Freedom versus Compassion

I see a lot of back-and-forth on social media about rights and freedom to do whatever a person wants to do. I believe in personal freedom. It's a founding principle of the United States of America. It's a big benefit of living in a free country where the Constitution guarantees freedoms of speech, worship, and the pursuit of happiness. Our freedoms have been earned on the backs of people who have given their lives in their defense. These freedoms are sacrosanct.

Now the "other side of the news" as Paul Harvey used to say. We are also a compassionate country and people. We have always believed in lending a helping hand to those less fortunate wherever they were found. We rebuilt countries and governments that we conquered on the battlefield. We supplied and continue to supply peoples around the world with aid after natural disasters or calamities of their own making. We don't question the circumstances; we act. We help. We are a rich country and are willing to share that wealth with the less fortunate. Compassion.

But, we aren't so compassionate and mindful of our fellow countrymen apparently. We have people dying who could be saved if their fellow humans would just mask up or get the Covid vaccine. I know there are all kinds of theories out there about the vaccine being a product of satan or masks being too confining and more dangerous than the disease, but I have lost 3 friends in the last year who would disagree. Each of them was not vaccinated because of one reason or another. Each of them would, I'm sure, take the vaccination in a heartbeat vs the painful and heart-breaking death they went through. And took their families through. It is so easy to just go get the shot. Wear a mask where scientists say is beneficial. Just be cognizant of the potential harm you could do to a friend, neighbor, or loved one. Do the compassionate thing and leave the discussions on freedom to a less dangerous topic.

I know some who read this will disagree. I pray that this insidious disease will leave you alone and not infringe on your freedom. I pray that this disease will be conquered soon so that life can get back to "normal"; without masks and with just a booster shot every so often like my annual flu shot. I pray that compassion will replace hate in this country. I pray that we can all step back and take a breath and logically look at the pros and cons of masks and vaccines in the light of our neighbors and families.

I just pray........