Yesterday, Rolling Stone magazine had a big headline article that was titled “‘I’m a Full Anti-Vaxxer Now’: How the Conspiracists Are Winning Over Fresh Converts.” When I first read that, my initial thought was that that’s a wee bit of hyperbole, but then I realized, no, it was more a case of being wildly inaccurate.
We are two years into the pandemic. We’re 15 months into there being vaccines that can save people’s lives. We’ve had 73 million cases of COVID-19, and 891,000 deaths from it. I think it’s a reasonable statement to say that most people who haven’t yet gotten a vaccine aren’t “fresh converts” to the anti-vax fold, rather they have been there since Day One. That’s the whole point about not getting a vaccine. No, not everyone. Some had questions, some had medical uncertainties, some were scared. But a) that’s “some,” not 65 million unvaxxed people, and b) they still were against getting the vaccine, even if they had good or temporary reasons. So, if anything, far more of these people became fresh converts to pro-vax. There are certainly some people who got vaccinated because they had to, in order to keep their jobs. But if they’re now outspoken against vaccines, they can hardly be called “anti-vaxxers” since…well, they’ve been vaccinated. And those people aside, I doubt there are any people (or more than odd fumes) who happily and willingly got vaccinated but who now are rabidly against vaccines, speaking out about it and going to rallies. So…“fresh converts”?? Spare us. It’s also worth noting that while some headlines about the anti-vax rally yesterday in Washington, D.C. drew thousands (it was perhaps 2-3,000), the organizers had previously estimated that there would be 20,000 in attendance. It wasn’t even close. If there were a handful of these supposed “fresh converts” there, it’s important to know there was only a handful of people there, period. The other day, Bill Maher did a rant on his HBO show about how he was tired dealing with all the masks and vaccines and rules about the pandemic. And he gave a creepy speech about it all. Apparently, this was supposed to be radical and edgy. The big problem with that is I have a feeling pretty much most Americans are tired dealing with the pandemic. Mr. Maher isn’t some revolutionary planting his flag in the hill. He’s surrounded by everyone. The difference is that most people (like 70% of Americans) at least understand why all these vaccines, masks, rules and protocols are necessary. Because there’s a worldwide pandemic that has infected 356 MILLION people around the world – and killed 5.6 MILLION. So, y’know, bully for Bill Maher being tired of dealing with it. Imagine if he worked in a hospital. Imagine too being Eric Clapton. Billboard magazine had a story today that was headlined, “Vaccine skeptic Eric Clapton claims ‘subliminal messages’ are convincing people to fall in line.” The sub-heading was “Clapton, who has railed against COVID-19 measures, discussed a discredited theory that people are receiving pro-vaccination messages subliminally in videos.” No, really. Honestly, I understand Eric Clapton's opinion on vaccines. He's been vaccinated, but had a bad reaction. I don't agree at all, but I understand. I understand, too, why he's upset at the reaction to his position. I think that reaction is deserved, but I understand. However, thinking it's mass psychosis is disturbingly sad for a great talent. Especially since some will believe him. It is also deeply sad for a cousin of mine who loves Eric Clapton so much he named his son after him. (I have this image of his wife saying tonight, “I told you we should have picked ‘Charles.’ But nooo, you had to insist on ‘Eric.’ At least I got to pick our daughter’s name, thank goodness.”) But he's sticking with the guy -- just not his medical advice. On the other side of rock ‘n roll, though, Neil Young has told his manager and label to withdraw all his music from the Spotify service, because they carry false information about the vaccine on Joe Rogan’s podcast. “They can have Rogan or Young,” he wrote, “Not both." And he was very serious about it, bluntly explaining “Please act on this immediately today and keep me informed of the time schedule. I want you to let Spotify know immediately TODAY that I want all my music off their platform.” And then later added, “Spotify has a responsibility to mitigate the spread of misinformation on its platform, though the company presently has no misinformation policy.” Perhaps they’ll fill all that empty space with music from Eric Clapton. That might draw legions of fresh anti-vax converts.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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