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Linda Mitchell, KCMO's avatar

Good morning all! On NPR yesterday evening it was reported that France is now pushing much stricter vaccine requirements for all people who want to do anything in public. And suddenly, all these French people are rushing to get vaccines. It's a little hilarious but very interesting at the same time because France was one of those places hugely resistant to vaccines of any kind (despite being, as Macron said, the birthplace of Pasteur in one of his more elliptical lines, since Pasteur is best know for making milk safe to drink). But they want to sit in restaurants and go to museums and concerts so suddenly they're all about vaccines. https://www.npr.org/2021/07/16/1017012860/people-will-soon-need-a-vaccine-pass-or-negative-test-to-enter-frances-restauran

I know that people will be yelping about "free speech" and, stunningly, men will whine about having the "government" making decisions about their "bodies" (don't even get me started), but this kind of universal "we're all in this together, you arses, so stop behaving like petulant children and grow up" message needs to be sent.

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Ralph Averill's avatar

In Mrs. O'Brien's 4th grade class at the Spring Glen School in Hamden, Ct., circa 1960, she taught us that freedom of speech did not mean you could shout "Fire!" in a crowded movie theatre.

I think Mrs. O'Brien would also have had something to say about people who deny the value of medical science by refusing vaccinations, then show up mortally ill at a hospital expecting treatment; very expensive treatment at that.

If I was a medical person treating such people, I think I would have a difficult time not dropping my professional demeanor and giving them an earful; at the very least.

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