Mandate

Mandate is not a nice word.

The definition is: “An official order or commission to do something.”

The definition in itself reminds me of my dysfunctional relationship with authority. I’ve never been a fan of being told what to do.

Will I often do the right things and make the right choices? Yes. Do I want and/or need someone to tell me what those things are or demand I do them? Not so much.

I wear my seat belt…pay my taxes…I follow a loose interpretation of the speed limit. (No one’s perfect). But, I’m regularly playing by the “rules.”

I’ve recently attended a meeting where it was suggested that our company “mandate” that all employees get the Covid vaccine. That doesn’t work for me. As a matter of fact, if anyone is really gung-ho, you can have mine. If one is good, two must be better. That’s sound logic, right?

Recently, it’s been discovered that anyone with allergies may have side effects to the vaccine. Allergies? That’s all we’re told? I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t have an allergy of some sort.

I’m older and have seen the FDA recall more drugs over the years than I’d care to remember. I almost lost a dear friend to the FDA-approved drug Fen-Phen, so forgive me if I’m not clamoring to roll up my sleeve.

I’ve heard a lot of talk about “my body, my choice,” but that must be something conveniently bandied about when appropriate for the topic. (I dislike the word hypocrisy even more than mandate). It’s not like I don’t wear my mask or social distance. You have no choice where I live…it’s a mandate.

I recently had a very respectful conversation with a strong advocate of vaccination. And after we covered every angle of the issue, she said, in frustration, well if you don’t get the vaccine, you don’t care about people who are compromised and can’t get the vaccine!

Crazy say what?

People who are compromised have been taking precautions well before Covid ever struck and if I were to ask someone I know that’s compromised if their condition should effect the way I decide on my healthcare? They’d say “no” and be tempted to smack me.

I’m not upset that you are getting vaccinated…you need to calm down and accept my choice as well. And, no, I’m not willing to argue the point. Someday, I may very well get the vaccine, but not now.

Everyone needs to be more accepting of other’s rights.

That’s a mandate.

See? Not a nice word.

“What is freedom? Freedom is the right to choose: the right to create for oneself the alternatives of choice.” – Archibald MacLeish