I would love for you to get your vaccines, all of them. But if you choose not to, and you keep yourself away from people who do want to live a long and healthy life, I defend you.

Go in peace.

Goodbye my friend,
The stars wait for me.
Who knows where we shall meet again, if ever.
But time keeps flowing,
Like a river,
To the sea.
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