Welcome To Carnival
An original acrylic painting, on stretched canvas
22 X 28, unframed
( click on image to enlarge )
A year ago, on July the seventeenth, I posted an entry on this blog, titled "To Mask,
Or Not To Mask", in which I lamented the irrational determination of so many Americans
to refuse compliance with simple health mandates, to save their lives and the lives of their
friends and families. Led by Trump's denial brigades, the daily death-toll among the
misinformed, mounted higher every day, while the partying continued unabated.
Six months ago, on the twenty first of December, I posted an entry in this blog, titled
"A Year In The Red Zone", sharing in the great news that, after almost a year's wait, the
much anticipated Covid vaccines would soon be available, so that we could put an end
to the pandemic. But it seemed that many were still too busy living the good life, to care
about protecting anyone else-es life. Just a month later, in the blog posting titled "The
Unending Carnival", I noted again, that so many people were continuing to gather and
party unmasked, while proclaiming their right to be as stupid and suicidal as they wanted
to be.
So, where are we now, a year later, and what has changed? As soon as the vaccines
became available, I was quick to become vaccinated, as were many millions of my fellow,
thoughtful citizens. For a while, progress and hope were on the rebound. But now we
have bumped up against the wall of ignorant, misguided, anti-vaccine nit-wits, who refuse
to help put an end to this pandemic, for everyone's benefit. There is no reason not to
get the vaccine: it is available and it is free. And now people are even being offered
monetary incentives to get their shots, and yet many refuse to do the right thing for
themselves and for the nation. How many million have to die before they get the
message? Some who end up in hospitals, on their deathbeds, beg to be given the
vaccine, and of course they are told that it is too late. Meanwhile, Fox broadcasting,
and similar purveyors of false information to the gullible public, in their "never-say-die"
ignorance, continue to proclaim that it is the citizen's right to fight to the highest level
of stupidity that he or she can achieve.
So, what can we say to the thoughtless fun-lovers who deny the truth of science,
modern medicine and common sense? The carnival still continues. Come on in and
join in the parade. Enjoy the competitions. See who has the best costume. Who's
costume is the most expensive? Who has the most expensive coffin? Who's coffin
is the most comfortable?
E. P. McNerney
