Define your adversary

(from an email I received)

We’ve all heard of “smear tactics” or a “smear campaign” and various “smear terms.” Some of us have bore the brunt of said name-calling. When I figured out that it was an ideological weapon used (primarily) by the left wing against the right wing I became far less concerned, vulnerable, or “guilty” when I found myself as the intended target of such political weaponry. These days, I’m not one bit afraid to use those tactics on the left. Doesn’t hurt to give them a dose of their own medicine from time to time.

Anyway, I was thinking of the new smear term: “anti-vaxxer.” I’m seeing it all over the place these days. If a person is opposed to taking the Covid vaccine then he or she is automatically an “anti-vaxxer.” It’s very much like calling someone who’s opposed to illegal immigration a “racist” or a man who leads his household a “patriarchal misogynist” or a person who believes homosexuality is morally wrong a “homophobe.” Well … you get the picture.

But I want to focus on the newest smear: anti-vaxxer. Though there are people in the world and in the USA who are wholly opposed to ALL forms of vaccination I’d say that most of us are willing to accept the fact that some vaccines have been quite beneficial over the decades. I’d also say that most of us aren’t opposed to people “choosing” to be vaccinated even if we don’t believe it’s necessary. I don’t personally care what someone else pumps into his or her veins. I’m all about a person’s “right to choose” in this instance.

But we live in a world where some of the FDA “approved” medicines have turned out to be downright dangerous. We’re also aware that medical malpractice is a leading cause of death in the USA. We also know that viruses can’t be cured by vaccination (a fact that’s currently unfolding before our very eyes). When we read an Israeli study that strongly suggests that folks who’ve had Covid and recovered from it are better off than vaccinated folks, we take note.

So just because millions of people are wary, leery, and cautious when it comes to the mRNA vaccine doesn’t mean that we’re “anti-vaxxers.” It means that we don’t trust what we’re being told and we want to see what the long term effects of a new and untested and unproven vaccine will do over the long term.

I like natural, grass-fed beef while avoiding meats high in antibiotics, hormones, and that have been fed GMO grains. Does that mean that I am “anti-beef?” No … it means that I’m health-conscious.

So those willing to call me an “anti-vaxxer” should be willing to accept being called “anti-choicer” or “anti-free will” or “anti-liberty.” Turnabout is fair play.