Lately, I've been thinking a lot about non-transgender issues. A former friend triggered some thinking about favors and about interpersonal relationships. My exhaustion at work has gotten me to think about my own mortality. The daily news has gotten me to think about the nation America is becoming - and I have gotten disgusted.
The other day, TCL talked about a book club whose meeting she was going to attend. TCL is much more concerned about the Covid-19 virus than many people, and she would prefer to do things outside with people as long as the weather permits. The book club leader scheduled an indoor meeting at which she planned to go maskless. This bothered TCL, so she suggested meeting outdoors, as it was going to be a nice day. When the book club met, all the people save one had been vaccinated. Although the one person didn't give her vaccination status, claiming it was a personal matter, we both think she wanted to hide the fact she didn't get her arm stuck.
It seems that most people in the most heavily vaccinated areas are proud to mention their vaccination status, and it has become an indicator of one's political stance. Although many Republicans have had their arms stuck, there is a correlation between being unvaccinated and being both a registered Republican and Trump Supporter. In the case of the book club leader, she comes from a highly Republican part of town. Luckily, TCL was able to get the library to remind the book club leader that masks were required indoors, and that no exceptions would be made.
The above incident ended in an acceptable way. No one got hurt, and everyone wore a mask. But what happens when unvaccinated tourists attempt to go out to eat in a NYC restaurant? Recently, 3 unvaccinated Texans attempted to do just that at Carmine's and started a fight with the hostess who only did her job - ask to inspect the potential patrons' proofs of vaccination. The hostess was sent to the hospital, while the 3 Texans only got charged with misdemeanors. If I were the proprietor of the restaurant, I'd have come out with a baseball bat and stopped the fight with extreme prejudice. My justification would be simple - I have to protect both my staff and my patrons to the best of my ability. Mind you, I don't think my actions would pass muster with a lawyer. But they might pass muster with a NYC jury.
We are now a country of two warring tribes. One gives a damn about what happens to their neighbors, and will make sacrifices to keep them whole. The other tribe is selfish, and doesn't care about what their actions and policies do to people who don't agree with them. Luckily, Covid-19 is much more likely to kill an unvaccinated person than a vaccinated person. Maybe, we'll have proof that Darwinian selection can help with issues like this, and we can again have a nation I can be proud of.
PS: I've heard of an alternate explanation for the incident at the restaurant which puts the Texans in a much different light. The fight may not have been started by the three women at first, but when their husbands met them at the restaurant. I'll post more on this incident when I have more information....
