Dear DUers: All thru this terrible COVID year I've felt a sense of community at DU.....
All thru this terrible year I’ve felt a sense of community here — as if we're holding each others’ hands, being encouraging voices in the darkness that Trump created.
Praying for the sick and terrified, grieving with the bereaved, upholding the weary and fearful. Rejoicing at each step forward — each recovery, each vaccination. Being a community.
All of a sudden in the last few days, our “family” is turning on itself. In multiple posts and OPs we who have managed to work our way thru the distribution labyrinth are being accused of “gloating,” being “disrespectful,” being uncaring of others, hogging medication that should go to others, and of being unconscious of our “white privilege.”
How dare we have even a glimmer of hope and a sliver of relief?
No. Just no. This only serves Trump, who malignantly and maliciously killed at least half a million of our friends and loved ones. He and his family and cronies did this to us, and they did it on purpose.
Turn your wrath toward he who deserves it, turn your energies toward working somehow to make the system work better, and recognize that each person who is protected brings you and others closer to protection as well.
Please.
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I've managed to overlook posts like that but they don't belong here.
... but you're absolutely correct.
... being directed as those who do not deserve it. When I see people berating others because they dared to express joy or relief at receiving the Covid vaccine... it makes me heartsick. It's more than being a "wet blanket" or needlessly raining-on-someone's-parade... it's cruel. What good purpose does it serve to say and do things that would make a joyous person feel guilty (especially when they have NO REASON to feel that way)?
I'm one of those "you go first" people, and never one to try to shove my way through to be the first at anything. When we in Colorado moved to the phase of vaccination that includes me, I had the usual feelings.
Others must have voiced the same feelings to our governor, Governor Polis, because he then told us to stop feeling that way. He said, "When it's your turn, take the shot."
I also had expressed my feelings of guilt to my kids (all adults with families). My youngest son told me, "Mom, you're the one we've been worrying about!"
So I did. I got my first shot a week ago.
Do I feel privileged? Yes, I do. Every day.
We can look at the current rollout plan countless different ways, and from every angle we're going to conclude that it's not perfect. But it does no good to refuse the vaccine when it becomes available to us. I can see why it appears to be "gloating" to some. Another perspective is that when it becomes someone's turn to get the shot, they're doing their part to combat the virus. It's not something we should be ashamed of doing.
"Turn your wrath toward he who deserves it, turn your energies toward working somehow to make the system work better, and recognize that each person who is protected brings you and others closer to protection as well."
Yes. This. Thank you, Hekate, for posting this. 
I was thinking I should wait until after the second shot, but then I thought that it might take awhile to get my application processed, so I went on the health department site and signed up, so we'll see what happens.
Transmitting it.
I've got a six month old grandson I haven't held. He really doesn't know me and it tears my heart out. With all five of the other grandchildren I was the primary caregiver when their parents worked, so I got to build a very special bond.
I don't know when it'll be okay for me to begin bonding with that little guy, and maybe it'll never be the way it was with the other five, but he's a very loved baby and I know that I'm just "bonus love" and that he's fine. Hopefully we can make up for lost time soon. His older brother, who is four, will hopefully show him that Grandma is a good person.
We're going to have great weather here this week, so I'm planning to go out to their house for an outside visit. 
for gently saying what needed to be said.
Hekate.
Someone ... intends to wound us. It galled me no end that none of those blaming us for their victimhood managed to mention the Orange Monster. Strange, that.
By the way, thank you for the work you are doing. You are saving lives every day. 
I think there is a real intent to wound people under the guise of ... choosing words carefully, because of how mad it’s made me ... our common membership here.
We can’t let that happen.
How else am I going to find out if the vaccine tail is prehensile?
Oh, well... That and I'd miss you terribly.
Best balance ever! 
I’m hanging in. Life is a bloody roller coaster (the worst kind) right now so I may be a bit hasty in my threats.
Thanks.
