RECIPROCITY

(09,21,2021) Reciprocity is often spoken of in the Gospels of the New Testament. Although the word, itself, may not be present, the meaning is quite obvious. For, it is the focal point of the last part of the ‘Golden Rule’. “Love thy neighbour as thyself!”, being one version, and, “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you!” as another version. These ‘guidelines’ are sorely lacking, today, amongst the general population of this world. The new diversity, that which divides us now, seems to be the vaccine which could put an end to this COVID-19 pandemic. It is quite baffling when you think about it, and somehow ironic. I am reminded of an old phrase which I fear I may not accurately be able to quote verbatim, so I will attempt to paraphrase it. It goes something like this, ” I may not agree with what you say (or feel), but I will defend (with my life) your right to do so!” Forgive me if I have blundered the wording, but the gist is there. It is about a person’s right. Battle lines have been drawn, and many an innocent person has ben forced to take sides on the issue of vaccines. It seems that one has to be either pro or con, having been drawn in by those who have politicized the issue. Those, who are against the vaccine, have indicated that it is their right to refuse it, and I will defend that right! Personally, I have been twice vaccinated, but only after I was convinced that I was in the high risk category, being immuno-compromised. But, when those people, who are against the vaccine, start to protest and demonstrate to the point that they are interfering with others who want to receive the vaccine, I become incensed. What about the rights of the people who have clearly made their own choice? Now, the ‘cons’ faction are attempting to force their own view on those who disagree with them. Does that not make them hypocrites? I do have to sympathize with those people who have been told that, if they don’t get vaccinated, they will not be allowed to keep their jobs. It does seem unfair. But, let’s focus on the front line workers for a moment. The nurses and doctors, along with those health care workers in residences for the elderly, have to deal with the sick and infirmed on a daily basis. Should they not want to do everything humanly possible to protect and prolong the health and lives of their patients? Is that not the substance of the hippocratic oath? Why would a nurse or doctor not want to take a vaccine that would protect themselves as well as their patients? It doesn’t make sense to me. Is there a deeper underlying issue of which I am unaware? And then, there is the issue of the ‘cons’ stating, “It’s my body! I have the right to do with it as I please!” Forgive me for saying so! But that is not entirely accurate. If a person has a contagious disease, he or she is not free to go about possibly infecting others around them. It is not their right! In fact, their are laws, in place, to deter one from knowingly infecting another with a deadly disease. What these people do not seem to understand, is that the issue is not just about protecting yourself, but also those around you. Such was the case with the masks , prior to the vaccine. Anyone can be a carrier, whether or not they get sick with the COVID-19 virus. Consideration is the key factor here. You have to ask yourself, ” Do I only care about myself, or do I also care about those around me?” Only a selfish person, and/or one with no family or friends, could answer ‘yes’ to the former part of the question and ‘no’ to the latter. “The government is just using the vaccine to control us!” quips one person, of many, who is using this excuse for not getting the vaccine. That is, unequivocally, the most ridiculous reasoning that I have ever heard. How is the government doing this? To what end was this diabolical scheme hatched? Talk about your crazy conspiracy theories! This theory, no doubt, came from one of the four conservative talk show hosts, in the United States, who talked down the virus and instructed their listeners to avoid getting the vaccine. One of these hosts, who called himself ‘the anti-vaccinator’, or some such thing, has since contracted the COVID-19 virus and subsequently died from it. In fact, all four, of those conservative talk show hosts who advised people against getting the vaccine, have gotten the virus and ultimately paid, with their lives, for their ignorance! Forgive me if that seems harsh, but, they have been ‘playing’ with other people’s lives! How many of their followers have paid the same price by listening to the advice of these ‘anti-vaccinators’? As far as I know, only one among the afore-mentioned ‘radio jocks’, tried to walk back earlier statements about the virus and vaccine before he died. “I was wrong!”, he admitted. “I wish that I had gotten the vaccine!” Those against the vaccine argue about freedom and rights. You don’t have the freedom to drive, intoxicated, into a crowd of people! You don’t have the right to randomly shoot a gun into a crowd of people! And you don’t have the choice to potentially endanger the lives of countless people by infecting them with a deadly disease! What about the rights of the people who expect to be protected? On the other hand, we also have to consider the rights of those who do not trust the vaccine. We must respect their fears. So, do not let this issue create a conflict between the pros and cons! We must empathize with those people who are hesitant to receive the vaccine for they either lack sufficient information or are being subjected to misinformation regarding the vaccine. They have a right to be distrustful and refuse to be coerced. It is the duty of the ‘pros’ to provide the information necessary to convince the ‘cons’ otherwise. Meanwhile, the down side to refusing the vaccine could mean living in a bubble for an indefinite period. Still, that would be their choice! But, let’s not clump them all together with those who are openly protesting, going to schools and hospitals, in the attempt to prevent other people from getting the vaccine, and trying to sway them over to their side. Again, it should not be about us or them, right or wrong! Each individual is going to have to make up his or her mind. So let us remain civil toward one another! It was originally stated that, as long as the majority, approximately seventy-five to eighty percent, of the population received the vaccine, then herd immunity would take over, protecting the rest of the population by preventing any further spread of the COVID-19 virus. With any luck, we will soon approach that goal. It was always believed that a small percentage of the population would not get the vaccine, nor would it be necessary. It is unfortunate, however, that in so doing, some people will be forced to leave their job, should a pro-vaccine mandate be issued in their workplace. Hopefully, the government can do something to aid this group and not leave them out in the cold. In the meantime, do not listen to conspiracy theories or rumours that perpetuate disinformation. Research the data which is provided by the doctor who has been working on this procedure for the past twenty years. Reach your own conclusion, as I eventually did. And don’t be influenced by the ‘cons’ who, at the heart of the issue, are only interested in sowing discord and distrust. My brain tells me that this topic should be a non-issue, and yet, I fear that it has surpassed the topic of discrimination in its ability to divide us. Let us all step back, take a deep breath, and focus on the topic of consideration. After all, the first part of the ‘Golden Rule’, states, “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but…” (Leviticus 19:18). So, let us all make an effort to seek amelioration!