In a country of laws and Due Process, the criminal—after he is arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced–knows how long his sentence is, and, most importantly, when he will be eligible for parole. If he is good, and behaves himself, he can reenter the society at the time of parole.
So, here is my question. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO BE HEALTHY AND NOT GET COVID BEFORE I AM PAROLED? Is it 2 years (already passed)? Is it 5? Is it until I am 90? If I am still Covid-free when I die, will you parole me posthumously? Will you even consider the tiniest possibility that you were perhaps wrong, or misinformed yourself?
You may ask, paroled from what? From excoriation, discrimination, ridicule, censorship, and exclusion from the freedoms I once had. And what am I guilty of? Being healthy! And, being scientifically curious!
Under Due Process also, the inmate gets to appeal his conviction. He gets to challenge whether he was fairly and honestly convicted. New evidence may surface and be presented. My fellow countrymen, you know the drill here. So, here is my question—on behalf of millions of us. WHY CAN’T WE ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VIRUS, AND ITS ORIGINS—IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN FOR PREVENTION IN THE FUTURE? Why can’t we have questions about vaccines? Why can’t we favor therapeutics over vaccines like we do with most other diseases?
The bottom line is that intellectual curiosity is warranted. It is the American thing. Intellectual integrity demands it. That too is an American thing. No one can trust self-proclaimed authorities who lack intellectual integrity. No one.
So what do you say? Parole your fellow Americans and start talking to one another. Start asking honest questions. And demand honest answers from those “authorities.” That too is the American thing.