National Review published a column a couple weeks ago contending that people refusing to get the coronavirus vaccine “can’t be persuaded if they feel disrespected.”
My immediate response was twofold:
- If I express respect for vaccine refusers, I will be lying. If I lie, I lose respect (including my self-respect) and can’t persuade anyone.
- I should namby-pam over the “feelings” of cranks who’ve spent the last five years shouting “F*** Your Feelings“? No, vaccine balkers: F*** Your Feelings. Do your duty—get your shots.
Columnist Mike McFeely takes a similar tack, wondering just what we are supposed to say to fellow citizens who refuse to take the safe, effective, and free medical action that will save lives and quash the covid-19 pandemic:
I know, I know. We are not supposed to insult these people for their decision to not get vaccinated. We are supposed to try to understand their concerns and frustrations, to have empathy for their positions. Most are supporters of Donald Trump and to call their decision-making deplorable is worse than insulting their grandmother.
So we are supposed to say what?
“Yes, Bob, I understand your concern that Joe Biden might be inserting a microchip in your arm because he wants to track you. That’s a legitimate position and I fully respect it.”
“Jim, you are completely right to say that nobody’s going to tell you what to do, dammit, because that’s tyranny and that’s what led to Hitler killing 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. Do I have that right? Is that what you said? Anyway, I support your opinion as 100% valid.”
That deserves empathy and understanding?
No thanks.
What it deserves is scorn [Mike McFeely, “Unvaxxed Mostly Deserve Scorn,” Fargo InForum, 2021.07.26].
Our offering respect for the misinformed choice to refuse coronavirus vaccines would be bulls***, and the people most likely to refuse the vaccine love to say, “No More Bulls***.” Unless you have some underlying medical condition (and even then, most people in that situation can and should get the covid-19 vaccine), your reasons for not getting the vaccine are mostly bulls***. My telling you I respect you for believing and spreading lies and disease would be complete bulls***. GET YOUR SHOTS!!!
Related Reading:
Or maybe folks who refuse to get the coronavirus vaccine and spread lies to convince others to similarly refuse should just get sued:
A constellation of reasons can be cited for ongoing vaccine hesitancy, but one key factor is the prevalence of quack “experts” willing to misinterpret data, lie about statistics, and just plain make stuff up. Leading the misinformation charge has been Fox News—and particularly Tucker Carlson. Night after night, Carlson has provided a platform for sowing fear and confusion among his viewers about the efficacy of the vaccine and its side effects. Although the network has recently sounded a more responsible note, that turnabout has by no means been across the entire network and it comes too late for an untold number of people who have been newly sickened or died from the disease, and who might have been saved through immunization. There may actually be some legal remedy, though, for the damage wrought by the network. COVID victims who were taken in by Carlson’s vaccination misinformation, or their estates, may be able to sue Fox News under the ancient common law theory of fraud. They would have a reasonably good chance of success, too [John Culhane, “Fox News Could Be Sued If Its Anti-Vax Statements Caused People to Die,” Slate, 2021.07.23].
…or maybe pulled from their employment:
“The Vikings continue to hold discussions with Offensive Line Coach Rick Dennison regarding the NFL-NFLPA COVID-19 Protocols for training camp and preseason games,” the statement reads. “At this time, Coach Dennison does not have an exemption to the vaccination requirements of those protocols. We will adhere to the requirements of the protocols and of applicable law.”
Dennison is also still listed as the Vikings’ OL coach on the team’s website. However, unless he gets fully vaccinated — or receives an exemption — he will not regain his status as a Tier 1 staff member and will be unable to work directly with players on the field, in meeting rooms, or anywhere else. Essentially, it would be impossible for him to do his job as the team’s O-line coach. The Vikings presumably don’t want to have a virtual O-line coach if they don’t have to [Will Ragatz, “Vikings Coach Rick Dennison Hasn’t Been Fired Yet, ‘Discussions’ Ongoing,” Sports Illustrated, 2021.07.23].
When you ridicule people that probably won’t make them receptive to your message you bunch of stupid “progressive” simpletons. Your insulting nature makes them even more defensive they are simply afraid and distrustful of the vaccine. Look at the posts on Dakota War College these are your neighbors we all have to try and care for each other even those who are difficult. You people so remind me of that Star Trek episode where one man was black on the left side white on the right side, the other white on the left side black on the ride side, each thought they were superior rather than try and understand one another. Trying to understand other people used to be a liberal value not constant condemnation. You need to find ways to love each other. Personally, I think we should stop labeling everything I’m interested in your reasoning on an issue not the label you put on yourself, defend, protect, and yell insults at the other side like you’re a pack of children at a football game or something. When the Enterprise found them and returned them to their planet, it had of course already been blown up into a million pieces by their civil war so they were the last two alive from their planet but they still just wanted to kill each other.
From Dakota War College comment section: “People who don’t want to be injected with a rushed vaccine that still may have huge dangers makes us crazy? Wow what a statement. I will take my chances with the crazy people rather than a group who is so caught up on safety. Life is not safe. I will take freedom over safety any day. So the rest of you authoritarian thugs can have safety and leave us freedom lovers alone.”
“I was also thinking that calling anyone who is leery of taking the vaccine crazy was a bit arrogant. I already had the Wuhan Virus (sorry, Anthony), so I am not in any rush to get the vaccine that, not long ago, Kommielaw Harris was saying she wouldn’t take because it was the “Trump” vaccine.”
https://dakotawarcollege.com/sanford-health-requiring-vaccines-of-employees-opponent-advocates-waving-packets-of-nonsense-and-threatening-citizens-arrests/
Plenty of people say covid is no big deal and make fun of people that are ‘scared’ of covid. I ask them how they can be ‘scared’ of a vaccine. Apparently they think testicular size matters for some things but not others.
The same people who say the vaccines aren’t safe want us to praise Trump for their invention.
The same people who say they won’t live in fear (i.e., wear a mask or get a vaccine) carry a gun everywhere they go.
The same people who say that the vaccines were rushed have no idea and no interest in how science actually works.
The same people who refuse the vaccine, masks, etc., also want to have no consequences for their actions: they oppose vaccine passports, asking if they’ve had the vaccine, and they certainly don’t want to have to pay for their medical care if they get the virus.
The same people who tell their audience that the vaccines put chips in the arm / are dangerous / rushed / lethal, etc. have all been vaccinated, including Trump and his family, Tucker Carlson, Sean Hannity, and all the people at Fox News.
All of these people want to be hold the rest of the public hostage to their choices. I call it bulls***.
I am SO fed up with people that won’t use facts, but instead use “alternative facts” or “someone said…” These are the same folks that think they are just fine as long as their end of the canoe isn’t taking on water, but as soon as the water reaches their end, they want YOU to start helping them bail. I wrote a note to our esteemed senator Thune and got a reply that said we ought to be more respectful to one another. To which I replied, “I will be respectful to you when you respect your office and responsibility.” Being self-centered and caring only about “your freedoms” (echoes of Kristi Noem) rather than the good of all society/community does NOT deserve my respect and will not get it! Full stop! !@#$%^&*!
they are simply afraid and distrustful of the vaccine. Only because their masters tell them they are afraid. They don’t think, act or plan anything for themselves. It’s all in the talking points they get from Fake Noize, et al, on a daily basis.
Let them all die. Be less honky voters next election cycle..
First, I agree with both points of view. The first point of view is frustrating, but you have to assume people who refuse life-saving vaccines or treatment have reasons. They may be dumb reasons based on a load of misinformation and peer pressure, or they may be reasons based mostly on ignorance. Some people just want to wait to see whether herd immunity is achieved without them having to get vaccinated. You have to meet people where they are, and that means you have to assume they are rational, even though you might highly doubt it. This point of view has to be the starting point for any medical provider or for anyone close to someone who hasn’t been vaccinated. You have to meet people’s objections with facts and understanding.
The second point of view is my point of view: these people are cuckoo for cocoa puffs.
Anyone else notice this?: My cell phone reception has been a lot better since I got a covid shot.
Enough defending ‘personal freedom’ that anti-vaccine and maskers clamor about…YOU deniers are responsible for the latest uptick quickly becoming another surge….get your head screwed back on properly and start thinking about the health of everyone else…you who cling to false ‘mind control’ and conspiratorial theories are killing the rest of us.
Wait ‘til we start getting the results from the Rapid City Freedumb Rally and the up coming (already in progress) Sturgis event.
Of course the numbers will be (at least) a week behind.
sx123: thank you for that one; you actually got an out loud laugh. Well done!
Again the hypocrisy of the right: a baker can refuse to bake a cake for a gay couple, but a business cannot refuse non-vaccinated patrons? The right now wants to lift the those who choose to not vaccinate to the level of protected class.
SD needs to start showing numbers on a daily basis again, not this weekly BS. How is anyone supposed to make decisions on week old data? I’d like to know who decided to only report once a week? (I have a hunch though)
South Dakota needs some herd thinning, anyway.
Every museum eventually gets overrun with exhibits nobody’s interested in.
Will medical insurance premiums be increased for non vaccinated enrollees? I presume smokers have higher premiums and I know for a fact being undertall for my weight increases my premiums. I also have seen where flood insurance premiums are increasing along the coastal regions of the US.
SD just needs some Democrat to start publicizing the fact that we need an investigation in voter fraud because vaccinations are being counted as votes for trump. That would cause a stampede of the mindless minions to get vaccinated and maybe stop them from creating shortages of bleach and lite bulbs..
cibvet, that would prolly get them vaccinated, but, why would you want them to live and vote when they already have enough states to gerrymander and retake the house next year, no matter how bad they get beaten in the popular vote?
Unless Manchin and Sinema wake up and hrep the Senate pass voter’s rights on the federal level, we are screwed, blued and tattooed.
Oh happy camper, you must realize the Qs come from Star Trek too.
Hey everyone, you must realize that the initial response to covid was slight because it mostly the Democratic states that people travel to and live in. The trumpies thought it was fine to kill a few Democrats in return for rousing their base of idiots. Everything is perfectly fine now, just make sure you have your shots and get your booster in six months. Have a wonderful day.
Happy Camper, people who are so braindead that they believe internet gossip over science SHOULD be ridiculed, and loudly, from the moment they wake up till the moment they fall asleep. They’re the root of the current problem and the reason we can’t “get back to normal” and may never be able to if Covid keeps mutating and improving its powers. Morons are defensive because of their backwardness and stupidity, NOT because we hurt their precious little feelings.
As Mr. Trailer is referring to the covid bugs and shots, he is righter than right. But be careful when you say, as Mr. trailer said:
for it can apply to some of Mr. H’s blogging minions, too. I’m just sayin…
You have to try and love each other, and be kind to each other, even in the face of what seems like stupidity. We’ve all been stupid, and then being called stupid when we’re afraid is just counterproductive. In this hyper-partisan world we must find ways to bridge the gap. These are your neighbors. Have you ever thought about making a list of the dumbest things you’ve ever thought or done in your life? Probably not, though it would be healthy and humbling, cause it’s a list we want to avoid, so we think about other people’s lists rather than our own. Don’t be so attacking and condescending, cause you ain’t always right. Our fears and insecurities often prevent us from seeing the most accurate picture. Listen more and stop assuming you know everything. That goes for the other side too. Being in the middle is never easy but we see more clearly how unbalanced things are right now, and there’s a lot of us. You just don’t hear from the middle as often cause they let you do all the yelling and screaming.
Grudzilla, are you accusing Cory of making ship up? Or are you denying Fake Noize and their minions flat out lie a good percentage of the time?
Johnny Whoppoer’s man crush, Alex Jones, is trying to convince a judge HRC is closely involved in his Sandyhook school massacre denials trial. He is a moron and conspiracy theorist who makes/made all kinds of horrendous accusations about the 6 year old kids slaughtered for no reason and their parents.
So, HC, How is it that the ongoing and continual ridiculing of “liberals” and Democrats by the right deserves any respect? Maybe you should try preaching to your own congregation?
Richard, I’m not religious. I’m saying the far left and the far right are too noisy and combative. It’s time for both of you to quiet down and listen to the middle.
well…I have a brother in his late 70’s who is a very moderate person, in his personal life and politically. He believes that those of us who refuse vaccination (free vaccination I might add) should be arrested and charged with “endangering public health and safety”. I am beginning to feel the same way. I think its my age and vulnerability. The old have a “right to life” too.
Respecting everyone is a tenant of our faith and should be a guiding principle in our democratic republic. I strive to respect everyone and sometimes I’ve failed in that endeavor. When I have failed to respect other people, I feel real bad about myself, as I should. Disrespect of other people – despite their views – should never be condoned. We should respectfully disagree and do our best to protect ourselves.
I also agree with Happy Camper on this and many other issues. Both political sides – left v. right and Republican v. Democratic – have become so combative in the past few decades that it has turned off a lot of voters in this state and throughout the nation. I’m one of them. I became politically Independent over 15 years ago and that is a huge part of the reason I supported Stephanie Herseth. I found her to be a reasonable middle voice in politics that had become too far partisan between the political parties. Both political parties continue to play this combative game of blaming each other and never admitting their own faults. I’ve had numerous people on this blog tell me: “Oh, our political party is not as bad as the other one and that the other party is to blame for everything.” Like President Biden has been quoted as saying and I repeat: “Come on, Man…” you are not fooling me and I can see plenty of blame to go around. I’ve seen condemnation equally from both sides of the political aisle as well as hypocrisies galore. So, are we, as a society, going to continue the downward spiral of disrespect as we treat politics like some Super Bowl Game?
well..Guy, getting vaccinated isn’t politics…its public health. We all have a responsibility for the health and welfare of our community…irregardless of our politics. Its not an opinion, its a civic responsibility.
Arlo, respect is also a civic responsibility.
Hey, we should scorn because they deserve it, and, by the way, there is no equivalence between what the insurrectionist MAGA GOP is doing and the Dems are, and we should scorn the anti-vaccine, America First, Q-loving Fascists, with a laugh, and follow Twain’s wisdom: “Will a day come when the race will detect the funniness of these juvenilities and laugh at them–and by laughing at them destroy them? For your race, in its poverty, has unquestionably one really effective weapon–laughter. Power, Money, Persuasion, Supplication, Persecution–these can lift at a colossal humbug,–push it a little– crowd it a little–weaken it a little, century by century: but only Laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of Laughter nothing can stand.” – “The Chronicle of Young Satan,” Mysterious Stranger Manuscripts. (I’m still working on a joke. It has something to do with the Trump brain trust walking into a bar. The three of them ask the bartender for a drink. Which one would Trump approve?)
Willy, you just proved my point about too much combativeness in politics today. Too much condemnation and self-righteousness on both sides. It’s a vicious cycle of anger and blame…… and sadly, it’s not bringing us together to solve problems for the greater good.
My body, my choice.
I will NOT take these “vaccines”, and I will not allow my children to take them.
Here’s what the CDC does recommend in addition to a well balanced diet and exercise to stave obesity (number one risk factor):
https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/micronutrient-malnutrition/about-micronutrients/why-it-matters.html
Drink appropriate (for me, that means a LOT) amounts of clean water.
It’s the only way the fat leaves the body as I understand it.
Experimental MRNA “vaccines”, regardless of whether the FDA approves them, are causing massive blood clots and health issues and they are not demonstrated effective in any real scientific sense.
So, when I had covid I had a scratchy throat for 17 hours, I got immunity.
The second jab is proven to REDUCE my immunity.
So if you recommend that I take the shot, you’re REDUCING my natural immunity.
I am willing to suffer covid to get natural immunity.
People taking shots are getting sick from covid variants, anyway.
That seems bad.
I’m not trying to save the world, but it would be nice.
“[Recipients of the second Pfizer vaccine have 5-6x lower neutralizing antibodies, which block the virus from getting into cells. Boosters weaken the immune system over time, and like an addiction, more shots are required over time to get comparable results, especially old people.]” — COVID vaccine program director David LV Bauer
Apparently, 5 g finally fried john dale’s brain.
But what’s the difference between religious zealots or anyone who thinks they can dictate another person’s behavior. We grew up in such a conservative state, it was bound to do a number on our heads, so lets just give each other, and ourselves a break and not be so judgemental against one another.
Guy..I am not required by civic responsibility to respect the person who is trying to kill me.
I don’t care, do you? Remember that coat she wore to the boarder?
I remember lining up in school to get shots. I remember waking up in the hospital with the German Measles when I was in the 2nd grade. I have a scar on my arm from a shot for small pox. I suffered through chicken pox because they didn’t have a vaccine when I was a kid. My oldest son suffered through chicken pox as a child because they didn’t have a vaccine. I have been vaccinated for Shingles as a result because I’ve had chicken pox.
I got my kids vaccinated and they didn’t suffer through what my grandparents, parents, and I suffered through as children, except chicken pox. We get booster shots because immunity fades over time.
My oldest son, who lives in another state, got COVID-19 before they had the vaccine. He lost most of his sense of smell. He’s slowly getting some of it back. He still got vaccinated when the vaccine became available. My family got the COVID-19 shots because that’s what responsible citizens do.
Herd immunity weeds out the old, the young, the sick, and the stupid. Any biologist can tell you that bit of information. Don’t want to believe them…then watch any nature show. We could use less stupid as I’m tired of their selfish ways.
They want to risk getting COVID-19, not my problem if they get it and die a slow painful death. Or maybe they’ll get lucky and only be a long hauler suffering the effects for months unable to work or function. Maybe they’ll be shunned by society if they don’t get vaccinated. But they need to stop whining about it.
Their choice their consequence.
So JOHN DALE, the right to choose is only for you and your family or just for men?
MY BODY, MY CHOICE is for women as well John.
You are a super hypocrite.
This isht show was designed to create artificial differences between us so we fight.
When we fight, they rejoice.
Based on what I know, if I really wanted to do you harm, I would tell you .. nay .. I would FORCE you to wear a face mask (increase viral and bacterial load next to your intake of infectious material), I would tell you to stay inside out of the sun (where Vitamin D comes from), I would push dangerous untested experimental lunatic scientist shots on you, and I would want you to be afraid and stressed to increase your cortisol levels.
But I don’t want to do you harm, so I would never recommend .. nay .. FORCE you to do these things.
America is being attacked from within using poisoned information from elsewhere.
Sincerely,
John Dale, BA Philosophy, MS MIS
Raise your hand if you’re ready to use military force to hold down and vaccinate the Amish.
Covid was an engineered bioweapon.
Are we really that concerned about Covid? Are we vaccinating all these people? If we were really concerned about Covid, would we build some kind of a .. I don’t know .. barrier or obstruction or wall or something?
From Senator Mike Rounds:
Encounters at the southern border in 2021:
Jan: 78,442
Feb: 101,095
March: 173,265
April: 178,850
May: 180,641
June: 188,829
“By my estimate from available data, the risk employers “solved” by vaccines is the less than 1 in a million chance an asymptomatic or presymptomatic employee causes severe harm by transmitting COVID19 in the employment context that causes severe harm to another?” — Constitutional Attorney Robert Barnes
No, Hap, we must not surrender our judgment. We must judge worldviews to be good and useful or bad and harmful. Worldviews that lead people into conspiratorial fantasies that ignore fact and public health are bad. Respecting such harmful worldviews is bad.
And telling lies (like John’s lies that covid is a bioweapon and masks cause disease) is bad.
Don’t be a liar. Don’t be an idiot. Get your shots.
Hap, we can still understand people and love people and tell them they are erring and need to change their thinking and their behavior.
Hap and the “respect the vaccine resisters!” crowd sound like the modern educators who think self-esteem is paramount and separate from actual learning and performance. We wouldn’t want to hurt people’s feelings, so let’s not make them feel bad for not taking a vaccine or for believing complete bunk. Let’s give everyone smiley buttons and ribbons.
Thanks for not hating. When I find relevant data points, I bring them over in hopes we can triangulate the truth.
—–
Over half of those hospitalized with Covid-19 in the UK only tested positive after admission – suggesting that “vast numbers are being classed as hospitalised by Covid when they were admitted with other ailments, with the virus picked up by routine testing,” according to The Telegraph, citing leaked government figures.
John Dale. Question. What is your source?
Telegraph newspaper out of the UK ran this story and they have a right bias according to Media Bias/ Fact Check
Vi Klingman-could it be J Dale’s source is a feverish, dimly-lit brain of his own?
Dear Vi;
I have over 200 sources. When enough of them converge on a particular data point or conclusion, I put that out there for countermanding scrutiny.
The more important question is .. on what big issue have my publications really missed the mark? You can’t say this one, because the issue is still being decided.
That being said, I found another data point from this San Diego brah who comes to his county supervisor’s meeting loaded for intellectual bear.
Definitely go watch this before it gets reported and taken down, despite the fact that this is simply testimony in a county supervisors meeting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I24vphxClSI
Sincerely,
John
According to Plains Tribune, Media Bias/ Fact Check has a radical left biased, which means that everything I say is correct*
*tongue in cheek
“You are a super hypocrite.”
Hey, at least somebody finally admitted I’m super at something.
Traffic must be light to non-existent at Johnny Rabbit Hole Refugee’s home site.
Happy, although I have some agreement for your “get along” sentiment, I think we have vastly different ideas what “the middle” is.
John Dale Is A Maniplative Machiavellian Liar
– David LV Bauer didn’t say that boosters weaken the immune system. I found twelve sources that parrot this misinformation and every source is invalid and begins with Alex Jones.
-Sherri J. Tenpenny is an American anti-vaccination activist who supports the disproven hypothesis that vaccines cause autism. An osteopathic physician, she is the author of four books opposing vaccination. A 2015 lecture tour of Australia was canceled due to a public outcry over her views on vaccination, which oppose established scientific consensus
– Over half of those hospitalized with Covid-19 in the UK only tested positive after admission is fully false information. Unsubstantiated data from unsubstantiated government leaks through second hand source, The Telegraph, is invalid.
Concluding … John Dale believes anything he agrees with.
Well John Dale, if you get covid you will also lose intelligence. Can’t wait for that. My source is lookitupyourself.
Guy, it’s sad that you think that the two sides are equivalent. One party is now hell-bent on authoritarianism. The other is trying, and, I’m afraid, losing the battle. This is not a time to be nice. Sorry. I appreciate your feelings. In a normal time, I would agree.
Willy, I indeed see both sides as combative and I have for a very long time. That is what is truly sad. As an independent, I have witnessed several Democrats and Republicans “hell-bent on authoritarianism” or expressing how they want to force their views on everyone else. I’ve witnessed both Democrats and Republicans disrespect each other and call for others to scorn other people who do not share their views. That is why many people, including myself, feel increasingly alienated from our government. What do you expect when there is this constant back-and-forth vitriol from both sides? As Happy Camper says, we all need to tone it down, get out of our trenches, become more respectful of each other and work together. This current path we are on is leading to the “losing battle” you are so right to be concerned about.
Oh goodness gracious love conquers all.
Love ain’t gonna conquer Delta, that’s for damn sure. Just a matter of who survives it now. Kind of reminds me of something https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3MH6efoYzJE