Separating The Dos From The Don'ts - Can you, will you, should you?

ANNOUNCEMENT:

DUE TO MANY TIME ZONES, I HAVE BEEN RECEIVING MANY REQUESTS TO PUBLISH MY BLOG POST EARLIER. EFFECTIVE MAY 17TH., 2021, MY BLOG POST WILL REMAIN ON A MONDAY EVENING, AND THE PUBLISHED TIME WILL CHANGE FROM

10:30 PM EST to 7:30 PM EST.

THANK YOU.

INTRODUCTION:

Greetings all. This week would normally be my video blog post. However, this past week I was jammed pack with deadlines, and with the boating season starting, I have been quite busy. Hopefully, next week I will have more time to make next week's blog post my video one for May. If not, my video blog post will resume in June. Tom from Nevada suggested this week's topic. He sent me an interesting email and asked me to comment on all the recent confusion regarding what we can do and what we can't do. Honestly, I found that an interesting challenge because dos and don'ts are never written in stone. So let's see what the pen comes up with on this one.

DOS AND DON'Ts:

Not everything is written in stone. Hence, we get the word GUIDELINES. Guidelines are recommendations, not laws. Therefore, do not confuse the two. Guidelines are based upon data. Sometimes scientific, medical, or otherwise, depending on what the guideline is referring to. The GODS of power that come up with these guidelines is certainly doing it with the best intentions and basing their guidelines on the studies, the data, and the facts. Pretty simple, right? Well, not so much. Why is that? Once a guideline is suggested, shouldn't;t that be it? It never is. The reason is especially now, with Covid-19, the data changes almost daily. Therefore, science does as well. What is a new guideline today becomes an old one tomorrow.

All of this leads to MASAAAGE confusion amongst the people. Who do you listen to? What can I do and what can't I do? First, we must remember to make things easy for the masses to understand. We must follow the K.I.S.S. method. (Keep It, Simple Sam) Well, the Gods of power seem to do the farthest thing that they can do. To keep it simple. Let's see.

You don't have to wear a mask outside in small groups if you know that all the people in the group have been vaccinated. If you don't know, wear your mask regardless of the size of the group. Always wear your mask in a large group, even if you know they have all been vaccinated. Ok, that makes a lot of sense. NOT!

If there are friends with others you don't know, you

must ask everyone if they have been vaccinated. What if someone doesn't want to answer because they feel their personal medical information they do not wish to share? You do know that it is their right not to share that information with you. However, if everyone is a family member, it's ok. Are you starting to see how confusing this can become? To go out in public now requires you to memorize a certain algorithm. I guess the answer is simple. Just keep staying home and don't go out—another big NO. People have had it with that.

WHAT"S THE SOLUTION?

The solution is quite simple. Do what you feel comfortable doing. Folks, these are guidelines, not laws. Remember earlier I said they are completely different? A guideline is a suggestion and recommendation. You do not have to follow it if you choose not to. On the other hand, a law is a rule that comes with consequences if broken. Those you must follow unless you feel the law is unconstitutional, which you have the right to challenge it.

It's similar to right and wrong. Dos and don'ts and wrong from the right kind of follow the same principles. Meaning, many of those choosing between the two or the four fall under what you believe. How many times have you had discussions or disagreements with your family, friends, loved ones, or co-workers, and even your boss because you disagree that something is either right or wrong, and you should not be subject to where you can or cannot do it? In almost every case, the responsibility sits in your lap to do what you feel is right, or what you can do, versus what you feel is wrong and what you can't do. This leads us to the question, can we, should we, will we?

Yes, you can, yes, you should, and yes, you will. This all falls under freedom of choice. You have the right to choose. It is admirable that the government Gods feel responsible for your health and well-being, as they should. However, the final choices you make and the first person responsible for your health and choices are you. Now, this goes without saying. Some are too young or mentally unable to make these choices. In these cases, depending on who the individuals are, parents, guardians, or those responsible for their health and well0being will make them for those individuals.

I am probably out in the world more than many and fewer than others. I use my level of comfort and common sense. If I am in a crowded place and do not feel comfortable, I wear my mask. If I'm out at a marina outside and many people walkabout in the open, I feel quite comfortable and do not wear my mask. See how simple I just made it?

IN CLOSING:

There is no need to debate what so many others are debating regarding whether or not masks are required. Frankly, the doctors cannot even agree on that issue. I prefer not to take a stand on that topic and go with my level of comfort. Having received both vaccinations has greatly increased my comfort level. I will also add that I support people being vaccinated. That part of the data and science is real. It is not an opinion. It is not debated. It is further proven by the fact that the number of deaths has drastically decreased. The level of positive cases within the vaccinated population has also dramatically decreased. The number of hospitalization within the vaccinated community has also dramatically decreased. Hospitalizations are the most important metric to watch. Most of the positive cases across the country are now in the unvaccinated group of people—our younger generation. Therefore, I believe the vaccination process is real and makes perfect sense, and all should receive it. But again, that is also a matter of personal choice. I can understand both sides of the argument, and we must also respect a person's right to choose.

We all hope this will be the last pandemic, virus, or disease, but we can only hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Therefore, I believe the best solution for guidelines is to use your best judgment and what you believe is in your best interest.

Stay safe and be well. Thank you.