
“I have never thought, for my part, that man's freedom consists in his being able to do whatever he wills, but that he should not, by any human power, be forced to do what is against his will.”
― Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Reveries of the Solitary Walker
This is the one I didn’t want to write. It was just too controversial and as a small-scale writer I felt I needed to stay in my lane. But here's the thing, I write about home, and sometimes loving your home means speaking up. Sometimes it's not just noticing the beautiful flowers it's talking about the dangers. Please allow me to share with you that I am vaccinated against COVID-19, but more importantly I am for freedom, and I am against the mandates.
In March of 2020 I was nervous about the virus, by May of 2020 I was worried about the government. This is not to downplay the severity of the virus to some, it is to address the freedoms at stake. I have read, talked to, and listened to people on various sides of this conversation. I have friends in healthcare, a husband in emergency services, and I have worked to keep a humble heart and mind. I have wept with those who wept.
The point of this blog post is not to argue for or against the vaccine, it is to promote the concept of bodily autonomy. Freedom is not a luxury belief, but thinking it’s trivial certainly is. There seems to be a push to demonize those who tout the importance of freedom. There is a push to make us "pick sides" and distinctly label one another.
Please, do not allow the word 'freedom' to be branded by crude loudmouths who abuse it. Freedom creates possibilities, possibilities people will risk their lives to have a chance to experience, for their children to experience. These possibilities can lead to health, happiness, safety, innovation, and the ability to help others.
Is the free world perfect? No. Have we made wealth off the backs of enslaved peoples? Yes. Is that shameful? Absolutely, yes.
This does not change the beauty of freedom. If anything, it should reveal the dangers of taking a person's rights, of deeming some people worthy of certain treatment over others. Even if the lack of freedom does not lead to slavery, we don't have to look very far to see how people fare under oppressive dictatorships. They do not fare well.
...
The leaves were turning beautiful colors when we moved to England in October of 2020. The next month we entered a lockdown and then yet another one before the spring. We were in a new country, and our family had lived in a total of five homes in a year. One of our children was majorly struggling with all the change and simultaneous isolation.
When we would get outside the house, all around us were signs and voices to stay back, stay masked, get vaccinated. The headlines shouted the possibility of vaccine passports. I'll be honest; I was afraid. My husband helped me process my fears emotionally, and months later so would my vicar and a therapist. I was able to see how much I was allowing fear into my life, and that is really no way to live. Honestly, England was probably one of the best countries in all of Europe to ride out this time in the world, and I knew that. But it still came with hard times.
Navigating our personal beliefs as small-government-lovin’ Americans in a different country has been a good and hard exercise. I’ve learned to listen respectfully to opinions different than mine. I’ve been encouraged there can be love even when there is deep, sincere disagreement. Some of our closest friends here hold starkly different views. It’s been good to hear their perspectives and know there is much we do not know.
And yet today and every day, I believe in freedom. Mine and yours.
Even if you believe vaccines are a one size fits all, do you want the government to be able to tell you what to put in your body, in your children’s bodies or suffer their chosen consequences if not? There is a disconnect with (fairly recent) history if we believe segregating in the name of science will lead to a better world.
This kind of rhetoric and punitive measures should alarm all of us no matter how you feel or think about this particular preventative treatment. You may agree with the mandates, for now; perhaps they make you feel safe or even charitable towards the physically vulnerable. But for how long? Imagine a drug that comes on the market you *don’t* agree with, but all medical freedom has been removed, so you and your children are forced to get it or live as second class citizens. How does that sit with you? Like with so many societal things, they snowball. Precedents are set. Cultures are changed. People end up in less control of their own bodies and minds. They are censored to stay quiet, they are brushed off, they are called liars.
The question is: do you want the government to have the right to inject you with something and refuse you a life in society if you don’t?
It’s a simply question really, whether or not you want or have had the shot, whether or not you’ve had a poor reaction. I chose to get the vaccine in order to travel more and ensure my children could see their grandparents. Did I feel coerced? If I'm being brutally honest, yes I did. But so many have had to choose whether or not to give up their retirements or risk not being able to put food on the table.
There are nuances to lots of things—even thoughts on freedom, vaccines, even how we should be talking about this. But you don’t have to wear a tin foil hat to believe governments can get out of hand. At the same time, will there be a number folks who take it too far when a protest against the government presents itself? Yes, nearly always. But let's listen to the majority of people just asking to be heard, for their bodily autonomy to be honored, for the free world to be preserved for their children.
I told myself I should stay in my lane, but this is a dangerous highway and we are all on it. While I do believe there are truly caring, upright politicians wanting to be of service, this pandemic has unleashed a worldwide trend of swelling governmental control. They're flexing, and I am not impressed.
Let's start civil conversations, sign petitions, listen well, and peacefully say our piece. And in the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton, "Raise a glass to freedom, something they can never take away, no matter what they tell you." Freedom is for those who want it. Do you?
Thank you for bold enough to write and share this! This is truly a pivotal time in history. Thank you for seeking truth in love.
Well written, AA. I trust you & your family are all doing well. Many blessings to you!