Thoughts from The Editor - Neighbor Against Neighbor
July 28, 2021
Sheila Harris
I confess I’m guilty of thinking too much. It’s a habit that at times leads me to believe I’m the sole possessor of truth and, at other times, brings on depression. Currently, I’m depressed.
A visitor to the office reprimanded me for my bleak outlook on the day he stopped in, and, later, an anonymous reader phoned in and accused us of never publishing any “good news.”
I thought of all the good news we’ve published over the last couple of months and was puzzled. Then the light came on. About two weeks before he called, I’d begun publishing updates on the new surge in COVID-19 cases affecting us. No, it’s not good news, but I cannot remain silent.
As of right now, the only weapon we have against COVID’s spread is a vaccine which is proving to be 95 - 97 percent effective in either preventing or alleviating symptoms of the virus.
Unfortunately, along with the vaccine, we have the nay-sayers, those who not only do not want to take the vaccine themselves, but seem intent on convincing others not to take it either. A religion wears many stripes, I’ve found, whether or not the name of Jesus is used.
Yes, as with any foreign substance that’s injected into our bodies, there are risks involved. But the risks from the vaccine are infinitesimal when compared with the damage and death the virus is causing right here where we live. You may discount deaths and overflowing hospital wards, or actually scoff at them, as some people do, but when it’s a member of your family struggling for their next breath, it takes on a different tenor. Or when you’re a healthcare worker in the thick of the battle to save lives, every life becomes important.
While I’m not in a hurry to die, I’m prepared for death’s inevitability. What I’m unprepared for, even at this late stage in life, are the deaths of my parents. Bleaker yet is the prospect of the possible death of my young granddaughter, who has a compromised airway.
My parents refuse to be vaccinated and that’s their choice, even though I disagree with it. My granddaughter is too young to be. With COVID numbers again on the rise, yes, I’m depressed. I feel as though an out-of-control freight train is barrelling toward my family.
I did the only concrete thing in my power to do in a situation in which I feel otherwise helpless: I took a COVID vaccination in April. Two, actually. I took them without even being bribed. I took them for those around me. If Jesus were here, it might even be what He would have done, since he advocated doing good for our neighbors as if we were doing it for him. I didn’t feel particularly altruistic about the matter - in fact, I was nervous - but I can only hope that one small step will protect this little smidget of a girl who I’ve grown quite fond of.
Jesus, I notice, wasn’t particularly impressed with the religious and political establishments of his day. He was more concerned for the sick and weak and powerless: those who needed healing.
My granddaughter needs some healing. My mental health needs some healing.
Many southwest Missouri residents have become subverted in their perspectives. We fly the banner of Jesus, but insist on defending our personal rights at the expense of our neighbors. We have vaccines available, something parents of yore might have jumped on to save the lives of their small children, but we’re fearful for ourselves.
Some of our elected officials, too, could bear some close scrutiny. I’ll be the first to admit I have a long ways to go to be Christ-like, but to see Senator Mike Moon use the name of Jesus to defend life in one breath, yet pit neighbor against neighbor to the prospective demise of life in the other, is downright disheartening. No, it’s worse than that. It’s hypocritical.
Mr. Moon, our 29th District Missouri senator, hosted a town hall meeting in Branson Monday night to encourage residents to stand on their personal rights while we’re in the midst of a deadly pandemic, to agitate people about the idea of possible masking and vaccination mandates.
Nobody likes government mandates, myself included. True morality, unfortunately, cannot be legislated. If only it could be. Sadly, legislation sometimes becomes necessary when people refuse to consider the welfare of their neighbors.
We wouldn’t even be discussing possible mandates if each of us had been practicing the kind of love and concern for others that Jesus advocated.
Senator Moon, instead of using your office to create division among residents with inflammatory town hall meetings, I challenge you to put your time and office to better use. The pandemic presents an opportunity to lay the groundwork for community coalition, instead of division. We’re all in this mess together. Many of us could die from this virus, no matter who we vote for. Deaths are not “meant to be,” not when we have vaccines available.
I encourage you to nurture an attitude of compassion and cohesiveness among citizens, instead of the discord you’re promoting.
We are at war, in a very real sense. We’re fighting against a tiny but powerful virus, not some supposed usurper of our rights. As an elected official, defense against the virus’s invasion of our state should be part of your job description.
Such defense efforts might not reap votes, but you might discover a different kind of harvest, one far more rewarding - albeit a bit less applauded by your political affiliates.
Sheila Harris
I confess I’m guilty of thinking too much. It’s a habit that at times leads me to believe I’m the sole possessor of truth and, at other times, brings on depression. Currently, I’m depressed.
A visitor to the office reprimanded me for my bleak outlook on the day he stopped in, and, later, an anonymous reader phoned in and accused us of never publishing any “good news.”
I thought of all the good news we’ve published over the last couple of months and was puzzled. Then the light came on. About two weeks before he called, I’d begun publishing updates on the new surge in COVID-19 cases affecting us. No, it’s not good news, but I cannot remain silent.
As of right now, the only weapon we have against COVID’s spread is a vaccine which is proving to be 95 - 97 percent effective in either preventing or alleviating symptoms of the virus.
Unfortunately, along with the vaccine, we have the nay-sayers, those who not only do not want to take the vaccine themselves, but seem intent on convincing others not to take it either. A religion wears many stripes, I’ve found, whether or not the name of Jesus is used.
Yes, as with any foreign substance that’s injected into our bodies, there are risks involved. But the risks from the vaccine are infinitesimal when compared with the damage and death the virus is causing right here where we live. You may discount deaths and overflowing hospital wards, or actually scoff at them, as some people do, but when it’s a member of your family struggling for their next breath, it takes on a different tenor. Or when you’re a healthcare worker in the thick of the battle to save lives, every life becomes important.
While I’m not in a hurry to die, I’m prepared for death’s inevitability. What I’m unprepared for, even at this late stage in life, are the deaths of my parents. Bleaker yet is the prospect of the possible death of my young granddaughter, who has a compromised airway.
My parents refuse to be vaccinated and that’s their choice, even though I disagree with it. My granddaughter is too young to be. With COVID numbers again on the rise, yes, I’m depressed. I feel as though an out-of-control freight train is barrelling toward my family.
I did the only concrete thing in my power to do in a situation in which I feel otherwise helpless: I took a COVID vaccination in April. Two, actually. I took them without even being bribed. I took them for those around me. If Jesus were here, it might even be what He would have done, since he advocated doing good for our neighbors as if we were doing it for him. I didn’t feel particularly altruistic about the matter - in fact, I was nervous - but I can only hope that one small step will protect this little smidget of a girl who I’ve grown quite fond of.
Jesus, I notice, wasn’t particularly impressed with the religious and political establishments of his day. He was more concerned for the sick and weak and powerless: those who needed healing.
My granddaughter needs some healing. My mental health needs some healing.
Many southwest Missouri residents have become subverted in their perspectives. We fly the banner of Jesus, but insist on defending our personal rights at the expense of our neighbors. We have vaccines available, something parents of yore might have jumped on to save the lives of their small children, but we’re fearful for ourselves.
Some of our elected officials, too, could bear some close scrutiny. I’ll be the first to admit I have a long ways to go to be Christ-like, but to see Senator Mike Moon use the name of Jesus to defend life in one breath, yet pit neighbor against neighbor to the prospective demise of life in the other, is downright disheartening. No, it’s worse than that. It’s hypocritical.
Mr. Moon, our 29th District Missouri senator, hosted a town hall meeting in Branson Monday night to encourage residents to stand on their personal rights while we’re in the midst of a deadly pandemic, to agitate people about the idea of possible masking and vaccination mandates.
Nobody likes government mandates, myself included. True morality, unfortunately, cannot be legislated. If only it could be. Sadly, legislation sometimes becomes necessary when people refuse to consider the welfare of their neighbors.
We wouldn’t even be discussing possible mandates if each of us had been practicing the kind of love and concern for others that Jesus advocated.
Senator Moon, instead of using your office to create division among residents with inflammatory town hall meetings, I challenge you to put your time and office to better use. The pandemic presents an opportunity to lay the groundwork for community coalition, instead of division. We’re all in this mess together. Many of us could die from this virus, no matter who we vote for. Deaths are not “meant to be,” not when we have vaccines available.
I encourage you to nurture an attitude of compassion and cohesiveness among citizens, instead of the discord you’re promoting.
We are at war, in a very real sense. We’re fighting against a tiny but powerful virus, not some supposed usurper of our rights. As an elected official, defense against the virus’s invasion of our state should be part of your job description.
Such defense efforts might not reap votes, but you might discover a different kind of harvest, one far more rewarding - albeit a bit less applauded by your political affiliates.