Over and over again on Facebook, state after state is posting their current COVID-19 surges. Roughly 95% of the current hospitalizations and deaths are people who were not vaccinated.

What The Fuck, people?? The vaccines are FREE.

Again today, a relative shared that a friend of theirs (someone I’ve never heard of) died from COVID-19, saying “they got their wings today.” I went to that other person’s page and found bunches of posts requesting prayers for that person and their family, along with posts mocking the vaccines.

What is wrong with people? The information is available, but some folks listen to bullshit-spewing idiots claiming the pandemic is a hoax, the vaccines don’t work, and all sots of other conspiracy theory bullshit.

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want this disease (or any other) to kill people. It’s a horrible way to die and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, no matter their beliefs. They are still human and deserve a healthy life. But I am finding it hard to muster up a lot of sympathy for people who willfully choose to not avail themselves of a FREE vaccine because of some bullshit excuse spouted by some ignorant talking head on TV.

Obviously I’m not going to go up to someone who lost a spouse or family member and ask, “Well, did they get the vaccine??” That’s just rude and doesn’t help their present grief. I’m sorry for their loss, and I know they will be going through the grieving process which is sad.

But I have to confess I don’t feel a whole lot of sad. Just like when someone is speeding down the freeway at 90 mph and end up in a wreck, or when people today (with today’s incredible accessible information) choose to have unprotected sex with strangers, and end up with one or another infectious disease. Yeah, it sucks, but it was a CHOICE. It totally sucks when people have to bear the consequence of their own choice.

When deliberately unvaccinated people get sick or die, that is the consequence of their choice. And at this stage of the pandemic, there is really no excuse for making such an ignorant and ill-informed choice.

Does that make me cruel and insensitive and uncaring? I don’t think so. But other people might have different opinions. They’d be wrong, of course, but they’re entitled to their own opinions.