824,000. Who's next?

 I consider myself to be a patriot; although I am not one of those flying a tattered flag from the back of my pick up truck. Fortunate indeed are those individuals who were born in the United States, or have become American citizens, for we have rights and freedoms that are indeed the object of admiration and even jealousy from those throughout the world whom are not so fortunate. While America does have it's problems, and they are many, we also have the ability to solve those problems when we cooperate on solutions instead of aggravation. 

Nothing positive is gained when we grab our flags and scream at each other in the name of freedom; following false prophets down rabbit holes only ends one way: you are tired, dirty and worse off than before.  Our country is gripped by a political, moral, and social malaise, magnificently complicated by the strident voices of a very vocal but ignorant few who willingly replace facts with fiction; reality with alternative universes, social responsibility with political desires.

There have been numerous times in our history when the needs of the nation overrode the desires of the individual; you might consider the sacrifices endured by Americans during the Second World War as an example. You may have wanted to exercise your freedom by driving across the country to visit Aunt Mabel, but the needs of our war machine for gasoline, steel, and rubber denied you this "freedom." 

More than 824,000 citizens of the United States of America have died from Covid-19 in less than 2 years. That is more than the number of Americans killed in all international wars since our country gained it's freedom in 1776. It is a greater number than were killed by the Spanish Flu in 1918-1919. 

824,000 patriotic, voting, loving Americans. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, moms and dads, sisters and brothers. Fellow students, co-workers, the family in the next pew at church. The friend that always had a joke, the one that fixed your car. Your child. Your spouse. They are all dead.

Yet, you stand there and tell me you are a patriot, and you have rights and freedoms; that the evil government can't mandate a vaccine because "freedumb" and all that. You tell me it is against your children's constitutional rights to have to wear a mask in school. I cannot fathom how you have managed to twist saving lives into a rant on Democrat vs. Republican, right-wing vs. left-wing, but I have to hand it to you, you did it. I have been told to my (masked) face, real patriots don't wear masks. Seriously!  

Yes, in America, we have rights and freedoms; as I wrote earlier, they are the envy of the world. Those rights and freedoms, great and magnificent as they are, come with duties. Those duties are not to be neglected for limelight; rather they are to be undertaken whatsoever the cost.  

Our duty now is as clear as Grandmother's crystal glasses. Roll up our sleeves, and get vaccinated. If you have been vaccinated, get the booster. If you won't do it for yourself, do it for your family, for your grandparents, your neighbor, the family in the corner house down the street. 

The President of the United States must speak nicely, but I am not held to such a position, so here it is:

Just roll up your damn sleeve and get the shot. You can bitch and moan about it all the next week for all I care. Man up, Cowboy up, whatever you want to say, just do it. Cut the C**p and do it! The life you save may be your own.

Thanks for reading; your comments are always welcome. 

R.M. "Bob" Hartman

A Response to Anonymous

My last post, Your Child's Life, elicitated this response: 

"They (Trump) rushed to produce it. They (Trump) circumvented safety procedures. They (CDC) have not done long term human trials. They (Trump) gave the producers immunity from liability. They (Media) politicized any possible therapeutics. Prior to the 2020 election many Democrats had doubt about the safety of the vaccine too. You buy into the propaganda like sheep. Enjoy being a test subject." 

Dear Mr/Ms Anonymous, thank you for your comment. It allowed me a chance to explore answers for the statements you made. 

Yes, there was a rush to produce the vaccine. Americans were (and still are) dying in record numbers. So "They" (our government) agreed to purchase 100 million doses each of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines at a total cost of $2.45 Million, with the option of 500 million more doses of each. This pre-development agreement gave Moderna and Pfizer the ability to invest in the development and production of the vaccine without having to worry about "how marketable will it be?" (Pfizer and Moderna were not paid until the vaccine was delivered.) 

They (the drug companies) were able to build this vaccine on models that had been successfully used for other coronaviruses, such as SARS and MERS. The technology is not new, what the manufacturers had to figure out was the right mix of mRNA instructions for our immune systems to defeat the virus. In essence, the manufacturers had a 10-year head start on developing this vaccine.  Regarding long-term trials: the vaccine is new, but the delivery system is not. Other vaccines using the same model have not had any severe long-term reactions. 

I've not been able to see where any safety procedures were circumvented, perhaps you can share that information with me? 

The PREP Act you refer to regarding immunity from liability was signed into law in 2005, by President George W. Bush. It is a limited-term immunity; for the Moderna, Pfizer, and J&J vaccines, that immunity expires in 2024.

 The only politicizing about the various therapeutics I have seen or read came from politicians. To the best of my knowledge, the Big 4 Media (ABC, CBS, CNN, MBC) reported on what the politicians or scientists said, but did not take sides on the issue. (I don't watch Fox, so I cannot say what they have or have not done.) 

Anonymous, I think everyone had some concerns about the safety of the vaccine at some point; as more scientific information becomes available, doubts disappear. At least, mine did. 

I don't buy into propaganda; I research, read, challenge, and think. I believe these vaccines are safe, effective, and necessary now. 

Thanks for reading! As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome and appreciated. 

R.M. "Bob" Hartman  

Your Child's Life

 Twenty-five years ago, the chemo that "cured" our son's leukemia took his life. I remember all too well the anguish, pain, and anger I felt then; the emotions I experienced I would never condemn another to suffer. Suffice it to say that I felt I had failed him; as his parent, I was supposed to keep him safe, to prevent bad things from happening to him. In our society, at this time and place, parents are not supposed to bury their children. But, we did.

Which makes it all the more confusing to me; during this deadly pandemic, when science has proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that masks help slow the spread of this killer virus, why parents are "up in arms" when masks in schools are discussed. Why would you not want to protect your children?

Speaking of protection, we have vaccines available for all people 12 years of age or more. So, what is keeping people from getting a pin pick that will save your life, and the lives of those around you? Why would you not have your child vaccinated?

Friends have told me they are afraid of the possibility of a side effect from the vaccine. Let's put this in perspective, shall we? You have a 1 in 200,000 chance of a negative reaction to the vaccines. A 1 in 500 chance of dying from Covid, if you are not vaccinated. You have a 1 in 107 chance of dying in an automobile accident. Yet, you still drive, right? I thought so. To be perfectly honest about it, all of the excuses for not getting vaccinated fall apart under similar scrutiny.

There was not, and still is not, a vaccine to prevent cancer. No mask would have prevented my son's death.

You, however, have a choice. You can have you child wear a mask, and you can have your child vaccinated. You can wear a mask and be vaccinated yourself.

Isn't you child's life worth it?

Thanks for reading, as always your thought and comments are welcome.

RM "Bob" Hartman

A Rant

 

Ok, I need to rant. And no, it is not about politics. My rant is about everyday people who seem to forget history, or perhaps never studied it to begin with.

Beginning in the mid-1800’s, Polio was responsible for sickness and death in the world population. Here in America, as many as 15,000 people were infected each year; although most did not die, the lingering effects of paralysis permanently damaged lives and affected common well-being. It was not uncommon for families to be quarantined as a whole because of a case of polio; nor was it uncommon in the 1940’s for entire U. S. towns to be quarantined to prevent the spread of the virus. Travel was restricted between “infected” communities and the rest of the nation. Children were frequently kept from playing outdoors because they might encounter someone carrying the virus. (Does any of this sound familiar?)

Two vaccines were found to be effective, one in 1955 and one in 1963; the United States (and a large portion of the rest of the world) began a vaccination program targeting school age children, and later included pre-school children. Some of you may remember the sugar cubes, often administered in schools.

Net effect: in the 1970’s, less than 10 cases of polio were reported in the United States. Polio is now considered eradicated world-wide, except for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which are still at epidemic levels.

So, what is my rant?

People who refuse to take this current pandemic serious. People who refuse to follow the best science and medical advice. People who still insist that this pandemic is not real, or that people are not dying of Covid-19. People who refuse to wear masks, who refuse to observe social distance, and who insist on gathering in large groups, particularly unmasked. Leaders who refuse to acknowledge just how serious this is.

In the space of one year, we have lost more Americans to Covid-19 than were killed in combat in the 4 years of WWII.

Is that serious enough for you?

Do not tell me that this was all dreamed up so President Trump would not be re-elected. And please do not tell me again that wearing a mask or washing your hands interferes with your “God-Given Rights as An American Citizen.”  To be totally honest, I do not think for one minute that the release of the vaccines was held up to embarrass then-President Trump.

Frankly, I do not wear a mask to show support for one political party or another. I wear a mask to protect myself, my family, and yes, you.

I get it.

We are all tired of this COVID-19 stuff. We are all tired of wearing masks, etc., of our favorite restaurants not being open. Tired of not being able to spend time with friends and family like we want. Tired of our children and grandchildren being schooled online, of not having play time with their friends. Tired of being unable to have our social interactions, our clubs and groups, our churches.

But think about this for a minute. We are almost to a point of getting this virus under control. The vaccines for Polio took decades to develop, and 30 years to reach herd immunity; but the Covid-19 vaccines have been developed in the space of a year. Current predictions have the United States at herd immunity in a year.

Let us buck up, America. Stand up and do the right thing. Wear the mask, wash your hands, and do not get too close. Get the shots when they are available.  

If you believe your ancestors are watching you from afar, make them proud. Let us show them that America can do this, together. As Americans, we have stood together in times of national crises before and come out the better for it. It is time to come together and do it again.

Thank you for reading, and as always, your comments are welcome.

R. M. “Bob” Hartman

Nature and Science

 It's a blustery fall day in northern Utah, we are camped beside a reservoir watching the wind stripping the last leaves from the gamble oaks. That same wind pushes the dark, heavy clouds against the mountains, only to watch them slide over the ridges, laughing as they take the promised moisture away, another example of nature ruling against the desires of humans, a reminder that man does not control nature. 

No, man does not control nature, or rather science (as nature is only a manifestation of science in a physical state); regardless of his failed attempts to influence nature as displayed through the centuries by prayers, alters, offerings, and sacrifices galore.

Even as the alchemists tried and failed to turn lead into gold, they tried again and again, only to fail each time. We may indeed use nature, such as the construction of this reservoir to harvest and store snowmelt to provide irrigation water during the dry summer, but we cannot create more snow than nature supplies, nor ban the droughts which plague our farmers.  

In fine, we cannot control nature. we may be able, with increasing accuracy, to predict the storms and their intensity, but we cannot command them away. We are able to better protect ourselves from nature's furies and better respond when they occur, but we cannot govern nature's course. 

Which brings me to the novel Cronavirus and our responses, or lack thereof, to the deadly Covid-19. Coronavirus, which has existed in some animals, mutated and now is a plague on all humans. It does not care if you are a communist, fascist, socialist, republican, democrat, independent, rich, poor, gay, straight, or undecided. It is nature, and nature does not care about you or I. Not even our President can declare it away.

Covid-19 does not care about Easter, or warmer weather. It concerns itself not if our schools or business are open, surprisingly, it does not give a wit about our upcoming election.

Science does know some facts about this scourge, and science tells us that wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, disinfecting commonly-touched surfaces, and practicing social distancing helps to slow the spread of this leveler of mankind. These are facts, proven facts; they do not belong to either a political party, a particular person, or a specific faith. We may not like these facts, but they are facts. 

If you do not want to spread Covid-19, or see your family members sicken and perhaps die, wear a mask. If you do not want to see your child or your grandfather die from Coronavirus, wear a mask. If you want to help the country recover and prosper again, wear a mask. Stop trying to make it a political statement, or about government overreach or your personal freedom; frankly it is bigger than all that. 

It's about your life, and yes, your personal responsibility to all those around you, everyone you come in contact with. It's the bagger at the grocery store, the clerk at the hardware store, the dry cleaner, the receptionist at your place of work. 

JUST WEAR THE DAMN MASK!

Thank you for reading; feel free to share this post if you desire. Comments and thoughts are encouraged and allowed, just click the pencil in the box below to leave a comment. 

R. M. "Bob" Hartman      

Thoughts from the Desert

It's early Saturday, and I'm waiting for my morning coffee to perk. I can hear some birds, singing out to each other as the sun rises over Utah's western desert.

The covid pandemic has brought major changes in lives throughout the world, and Kathleen and I are no different. She now works from home, and has been doing so for several weeks. My employer offered a furlough to those who are in high risk categories, of which I am considered one, so I have been at home as well. I can say I have achieved a lot these past six weeks, including a complete remodel of our home office, however, it is still a work in progress.

This furlough has also given me the opportunity to study the behaviour of people under stress. I still find the hoarding of toilet paper and gas cans sadly irresponsible, and tragically funny. As I posted before, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, to which a majority of Utah citizens belong, was quick to respond to the social distancing protocol, and I credit that response for keeping the spread of the virus slow in Utah. When I take rare trips to stores, etc., I find most people wearing masks and gloves, including me. Utah's public officials, including our governor, have responded quickly, and well. There are daily press briefings from the governor and the state epidemiologist, which are well used to inform the public and keep panic to minimum.

It is disappointing to see people,like Alex Jones, and some websites like Infowars, feed into the reopen now movement. Even in Utah,some folks are holding reopen rallies and protests. My opinion is that these events are going to result in an uptick of cases of coronavirus, and should not be held; it is my firm belief that flattening the curve is more important than being able to eat at my favorite establishments.

The President is doing a disservice to the public when he tweets "liberate Illinois" or other states where the rallies are held. It's discouraging to note that he is only sending those tweets in states with Democrat governors, or those cities where he and the mayor have differing opinions. It is interesting, to say the least, to compare the strong leadership of most governors and mayors, who are using facts and hard data to determine the course of action, with the self-centered, constantly changing actions proposed by President Trump. To say America deserves better from him is a gross understatement.

At this time, our President should be encouraging the citizens to follow the protocols established by the CDC and the elected officials in each state and locality. He failed to follow the previous administration's lead and advice, that a pandemic of this sort would reach America and affect Americans citizens. When he talks about his great response to this massive threat to American lives, the voters should remember that this President has tried, and in many ways succeeded, to reduce the funding for the CDC during his administration. He has also been slow and weak in his response to the financial damage to everyday citizens, focusing instead on helping large corporations survive the financial storm. This is a time when the President of the United States needs to support the working class, or we shall see economic disaster of a scale not seen since the 1930's.

Just my thoughts, please let me know what you think. Click on the pencil inn the white box below to post your comments.

As always, thanks for reading!

R. M. "Bob" Hartman