“I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Attributed to Voltaire but actually from Voltaire's biographer, Evelyn Beatrice Hall.
Debate Topic: Should COVID vaccinations be required?
Curt Swarm: Yes. It's no different than any other vaccination, like chicken pox, rubella, polio, etc.: we were required to be vaccinated in grade school. We didn't have a choice. We stood in line and were shot by a gun. I used to have a scar on my left shoulder that I wasn't supposed to scratch. Since my brother had polio, before the vaccination was available, I am thankful for the vaccination. I look at the COVID vaccination in the same light. True, it may have been developed awfully fast, and it may be making pharmaceutical companies trillions of dollars, but it's proven to be effective. Will there be long-term effects? Possibly. I don't believe the conspiracy theorists that the COVID vaccination is a secret government plot to control the masses. I look at the vaccination like our seat belt law. We are required to wear seat belts. Does it guarantee that in a serious accident we won't be injured or killed? No. But our chances of survival are much greater by wearing seat belts. Same with the COVID vaccination.
Jack Swarm: No. While the COVID and traditional vaccines are similar, they do have differences. Traditional vaccines are fully FDA approved, proven by time, thoroughly tested, and effective in a different way - once vaccinated for polio, for example, you won’t get polio. COVID vaccines can’t say the same, and there hasn’t been enough time for complete testing to get full FDA approval.
Just because children in the 50’s were required to get vaccinated and lived to tell the story, doesn’t mean everyone now must also be vaccinated. A deed done long ago doesn’t make it okay now, just ask children in the 50‘s who grew up riding in cars without seat belts.
The concerns relating to profits and long term effects are brushed aside because the “vaccines are effective”, reasoning that the end justifies the means. Meanwhile, folks are getting a third shot of the “effective” vaccine, but still contract, transmit, and die of COVID, all while risking long term effects. One should consider that long term effects weigh differently in the lifetime of a young person compared to an older person.
While required vaccines and seat belts both intend to decrease harm and are both mandated, there are major differences. Seat belts are undeniably effective for all wearers of all ages, as proven by testing on non-humans and decades of use, they have no negative or unknown consequences when they aren’t needed for protection, and they are completely reversible when not needed. Conversely, COVID vaccines are not undeniably effective, they don’t benefit the young equally to the elderly, they could have negative consequences which can be proven only by still incomplete human testing, and they are not removable/reversible when no longer needed.
This is just a snapshot of the debate. One should be able to thoughtfully oppose a mandate and not be labeled a conspiracy theorist or a dabbler in misinformation.
Rebuttal, Curt Swarm: Alright already! My son convinced me. I have no legal or moral right to require that everyone be vaccinated. I especially like my son's reasoning when saying, “once vaccinated for polio you won't get polio” “long term effects weigh differently in the lifetime of a young person compared to an older person” (he had to get that dig in there) and vaccinations don't “benefit the young equally to the elderly.” Shows-to-go-you what can be accomplished when two people discuss a subject without screaming at each other.
Watch this space for future father-son civil discussions on such hot-topic subjects as gun control, abortion and transgender rights.
Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, find him on Facebook, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com, or visit his website at www.empty-nest-words-photos-and-frames.com.
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