Coronavirus Vaccine Hesitancy
I have been double vaccinated since September last year. But I admit that prior to that point I had a degree of apprehension about the possibility of serious side effects. Nonetheless, I reasoned that the risks of COVID far outweighed the risks of the vaccine and so the rational move was to take the jab. Spoiler alert: I'm still alive.
Yet, I know people who still refuse to get vaccinated and their reasoning makes little sense to me. Even near my workplace there is a vandalized billboard with the words "F... your vax!" sprawled upon it. I have less and less patience for these people who dress up their irrational fear of a vaccine as some kind of principled stand against authoritarianism. The idea that 'freedom' is license to reject any obligations towards the common good is little more than selfish narcissism.
Jury Duty
I live in a fairly regional area in my country, so getting jury summons on a regular basis is not all together unexpected. Actually, jury duty has become something of an annual obligation for me at this point. I have been on a jury every year for the past two years. This will be the third year in a row.
They say that the only people on a jury are those too stupid to have gotten out of it. But for me I make no attempt to avoid it not because I can't contrive an excuse to avoid going but because I believe it is my civic duty to go. It is immoral to lie and I should be happy to be of service to my country. Even if I grumble every time I receive my summons.
I have developed suspicions that I am on some kind of secret list of 'reliable people'. Oh, they assure me it is a random selection off the electoral roll but I every year I get called I become less inclined to believe them.
It also offends me how badly dressed most of my fellow jurors tend to be. There's no respect for occasion anymore. I for one will continue to dress formally when attending court. If I were the judge I would be slapping at least the worst of these slobs with contempt of court.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington)
I am not American yet recently I watched a video showing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of Unknown Solider. I'm a sucker for ceremony and witnessing the reverence and solemnity with which the ritual was carried out was extremely moving. I then did some reading on the tomb and I was amazed to learn that it has been continuously guarded 24/7 since 1937.
Contemplating that kind of dedication almost brings tears to my eyes. In blazing heat or torrential rain they have carried on with their vigil uninterrupted. If I ever visit the United States I will almost certainly go to pay my respects there.
I have been double vaccinated since September last year. But I admit that prior to that point I had a degree of apprehension about the possibility of serious side effects. Nonetheless, I reasoned that the risks of COVID far outweighed the risks of the vaccine and so the rational move was to take the jab. Spoiler alert: I'm still alive.
Yet, I know people who still refuse to get vaccinated and their reasoning makes little sense to me. Even near my workplace there is a vandalized billboard with the words "F... your vax!" sprawled upon it. I have less and less patience for these people who dress up their irrational fear of a vaccine as some kind of principled stand against authoritarianism. The idea that 'freedom' is license to reject any obligations towards the common good is little more than selfish narcissism.
Jury Duty
I live in a fairly regional area in my country, so getting jury summons on a regular basis is not all together unexpected. Actually, jury duty has become something of an annual obligation for me at this point. I have been on a jury every year for the past two years. This will be the third year in a row.
They say that the only people on a jury are those too stupid to have gotten out of it. But for me I make no attempt to avoid it not because I can't contrive an excuse to avoid going but because I believe it is my civic duty to go. It is immoral to lie and I should be happy to be of service to my country. Even if I grumble every time I receive my summons.
I have developed suspicions that I am on some kind of secret list of 'reliable people'. Oh, they assure me it is a random selection off the electoral roll but I every year I get called I become less inclined to believe them.
It also offends me how badly dressed most of my fellow jurors tend to be. There's no respect for occasion anymore. I for one will continue to dress formally when attending court. If I were the judge I would be slapping at least the worst of these slobs with contempt of court.
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier (Arlington)
I am not American yet recently I watched a video showing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of Unknown Solider. I'm a sucker for ceremony and witnessing the reverence and solemnity with which the ritual was carried out was extremely moving. I then did some reading on the tomb and I was amazed to learn that it has been continuously guarded 24/7 since 1937.
Contemplating that kind of dedication almost brings tears to my eyes. In blazing heat or torrential rain they have carried on with their vigil uninterrupted. If I ever visit the United States I will almost certainly go to pay my respects there.
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