After hours

has introduced a bill, the Safe Travel Act “to require all domestic travelers to show proof of vaccination or a negative coronavirus test at airports or for Amtrak trips.” The 2021 uptick in COVID-related “passenger aggression and violence” is astonishing.

“There is no ‘credible religious argument’ against the COVID-19 vaccine mandates,” Texas megachurch pastor and Donald Trump [R-NY/FL] devotee Robert Jeffress agreed. “Christians who are troubled by the use of a fetal cell line for the testing of the vaccines would also have to abstain from the use of Tylenol, Pepto Bismol, Ibuprofen and other products that used the same cell line if they are sincere in their objection.”

Religious exemption letters are little more than a ‘loophole’ to avoid getting a vaccine,” Jeffress said. Many religious leaders share Jeffress’ view. The AntiDefamation League condemns those who compare pandemic restrictions and or vaccination mandates to the Jewish holocaust. Pope Francis launched a “powerful appeal for people to get vaccinated with approved COVID-19 vaccines” in August, 2021. He called the vaccination “an act of love.”

Fortunately YouTube has agreed “to crack down on the spread of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation; to ban anti-vaccine videos from its platform.” It seems the misinformation disinformation campaigns have now spread to vaccines in general. To related medical problems including pregnancy, child birth, developmental disabilities and cancer.

“I am sure the Mass of Citizens in these United States mean well, and I firmly believe they will always act well, whenever they can obtain a right understanding of matters…[S]erious misfortunes originating in misrepresentation frequently flow and spread before they can be dissipated by truth,” retiring President George Washington wrote in 1796.

Conspiracy theories are not new. Such schemes date from the presidential election of 1796, candidates John Adams [F-MA] and Thomas Jefferson [DR-VA] especially. More recently Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH) chastised the Chairman of his State’s Finance Committee for the October, 2021 release of their dis-informational document, The Vaccine Death Report.

Loaded with conspiratorial inaccuracies Sununu asked for the Chairman’s removal. The Report falsely claimed “that living organisms with tentacles are entering people’s bodies through COVID-19 vaccines [and] nanotechnology in the vaccines will be used to control people’s thoughts through 5G.”

The first U.S. COVID-19 case was reported on January 21, 2020. As of November 12, 2021, the number of reported cases had climbed to 46,855,488; the number of American lives lost 759,678!

Economics is the study of choices. Choose wisely and begin the New Year properly vaccinated. Vaccinations are more than “an act of love.” They are a gift, to you and all you hold dear.

Enjoy the holiday season. Safely, please!

What would George do?

A Bit of History ©2021 Sarah Becker Sarah Becker started writing for The Economist while a graduate student in England. Similar publications followed. She joined the Crier in 1996 while serving on the Alexandria Convention and Visitors Association Board. Her interest in antiquities began as a World Bank hire, with Indonesia’s need to generate hard currency. Balinese history, i.e. tourism provided the means. The New York Times describes Becker’s book, Off Your Duffs & Up the Assets, as “a blueprint for thousands of nonprofit managers.” A former museum director, SLAM’s saving grace Sarah received Alexandria’s Salute to Women Award in 2007. Email abitofhistory53@ gmail.com

AFTER HOURS

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