Freedom's just another word...

Absolute freedom is a bit like absolute power: it is both dangerous and impossible in the long run.

I was thinking of this as I read about several professional athletes, some currently in the playoffs, who may not be able to play for x games due to testing positive for Covid. Even a few pampered professional athletes are whining about their freedom to NOT get a vaccine. Others say that they won't reveal their vaccination status. It's too intimate a fact, I guess, for performers to reveal.

"It's a personal decision," they say. Well, sort of. But what about their teammates, who did get vaccinated, who may see their championship dreams destroyed by one of those personal decisions?

"No man is an island," as John Donne reminded us centuries ago, but too many times we forget that truth, as a society and as individuals.

I was also thinking that just because you are a professional athlete, your excellence at an activity or sport may not translate to wisdom or even basic intelligence.

One pro golfer loudly and ignorantly shared this nugget (paraphrased): "I haven't had Covid yet, and until I do I see no reason to get vaccinated. After I get it, I may consider it." 

Huh?

In today's Denver Post I found a story about the state patrol issuing over 2,300 seatbelt tickets over the past couple weeks, part of a state-wide crackdown. Fines begin at $65 for failing to wear a seatbelt or have everyone under 18 belted. 

I suppose choosing to not wear a seatbelt could be seen as an act of righteous rebellion against the tyranny of the state, but the fact that you can reduce your risk of death or serious injury by half, plus the support of clear legislation (just always wear hour seatbelt, for God's sake), means 86 percent of Coloradans routinely give up this tiny bit of "freedom," mostly without a thought.

We could get wacky and argue about the tyranny of the red light forcing me to stop my vehicle when I REALLY want to keep going, but no one seriously is interested in that argument. Traffic lights, and the need to observe and follow them, are important in maintaining a functional transportation system.

If I ran the world of professional sports, I would present getting vaccinated as the equivalent of stopping for a red light. 

Most people don't "hesitate" to start going when the light turns green. In fact, hesitating for even a couple seconds likely brings a chorus of honking from those behind us. 

We should be honking at those vaccine hesitators who, honestly, are not acting rationally. No need to try to logically argue with people. Just honk.