In response to Bill Hudson’s August 31 comments on how to spot a ‘Delta variant’, I’ll share my experience with social behavior related to COVID. It’s more than just alienation of relationships.
Because of my recent (June) open heart surgery, I am high risk for serious cardiac side-effects from any COVID vaccine. So I’m not vaccinated. On August 2, I tested positive for COVID, and quarantined myself. A week later I was seriously ill with the virus, and was admitted to a hospital COVID ward where I remained until August 23. I’m now recuperating at home.
My recovery is being closely monitored by the local VA clinic COVID team. They relate COVID information specifically to my case.
They say I have no symptoms, am not contagious, am slowly recovering, and have acquired (for now) natural immunity that should protect me from future infection. They can’t tell me if vaccination will protect me against future variants that would justify my higher risk of serious, permanent, cardiac side-effects.
So any debate about vaccine mandates is literally life and death for me. My only interest in COVID now is how it effects my health. Political disputes are meaningless.
In that context, I’m doing extensive research on COVID through the lens of my former training as an Air Force Independent Duty medic. That doesn’t make me an expert even about my own case, but does increase my understanding of what I read.
I try to limit my research to primary sources, while avoiding anything sensational or of even questionable veracity. Certainly no conspiracy nonsense. There is a plethora of clinical information about COVID available from throughout the world.
From my research, I’ve learned the only consensus about much of “the science” related to COVID is that there is no consensus. That uncertainty comports with my experience getting answers about my personal health situation. Often the response to a detailed clinical questions is, “Gary, we just don’t know!”
I’ve learned other disturbing things. About people.
I don’t participate in any social media. I’m only indirectly aware of what goes on in that playpen. I’ve been shown comments saying anyone not vaccinated deserves to get COVID. That unvaccinated people should be denied hospital COVID treatment to make room for vaccinated people who need it. (Wait… What? You mean vaccination doesn’t keep you from getting COVID??)
Some even said the unvaccinated deserved to die from COVID. From what dark pit of the soul and emotional emptiness does that level of hatred germinate?
It may be no more complicated than a pathological obsession with COVID filling an emotional void. Experience, though, cautions me that it’s likely far more sinister. History teaches where that can lead.
To some, my life already has no value because I have a different viewpoint about COVID than theirs. Why else would they believe I deserve to die because I’m not vaccinated? That sounds like, to them, this pandemic is a convenient short-cut to the gas chambers…
Gary Beatty lives between Florida and Pagosa Springs. He retired after 30 years as a prosecutor for the State of Florida, has a doctorate in law, is Board Certified in Criminal Trial law by the Florida Supreme Court, and is now a law professor.