Something I read set me off on a long train of thought.
Facts, Opinions, and Freedom
Part one:
Not everyone agrees on the numbers.
So let’s talk about facts.
COVID exists.
People get COVID.
Some people die from it.
Some people recover and have lasting medical issues.
Some people recover and don’t seem to have lasting issues.
Some people have severe symptoms.
Some people have moderate symptoms.
Some people have mild symptoms.
Some people have no symptoms.
Most Doctors agree that wearing a mask reduces your chance of spreading germs.
Most Doctors agree that wearing a mask can reduce your chance of getting sick if you are around people not wearing a mask.
Not everyone wants to wear a mask.
Many people who wear a mask don’t like it but they do it anyway.
Some people refuse to wear a mask.
Some people believe the doctors and want to do the right thing so they wear a mask.
Some people believe that wearing a mask infringes on their freedom.
People who wear a mask think people who don’t wear a mask are endangering their safety and things will not get better until we do everything possible to slow the spread.
People who don’t wear a mask say that it is their right and if someone is afraid they should stay home.
Two questions:
Why should the people who want to wear a mask and follow the rules and/or guidance be told to stay home?
Shouldn’t the people who want to break the rules be told to stay home?
Part Two:
Facts aren’t the whole story.
Opinions about facts influence what we decide to do.
Some people are very protective of their opinions
Some people get defensive about their opinions.
Some people may bully or get violent in defense of their opinions.
Freedom is a strong word.
According to the Oxford Languages dictionary,
Freedom is the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.
We have the freedom to make our own decisions.
We have the freedom to choose to break the law and face the consequences.
We have the freedom to choose to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
We have the freedom to honor society’s needs or reject them based on personal beliefs.
We have the freedom to respect the health and safety of others or not to show that respect, based on personal beliefs.
We have the freedom to make decisions and speak out based upon personal beliefs.
We have the freedom to make our own decision about what is the right thing to do.
We have the freedom to do what we want to do.
We have the freedom to think that we are accountable to no one except ourselves.
We have the freedom to accept or not accept the consequences of our words and actions.
Our enforcement agencies have the freedom to hold us accountable.
Our families and friends have the freedom to hold us accountable.
Private companies have the right to hold us accountable by refusing service or banning us.
Part three:
Freedom is a beautiful thing.
Freedom is core to democracy.
I don’t want to lose my freedom.
I don’t want my country to rescind freedom.
I don’t want to live under fascism or Communism or any system that takes away my freedom.
As much as I love my freedom to think, speak, and act I realize that how I exercise my freedom can have consequences for others.
Freedom can be abused and used as an excuse for selfish behavior.
I don’t want to be a selfish person.
I don’t want to be around selfish people.
I want to be a person who does the right thing,
Respects the health and safety of others,
Respects the rights of others,
Respects my community.
I want to be a good person,
I want to be a good citizen.
I want to be a good example for my children and anyone else who looks to me for guidance.
I want to be healthy and alive for as long as possible.
I am appalled and disappointed by those who have so little respect for others that they purposefully make choices that endanger innocent people.
I am scared about what is happening in my community, my state, my country.
We should be better than this.
