“Toughen Up, Buttercup.” ~ Pat Summitt
Image Credit: John Englart / CC
By James V. Ferguson, MD (contributor to the Tennessee Conservative) –
The hurricane season has begun, and so has the climate hoopla. In no way am I discounting the danger and damage of hurricanes or other natural disasters. However, climate hustlers and alarmists make their living stoking the fear of others.
Hurricanes are natural phenomena in our part of the world because the axial tilt of the Earth causes the Sun to warm the Caribbean every summer. Warming accelerates evaporation leading to rain and storms. One could say that the earth is thirsty by late summer and needs the cooling and replenishing rain. However, it is especially problematic when people choose to reside next to the beach or below sea level in New Orleans.
Science fiction writers have imagined futuristic technology that can control climate and even terraform exo-planets circling distant stars. With the possible exception of nuclear war, we 21st century humans have no capacity to change the weather. However, the pseudo Jedi knights of climate change (Al Gore, John Kerry, Greta Thunberg, etc.) do have the capacity to coerce “weak minds.”
Daily we are subjected to a barrage of things we should be afraid of. We’re in the hurricane fear season, and right around the corner is a renewal of Covid fear and the need for more vaccinations, resumption of masks, lock-downs, distancing, and the necessity of mail-in ballots.
Why do we listen to these fear mongers who are repeatedly wrong? I’ve been double vaccinated, boosted and none the less I’ve had Covid twice. It’s the one thing I have in common with the odious Whoopi Goldberg. Six foot distancing was mandated on the basis of poor data from the 19th century. The only distancing that really works is quarantine. And surgical masks offer no protection against aerosolized respiratory viruses.
Becky and I love The Atlanta Braves. Recently, we watched them play the Dodgers and in the stands behind home plate we saw a bearded LA fan wearing a mask. Granted, he might have some immune system problem which might justify masking, but in that case he shouldn’t be in the stands singing “take me out to the ballgame.” A mask worn by a surgeon offers some protection to the patient on the operating table. Therefore, masks may offer some protection to others, but are useless if not worn properly. And beards make any mask even more useless. Perhaps the LA fan received social credit for virtue signaling.
In Ernest Hemingway’s book, The Sun Also Rises, the protagonist states his bankruptcy was like falling asleep and occurred “Gradually and then suddenly.” The same has happened with trust in our government. The government has become the champion of fraud, waste and abuse. The credibility of our institutions and leaders is now bankrupt. Too bad we can’t just declare chapter eleven, fire the incompetents and restructure. But wait; it’s called voting. We must be courageous and vote the bums out.
Despite our difficulties we are still blessed. We live in the “best of times and the worst of times” (Dickens, Tale of Two Cities). In other places and times, people subjected to tyranny rose up in revolution. Our ancestors did so in 1776. Apparently, it was bad enough that an armed revolt became necessary. Americans fighting Americans is NOT the path we should embrace. However, civil disobedience as practiced by Gandhi (in India against British tyranny) and Martin Luther King (in America against segregation) may be a far better option and necessary.
Some whine that voting changes nothing. That’s not true. We had prosperity, secure borders, energy independence and a robust economy. Electing Biden and Democrats destroyed all of that. Consequently, I will vote at every opportunity, even in an imperfect election system. And I will not wear a mask (unless I’m sick). Actually, I shouldn’t even be out in public if I’m sick! I will boycott any business that institutes mask mandates and I will refuse additional Covid vaccinations.
Most are familiar with the Progressive Insurance commercials on TV. The cutesy Flo is a fictional character who portrays a perspective unlike that of the uber liberal, Progressive, billionaire Peter Lewis, the company’s founder. Lewis’ gifts to Progressive causes have caused untold harm.
You may be more familiar with Progressive commercials that parody young adults for becoming like their parents. My sister-in-law, Barbara, loves these commercials, but recently caught herself inviting more people into a crowded elevator with, “Come on in; the more the merrier.” A man standing beside her smiled knowingly, seeing themselves in the commercial.
“But what’s wrong with that?” she later asked herself and me. “What’s wrong with being friendly and socially interacting with others?”
Being focused on our devices and avoiding eye contact is uncivil and certainly not southern. Our parents didn’t have the temptation of excessive screen time because they did not have personal devices. I love my iPhone because I’m naturally curious and answers to my questions are a fingertip away. But moderation in everything is the best policy. And I’m happy to be a bit more like The Greatest Generation!
We are in danger of losing America. This pains me and is driving me towards passive resistance and civil disobedience. It worked for Gandhi and MLK. “Just say No” is a proven strategy. I am adding this to my list of things we can do to correct the disaster of the Biden presidency. To reiterate: we must vote, we can boycott, you should obey the law, but hold accountable those who unjustly apply it. And we must be courageous and challenge the misinformed by refusing to accept their false narratives, even if this threatens friendships.
I have vowed to use this bully pulpit to call out leftists, Progressives, Democrat socialists and those who are anti-American. The American experiment may fail, but we must not let it die on our watch.
I admit that I am so passionate about Making America Great Again that I left the most important intervention last. We must pray for our country and the lost. I recently read that “the goodness of God is not in the outcome… it’s in the awareness of His presence, and what that does in our lives.” Well said, Sister Wally.
*Adapted from an article that recently appeared in the Knoxville Focus. Printed here by permission from the Author.
About the Author: Jim is a native of Knoxville, practicing Internal Medicine for more than 40 years, prior to retiring in 2020. Along with learning to become a “gentleman farmer,” he has written essays for the conservative weekly Knoxville Focus since 2007.
7 Responses
Dr. Jim, thank you for another clarion call.
I invite your attention to Eitien LaBoite’s (sc?) Discourse on voluntary Servitude, formal title Politics of Obedience. Yes, it is time for Americans to shed the self-imposed yoke of Voluntary Servitude. -a-
Glad to hear a doctor is refusing to take any more COVID “vaccines”. You (and many others) are possibly vaccine injured. The good news is that there is a protocol to reverse some of this – check out this 7 minute video by Dr. Peter McCullough. https://forbiddenknowledgetv.net/first-ever-spike-detox-protocol-appears-in-medical-journal-heres-how-you-can-get-better/ As to humans being unable to change the weather, you should know that it is indeed possible to MODIFY weather. In fact, rogue elements of our military have been weaponizing weather for decades to redirect/amplify hurricanes and create flooding and droughts to punish countries deemed as enemies. These kinds of things are then attributed to “climate change”. Solar cycles also create warming and cooling periods – we are presently in a warming cycle that is incorrectly being blamed on human activity. So you are correct – the current “climate change” narrative is a hoax. Unlike you, I no longer have any faith in our electoral process. It is a dog and pony show designed to perpetuate the myth that the people have a say in their government. I DO agree, however, that the best strategy going forward is civil disobedience. Do not comply, do not participate. There is strength in numbers.
i wish there was an ongoing effort to educate the young people on climate history, that is science that goes back at most….about 500 million years ago. the scientists that are muzzled by the alarmists have worked on this for decades, and know that we are in fact still in a post glaciation period. there is nothing coming out of common sense other that climate change is a ‘hoax.’ the fact is…the climate has always been in change, and is changing by a miniscule amount each year. more needs to be said about this, thanks….d.kerkhoff
Jim,
Interesting article. The only correction I would make is that man DOESat least attempt, to change the climate.
It’s called “Geoengineering “. Ever look up and see those hashtags in the sky? Those are not simply contrails from planes.
Contrails dissipate almost immediately.
There is much evidence and discussion about the process…chemtrails.
They are not “conspiracy theory”. I wish they were.
These planes are dropping nano-sized particles of aluminum and barium onto the atmosphere in an effort, they say, to reflect the suns rays back to space.
Insanity I say. And some have said it’s actually working the opposite of the way they intended.
There are several reasons to be concerned, for example, is the increase in Alzheimer’s due to this aluminum being dropped on the populace?
Has this reduced the health of the trees, making the borer insects that much more deadly to them?
They have done this TO us, without our permission, and for the most part, against our greater good.
Yes, stand up. Say NO!
Understand the issues and let’s fix this!
“Why you have the right to resist unjust government:
For centuries, almost everyone has believed that we must allow the government and its representatives to act without interference, no matter how they behave. We may complain, protest, sue, or vote officials out, but we can’t fight back. But in (his book) When All Else Fails – The Ethics Of Resistance To State Injustice, Jason Brennan argues that we have every right to react with acts of ‘uncivil disobedience’ when governments violate our rights. We may resist arrest for violation of unjust laws. We may disobey orders, sabotage government property, or reveal classified information. We may deceive ignorant, irrational, or malicious voters. We may even use force to defend ourselves or others. The result is a provocative challenge to long-held beliefs about how citizens may respond when government officials act unjustly or abuse their power.” -Amazon book review-
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. it is it’s natural manure.” -Thomas Jefferson-
“When the ballot fails bullets will prevail.” -Louis Beam, Vietnam veteran, patriot-
“For centuries, almost everyone has believed that we must allow the government and its representatives to act without interference, no matter how they behave. We may complain, protest, sue, or vote officials out, but we can’t fight back. But in ‘When All Else Fails – The Ethics Of Resistance To State Injustice,’ Jason Brennan argues that we have every right to react with acts of ‘uncivil disobedience’ when governments violate our rights. We may resist arrest for violation of unjust laws. We may disobey orders, sabotage government property, or reveal classified information. We may deceive ignorant, irrational, or malicious voters. We may even use force to defend ourselves or others. The result is a provocative challenge to long-held beliefs about how citizens may respond when government officials act unjustly or abuse their power.” -Amazon book review-
Well said sir. Its always nice to read a well written conservative article.