Someone please explain this to me:

[thucythucy]

Last night I was channel hopping and stumbled across a panel on CNN. Two experts, one apparently a physician, and the moderator, discussing what is now another wave of infections--entirely foreseen, entirely preventable, and entirely the result of Republicans (mostly) rejecting the calls to be vaccinated.

This led into a discussion of how using the term "a pandemic of the un-vaccinated" somehow was offensive to un-vaccinated people. And they all seemed to agree: yes, we should all stop using that expression!

WTF?! Why oh why oh why are we still in this frame of mind where we're the ones who have to defer to them? These are folks who through their stubborn foolishness have sabotaged our response to the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands have died, millions may have their long term health compromised. Those in school sacrificed more than a year of their education, a year of their childhood while we were waiting for the vaccines in order to spare the lives of the very people who are now putting them at risk.

This is a pattern now. We can't call the most racist, homophobic, misogynist supporters of Mango Mussolini "deplorables" because it offends them. We can't call the president a liar even when we know he's lying because... I don't know, decorum? After the election we were told by pundits not to rub Orange Dubious' face in the loss because "he needs time to process."

Did any of that work? Did the media holding back for four or more years somehow ameliorate any of the horrible shit they put this country through?

I didn't listen long enough to hear why these pundits think playing nice with these folks will make any difference whatsoever, but maybe someone can fill me in.

Here's how I see it: our house is on fire, and we're asked to please be nice to the people who have put up a barricade to prevent the fire trucks from getting through.

Has anyone else heard this newest appeal to make nice so as not to hurt the fee fee's of the anti-vaxxers? Can anyone explain to me how not using the term "pandemic of the un-vaccinated" will somehow sway these folks to join us in objective reality?

Good morning to you all, and thank you for indulging my rant. I apologize if I've added to the general gloom this morning, but I just had to get that off my chest.

[Vinca]

1. I didn't hear that segment on CNN, but I totally agree with you on all your points.

Blame should go where blame belongs and it's foolish to coddle these imbeciles by tip toeing around their feelings. It's not going to change anyone's mind if we make a point of being overly kind to them. They won't decide to get vaccinated until hubby's on a ventilator and the rest of the family is feeling ill and maybe not then. After all, they "need their freedoms." I'm afraid it's too late for even the their great orange god to save them if he made more than a half-hearted effort. They're trapped in Q and facebook and conspiracy theories.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. +1000

I couldn't agree more!

[H2O Man]

54. + 1001

[TreasonousBastard]

2. It's maybe just the pendulum swinging too far again...

For years we have been getting away from blame. Some of that was fine, because not all poor people are poor because they are lazy, and not all Hispanic or Black criminals are genetically driven to that life. Nor are they all driven to it by their circumstances. Some people are just lazy or bad. Or both. Life is complicated.

But, that seems to have gone too far, and we have lost the will to shame the shameful. In our drive to eliminate insults and concurrent "-isms", we seem to have forgotten that some people are wrong, and do deserve blame and shame for the damage they do. There are certain standards of behavior that really should be maintained. While we shouldn't throw out insults randomly, there are times when we really should call out antisocial behavior.

I suspect the media is gun-shy from constantly fielding complaints about every little thing, and really hates the thought of an organized backlash if they call anti-vaxxers they idiots they are. And the crooks, like Mercola, who profit off of them.

[thucythucy]

4. I don't know if I buy that, but

in any case it's ironic that the very people we're now asked to hold blameless are--in my experience anyway--the same folks who blame the poor for their poverty, the sick for their illness, and the traumatized for their trauma.

Republicans and conservatives have always been "tough on crime" until their own criminality is exposed. And there has always been a strong element in our society--its nexus being conservative evangelicals--who seem to think that they can be forgiven for any crime, sin, or shortcoming as long as they "take it to Jesus." The party of "personal responsibility" has never held themselves personally responsible for anything.

I think your second explanation--in your last paragraph--is more likely. It's the same dynamic that has media kowtowing to conservatives so as not to be accused of "liberal bias."

Which is a bit of corporate cowardice that is going to kill a whole lot more of us before this sad episode is done.

[2Gingersnaps]

15. Exactly!

The idea of a "liberal media" has always been a rather pathetic joke. It is corporate media, and their religion is "trickle down economics works!" It works exactly as they want it to, a class of insanely wealthy and vast staggering poverty. It is the recipe for the social upheaval caused by the feudalism that brought us starving onto these shores for a new way of life.

In the name of "both sides" the middle has been inched toward the extreme right. Keep feeding the peasants with pitchforks fear and hate, it has been 40 years since they found a spokes model with a sunny disposition to read the script and sell the masses on an end to their own American Dream. They found a good ole boy to have beer with, then an uncharismatic stiff. Where better than reality TV to find their front man? For Sale to the highest bidder, but sadly, someone bid higher-Putin, UAE, Mohammed Bonesaw Salman, and their front man was/is a raging lunatic who thought he was the man in charge, not the help. He didn't bother with keeping the corruption on the down low.

[TexasBushwhacker]

20. For the GOP anti-vaxxers

I think they'd be better off reminding them that the vaccines were developed DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, and that even though he had COVID-19, Trump and all of his family were vaccinated.

But that won't help with the people of color who fear they are being used as guinea pigs for a vaccine that was approved on an emergency basis.

It won't help convince the people like Jenny McCarthy and that quack Dr. Mercola who are against ALL vaccines.

It won't help the teenagers and young adults who are more afraid if potentially serious, though very rare, side effects.

[thucythucy]

29. I appreciate you bringing some nuance into this discussion,

which my general pissed-off-edness this morning kept me from expressing.

Even so, I don't see how avoiding pointing out that this latest iteration of the worst effects of the pandemic are indeed manifest almost entirely among the unvaccinated is going to sway anyone on the fence about getting the shots. Just the opposite.

I know there are leaders in the African American community who are doing their best to address what are genuine, historically rooted anxieties. Again, pointing out that communities of color are among those hardest hit, and that within that group those who are unvaccinated are especially vulnerable, would seem to be the way to go. In addition, I'm hoping full FDA approval of the vaccines will soon be a reality.

As for the rest: I don't see how avoiding a phrase like "a pandemic of the unvaccinated" is going to help anyone. According to articles I've seen, France has seen an enormous surge in people seeking the vaccines once the government made it clear it was finished holding hands and tip toeing around people who were putting the entire society at risk. We can't do that here, I guess, because, um, "free-dumb."

I'm pissed on behalf of myself because I'm immune compromised, and going out among the unmasked means taking a risk I shouldn't have to take. I'm even more pissed off on behalf of all the medical workers who have to deal with this crap. And when we get to the point where we're again rationing critical care resources because these folks are now swelling the ICUs, with the result that others are denied needed care--well, at that point I think the backash against the anti-vaxxers is going to be something fierce.

Just my opinion. Hopefully people will wake up before we get to that point.

[TexasBushwhacker]

53. I'm high risk, so I'm going back to wearing tight fitting masks

when I'm in public, even though Houston is sweltering.

[thucythucy]

57. Same here.

I take my mask everywhere and use it whenever I get within ten feet of anyone, and anytime I'm indoors.

Let's hope we all get through this latest catastrophe with our health and sanity intact.

Well, it's probably too late for me on the sanity score...

Best wishes.

[OnDoutside]

5. It was ALWAYS a pandemic of the unvaccinated !!! Previously there was no vaccine, then not enough

supply. Once you reach a point where anyone who wants a vaccination can get a vaccination, then you cross over to choice of vaccinated or unvaccinated.

It's an accurate description, and it was always accurate.

[FakeNoose]

16. +1000

Some Repukes are quietly, secretly getting the shots, but they're still telling everyone they know, "Don't get vaccinated." That includes all the show hosts on Faux Noise.

Isn't that just the definition of evil?

[OnDoutside]

51. And yet people try to reason with them.

[thucythucy]

30. "It was always pandemic of the unvaccinated."

Excellent point. I hadn't thought of it like that.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Deplorable MAGAts should be offended, as often as possible. They're a minority who have earned it

Isolate them. Let them feel the only home they have is their ever-shrinking tRump tRain.

Let them huff and puff in their steam engine as we ride the sustainable bullet trains of the near future.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. The best way to stop MAGAts in their tracks is to tell them they were lied to

It's a way to be nice to them and to smack them in the face with facts.

If they can be persuaded they were lied to, they can "save face" and simultaneously leave their lying media sources.

Just calmly insist on the truth and let them get heart-attack-danger angry. It's a stage of grief.

Counter every idiotic assertion with facts and be calmly entertained by their paroxysms of anguish.

[niyad]

8. Maybe they won't, but I will. Frankly, I don't give a damn about te oh-so-delicate

feelings of the brain-dead cultists. I am furious that we are in this position because of the and their hatefulness and proud ignorance. I am beyond enraged at their willful destruction of our country,

I wish that I believed in hell, because that is where they belong.

[3catwoman3]

9. To paraphrase that T-shirt that some of the MAGATs...

…love to wear - Fuck Their Feelings.

[PatSeg]

10. It seems like there is a constant effort these days

not to offend anyone for any reason, even if what you are saying is the true. So I suppose calling the current crisis "a pandemic of the un-vaccinated" would be considered "vaccine shaming"? I honestly can see that becoming a thing.

Actually, I have no problem offending the offensive.

[MiHale]

11. Ok what about "Health Traitors"....

Common Sense Challenged

Scaredy-vaxers

The Not Needled

The Walking Unjabbed

The Delusional Unshooters

Viral Loaders

FI’s …pronounced fuc*ing idiots

[Duppers]

13. Love that last one.

[thucythucy]

31. "The Walking Unjabbed"

gets my vote, but they're all good!

[uponit7771]

12. THIS !!!! ☝🏾☝🏾☝🏾 We're enabling assholes !! I'm not going to wear 2 seatbelts cause some asshole

... doesn't want to wear one at all to decrease the chances of a bad accident by some trivial amount.

Macron is right, its time for the unvaxed to go inside not me

[Danascot]

14. OK then we'll call it a pandemic of assholes.

Happy now?

[oldsoftie]

22. Hahahahahahaha

[Javaman]

35. +1000 nt

[3Hotdogs]

17. This is reiterated by an occasional Dem. spokesperson who says we will offend them and

if they are offended they will hate us back and not be open to vote for our future candidates.

Calling the dipshits names, just gets their back up and they are less likely to listen to us.

[thucythucy]

32. But is calling what's happening now "a pandemic of the unvaccinated"

really "calling names?"

Unlike "Sleepy Joe" and "Crooked Hillary" and "sheeple" and "nasty woman" it's simply a factual description. And I'm rapidly losing patience with people who are reflexively offended by facts, especially when they put the rest of us in danger or force us to rearrange our lives so as to be "nice" to those who have no trouble taking delight in drinking "liberal tears."

[WhiskeyGrinder]

18. It's not a pandemic only for the unvaccinated. It's a pandemic for all of us. Calling it a pandemic

for the unvaccinated makes it easy for the vaccinated to think they're in the clear as far as having to change their way of life at all. It's kinda trash and also not so great for vaccinated people who care for those who can't get vaxed for whatever reason.

[Rebl2]

23. Exactly

Many people who are undergoing cancer treatment (or at least some) cannot get vaccinated. Their oncologist are telling them not to get vaccinated yet because it won’t protect them at this point.

[thucythucy]

33. That's a valid point.

Then again, people I know who are immune compromised (myself included) tend to be aware that they are at greater risk, vaccinated or not. It's not like you can easily forget you're in chemotherapy or taking immune suppressants after a transplant.

Saying then that this is "a pandemic of the unvaccinated and immune compromised" might do the trick.

[Ferrets are Cool]

19. Fuck their feelings. And btw, I stole that.

[oldsoftie]

21. Because these days, everything is "offensive" to somebody

It is what it is
People need to deal with reality

[Rabrrrrrr]

24. Then let's just call them unpatriotic anti-life super-selfish shitfucking asswipe radicals.

Fuck 'em. I don't care how they feel. Any more than they care about any criminal that's been caught: what they're doing is worse than criminal, so let them live by their own words and let us despise and loathe them the same way they do illegals and criminals and black folk.

[YoshidaYui]

25. Dr. Anthony Fauci says play nice

Better a carrot than a stick. His words. If it was me, I’d be like Captain James T Kirk in the undiscovered country “let them die“

[thucythucy]

34. Even Dr. Fauci seems to be losing patience with these folks

is what I've noticed the last few times I've seen him on the tube.

He certainly didn't seem too concerned with Rand Paul's feelings last week in Congress.

[YoshidaYui]

36. True dat!

It’s almost like he gave up on them.

[thucythucy]

41. Being called a "traitor"

and getting death threats for yourself and your family will tend to do that to you.

Another reason why I'm pissed: THEY spread all kinds of ugly lies and foster a climate of death threats and abuse, but WE have to be nice and oh so careful not to hurt their feelings.

I will always draw the line at threats and violence.

But I'm done with trying to empathize with those who seem to have not a shred of empathy for me.

[YoshidaYui]

43. Years of Rush Limbaugh

Years of Rush Limbaugh and Fox News has made them hateful. I lay all of that at their feet.

[Dukkha]

48. Exactly

Can anyone honestly argue the world and our society would not be better off without them?

and as Spock correctly stated "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one."

[YoshidaYui]

55. Yes

Live long and prosper

[YoshidaYui]

56. Yes

Live long and prosper

[2naSalit]

26. I happened to see that segment and wanted to see their rationale...

They are claiming that not all hesitant folks are repugs. Their are many in the black community, this is how they put it, are still not able to trust the government due to past government programs that were really bad and impacted them or their families and they need to be encouraged because they will probably agree to getting vaxxed if they are given answers to their concerns.

That's what they were saying and that attack mode isn't very helpful at this point. And to some degree I agree with them, we already know who the enemy is and what we should be doing is helping the shellshocked to safety without traumatizing them further. And then there are those who may not be able to get vaxxed so.

Expecting the hardcore anti crowd to change is a fool's errand and less energy should be spent on berating them and more energy put into finding solutions to the problem. Sounds warm 'n' fuzzy, I know, but it's a more productive sounding path.

I'm just to tired of all the hostility.

[thucythucy]

39. But how is calling this "a pandemic of the unvaccinated" "berating" them?

Because of personal circumstance, I know quite a few people with cancer (which to be quite frank is a big part of my snippy reaction to all this). Is calling someone with cancer "someone with cancer" berating them? Wouldn't trying tp deny that fact, and minimize its significance, be a bigger insult?

I'm aware of the response in communities of color and the role history plays. But again, how is pointing out that those who are unvaccinated are now bearing the brunt of the pandemic "berating" them?

In fact, if we make an effort to conceal or minimize this fact, isn't that somewhat analogous to the Tuskegee study, which after all was about denying people of color needed treatment? I can see this whole argument flipped on its head: wouldn't at least some suspect that we're now minimizing the severity of what's happening, and failing to point out a simple and effective treatment, precisely because so many of the people at greatest risk are those devalued by our society?

[2naSalit]

52. I don't think that's where they were going with it...

They were stating that they felt there are a large number of hesitants are people who are still not feeling confident in the safety of it are POC and that they shouldn't be included in the broad brush of disdain that the anti crowd actually deserves. There are two types of unvaxxed is mostly what they are pointing out and they feel they are being abused for the anti crowd's ignorance.

At least that's what I got out of it.

[thucythucy]

58. At some point though we all have to make a rational decision not only to protect ourselves

but to protect our loved ones, neighbors, even the strangers we run into on the bus or at work or where ever.

At the end of the day it makes no difference if someone's reasons for putting themselves and others at risk is anti-vaxx zealotry, anti-Biden animus, or genuine confusion. Those who will suffer and die will suffer and die regardless.

We're now more than a year and a half into this catastrophe, and the vaccines started to come on line months ago. Tens of millions of people--including many people of color--have received the shots and the adverse effects have been miniscule. The message has been stated and repeated and repeated again and again and again.

I'm at a loss as to what it will take at this point to get through to people who are "hesitants" or "genuinely confused." I just hope that they get the message in time to prevent yet another massive kill-off, only this time it will be among children and young adults, rather than the elders and people with disabilities this culture seems to think of and treat as expendible anyway.

[Major Nikon]

27. We have to remember where this whole mess started and not just with the GOP

Anti-vaxxers have been spreading their stupidity for many years, including right here on DU. This type of promotion of ignorance is dangerous and should never have been tolerated. Had we as a society stood up and told these people to STFU and marginalized them, we wouldn't be where we are today. While everyone is entitled to their opinions, some of those opinions manage to kill people if they are allowed to spread unfettered. Nobody owes any of these people a soapbox. They should have been banned from every platform until nobody could hear them anymore.

[2naSalit]

28. +1

[thucythucy]

40. Thank you.

[Javaman]

37. that's nice, but I don't take my "marching orders" from CNN.

while I have enjoyed them pushing back on the orange asshole, CNN now trying to reframe the abject stupidity in this country, displayed by the colossally stupid anti-vaxxers and the willingly unvaccinated, is just filling time till the next news cycle with useless blather.

until that next news cycle, they can go piss up a rope.

[thucythucy]

42. You would think that corporate America, seeing its consumer base

again dying in numbers (and driving down the stock market) would wise up and stop sponsoring this nonsense.

Until then I suppose we all will have to hold our breath.

[CrispyQ]

38. I read a commentary that stated the rage of the vaccinated will drive the next election.

In June the country almost reached a 7-day average of only 10K new cases a day.

Now, Florida alone, does that in a day.

I know I'm pissed. I'm pissed that this could almost be over but for a bunch of gullible, ignorant, hateful assholes.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

44. Is Vaxed America Running Out of Patience?

Sane and intelligent Americans are getting tired of ignorant idiots who refuse to be vaccinated

Link to tweet

[Texin]

45. "...A Pandemic of the Unvaccinated" is an objective FACT.

This group is contracting and spreading the virus. That's a fact. They are not only infecting the other unvaccinated people, but passing the virus to vaccinated persons as well -- who mostly don't get very ill or pass it to others (because the amount of the virus circulating in their bodies is so minimal).

I don't give a royal fuck whether someone gets their little feelings hurt by stating what is the damn truth. The media need to continue restating the obvious. I don't care whether the unvaccinated are afraid of needle sticks, or are suspicious of government drives to control the epidemic, or they're blockhead idiots like the celebrities that idiotically link autism with vaccinations, etc. These selfish, cowardly, or just plain stupid cretins are putting themselves and others at risk and it's needless. And many of this group get on public transportation or in the public generally without masks and challenge and often physically attack those who are masking. I mean, seriously, when an idiot like these folks finds themselves duct-taped to their seat on an airplane IN FLIGHT because they've physically assaulted an attendant and other passengers, it's gone too too far!

[Mr.Bill]

46. These anti-vax assholes

have me considering leaving the country even more than when Trump was elected. But I'm sure it's happening in other countries, too.

[secondwind]

47. The prediction is 200,000 new cases A DAY

in the Fall.

[Dukkha]

49. Time for tough medicine

No vaccine = no treatment. No admission to overcrowded hospitals.

You wanted to be selfish and on your own terms, then pull yourself up by your bootstraps and treat yourself at home. Or better yet die in ignorance.

[calimary]

50. I'm with you. Why are we tiptoeing around it?

Why are we so anxious to “spare their feelings”??? Why can’t we call it what it is? Continued, relentless, unapologetic, willful STUPIDITY!

[onecaliberal]

59. Ive been at this place for years.

They have nothing positive to offer society.

[Deuxcents]

60. Anti vaxxers Are Deplorable

I’m saying that from my heart. I just got off the phone with my sister.. her son n daughter.. my niece n nephew are 40 n 43.. not vaxxed. My sister is beside herself n I’m pissed. Selfish comes to mind. I love them but not their behavior on this matter. My sister turns 70 in a couple of weeks n I will not be celebrating with her thanks to these two. I m 2x vaxxed but have a compromised immune system.. thyroid n so does my niece! What has happened with us? We all needed vaxxed to get into school.. some travel destinations but a deadly virus is a no?

[soldierant]

61. I'm glad you asked that question!

They think being gay is a choice.
They think being trans is a choice.
They think being queer is a choice.
They think beig poor is a choice
They think being homeless is a choice.
They think being fat is a choice.
They think a hindred and one things which are not choices, are choices.
Plus, they have the choice what to believe religiously, and they get protected for that.

So it is really a surprise that their snowflake feeling are hurt if we scorn them for their dumb-ass choice not to get vaccinated?