I know this will cause a lot of acrimony for some. I know others will not want to relinquish the power. Sit down for this… get your hyperventilation bag ready: The time to lift any mask requirements is rapidly approaching, folks. Let's set the date at May 31 and be done with the drama. If you are not vaxxed or mentally prepared by then, you are on your own. The rest of us need to move on with our lives.
I watched a particular cable news channel the other night. The hosts were freaking out about the loosening of The Centers For Disease Control guidance regarding the use of masks outdoors. The hosts were even calling for vaccine passports. I was able to stomach all of :45 seconds of their lemming-like hysteria before I turned off the TV. I disagree with passports. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has joined the KDKA Radio Morning Show to say he was against vaccine passports. Republicans leaders have agreed. Private companies may feel otherwise.
'Passports' should be for those ENTERING this country. If nations are still plagued then simply we must refuse entry of their citizens until their standards meet ours. We are cleaning up our end of this mess. We don't need their Covid dirt in here. I say this because our neighbors to the north and south have done an awful job of inoculating their subjects. Yes. I know. Someone will always find an excuse for one illness passport or another. Just banish the thought.
I wrote several editorials on Covid including: 'Tips For Fighting The Next Pandemic' - click here to read it.
We are the United States of America. We are turning a corner. Yes, this virus has been deadly and devastating. Great precautions and sacrifices have been taken and extracted as it scoured our population. It continues to exact its toll. Over 573,000 of our loved ones have died from this unexpected disease. You may not realize this by watching the evening news but we also lead the world in the number of people that have been vaccinated. As of Wednesday afternoon, according to the CDC's COVID Data Tracker, 98,044,421 MILLION AMERICANS are fully injected with the juice. India, which is ailing horribly, is 2nd with only 23 million vaccinated out of a population of 1.3 BILLION (1.7%). Our neighbors? Mexico has 6 million playing along (4.8%). Canada has jabbed only 1 million (2.8%). Pitiful!
Sure, 'we may have done a little fighting amongst ourselves' regarding Covid but in the end 'we all stick together and you can take that to the bank. That's the cowboys and the hippies and the rebels and the yanks.'
Americans have rallied. Our medical, research, and logistics communities have answered the call of 'Operation Warp Speed.' Our population, reluctantly & skeptical at times, has largely abided the mask mandates and closures. As of this writing, 142,692,987 Americans have accepted, either by reason, fear, bullying, bribing or threats, at least ONE DOSE of the vaccine. That is 43% of the population and counting. USA! USA! USA!
The fight against Covid-19 aka SARS-CoV-2, the Wuhan Virus, the Brazilian or UK variants - whatever name you prefer (I find 'Kung Flu' to be interesting) is rapidly turning in our favor. And, speaking of monikers, did you ever wonder why the term 'China' virus is a banned but the terms 'Brazilian' or 'UK' variant or even 'Spanish' flu are perfectly acceptable? I digress.
It has been 14 months, folks. Over a year of nothing like we have experienced in generations. Family and community traditions have been delayed or lost completely. Anticipated memories never realized. And, sadly, many farewells left unfulfilled. Many final days closed out in loneliness and isolation. However, as Spring warms and turns towards Summer, many of us are feeling optimistic again. No. We will never forget the past 14 months or those we lost but we also cannot continue to live in this isolation and fear. 'This lady may have stumbled but she ain't never fell.' So you better get right or you will soon get left. We don't need masks. We don't need documentation of the 'jab.' We have vaccines. In fact, we are swimming in them right now. Any American who wants a vaccine can get one. No excuses.
Any vaccine-hesitant American can self-isolate or assume the risk. 'Medical News Today' reports that much of the science, testing, and framework for the Covid-19 vaccines were adapted from vaccines developed to fight Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS.) It seems safer than other stuff we consume.
Still hesitant? Stay home. Self-isolate all you want. You can wear a mask if you want to come out & play. Some will find that there will always be a justifiable reason to wear one. Feel free. However, when over 51% of the population is vaccinated then why should the majority continue to be ruled by an anxious minority? We've all had ample opportunity. It is long-time to assume your own risk and stop projecting your fears on others.
'Yeah, we're walking real proud and we're talking real loud again (In America). You never did think that would happen again.'
Thank you.
Charlie Daniels was an American songwriting and performing legend
Kevin Battle is not a fiddle player. He is co-host of the KDKA Radio Morning Show with Larry Richert. The show airs 5a-9a on 100.1FM & AM1020 KDKA Pittsburgh and the Audacy app.
