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I have watched the explosion in Covid case counts (we are rapidly heading back to case counts in the six figures, spurred by an explosion of Delta Variant cases in Trump states and/or among Republican voters in "Blue States") with growing dismay and (increasingly) anger. Horribly, this is leading to another emotion which I had yet to feel, hatred. These ignorant a--holes (pardon my harsh language) are putting us ALL at risk. Let's not forget, the longer this virus circulates, the greater the odds that it will mutate into a form against which these amazing vaccines do not provide protection. So, even though I'm fully vaccinated, as is my entire family, they are putting everyone at risk. I'm asthmatic. I've had cancer. For me, Covid poses an existential threat. I do not want to die because one of these idiots refuses to accept science and do what is best for themselves, the country or even their fellow neighbours. So, now I stare at the tv or at my FB newsfeed with growing fury (at the anti-vaxxers) and when I see something like those morons (no apology for that word) at CPAC actually CHEERING at the decline in vaccination rates across the country, I let loose with a string of profanities that would make the most hardened vulgarian blush.

To your point, I view my FB profile as a "necessary evil". It is unfortunately the best way for me to keep up with the activities of my family and close friends, who are spread across North America. That said, I absolutely despise the way it is run and the way its leadership has abdicated its social responsibility to police the lies that spread like wildfire on it. The same is true for the other social media companies (Twitter, TikTok, etc.) as well. QAnon is the most recent, but also the most odious and pernicious manifestation of this abdication of social responsibility.

I also direct my anger at Fox News, Newsmax and OANN (and any similar "media" outlets--we all know that they are nothing more than right wing misinformation outlets) and the various talking heads who constantly spout off lies about the vaccines (I'm looking at YOU, Tucker Carlson. Ditto Laura Ingraham, etc.) while refusing to say whether they themselves have been vaccinated. What they are doing is cynical and evil. Period.

Like I said, all of this had led to a new emotion on my part. I am starting to hate them and no, hate is not too strong a word. I hate what they are doing to this country. I hate that they are putting me and my family in danger. I hate that they simply don't care about their fellow citizens. I hate how they have conflated "freedom" with anarchy.

Sorry for the rambling nature of this post. Feel free to take it down, Amee, if you think that it is too off-topic and unfocused.

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Dear Mr. Sirota;

I have been reading and appreciating your comments in this forum since the beginning. They have always been intelligent, well-reasoned and informative. It’s interesting how, having read someone’s writing over a period of time, regarding different topics, we begin to feel we know them and care about them. Your post above hit a “mom” button with me, I guess, and so I hope you will indulge me by reading a concern of mine. If this seems “preachy” please forgive me. I’m reminding myself as well as anyone who reads it, about dealing with the kind of intense emotions you expressed.

It’s not that I don’t understand these emotions. I struggle with them every day as well, especially in the last several years. I think that’s probably an important part of the human struggle.

So…food for thought: harboring hate is like feeding yourself poison and expecting someone else to get sick; and it is true that hate corrodes the vessel in which it is carried. I do not know who first said these things. If I did I would give them credit, because they have been powerful concepts for me to remember. And please remember that hate is not the opposite of love, apathy is. So don’t beat yourself up that you care, and don’t injure yourself by carrying around harmful things.

I wish you the very best in all your endeavors and look forward to reading more of your thoughts and feelings-

Janna Vanderpool

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Well said, Mom!

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Jul 17, 2021Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Thank you for giving me a laugh. Your mom is my kind of badass.

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Jul 17, 2021Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I live in a very conservative part of a liberal state. I encounter this type of delusional thinking on a regular basis! What’s worse is I am the minority here!

My favorite quote from this is “my mother…the former judge…and human lie detector.”

So very descriptive!

Thank you, Amee.

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Jul 17, 2021Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Thank you for writing this.

Very well written.

It's almost as if you were speaking to me directly.

You're wise Mama gave me the exact words I needed, for two of my very intelligent grown children.

There is a wedding in October it's been a year and a half in the making for my one granddaughter first one to get married. None of them are vaccinated.

And it's going to get way worse over the next month or so.

I now know what to say to them.

So thank you Mamma! @Mammasrule

I think that's the handle.

And a granddaughter here, near me, one daughter two step children, is living with a conspiracy theorist also. She actually wanted to know if I was magnetized so she could prove to him that wasn't true. She actually duo'ed me.🤦🏼‍♀️ I told her I wouldn't dignify it.

And that she knew better. And she's not on Fakebook.

The crew in Ohio, need to hear it from me. My great-granddaughters are my biggest concern.

I'm also going to tell them, it is not fair to the rest of us.

It is certainly life or death.

I literally thought I was going to die a little over a year ago. My husband and I are both long haulers.

We all want this over.

Much love to your mama and you 💌

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I'm creating a scripted template with cites for info on Tuesday-if you wait, it might help!

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Jul 17, 2021Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Oh very nice and thank you!

I didn't mention before I also have a doctor of anesthesiologist daughter,

And her husband who is a neurosurgeon at the Mayo clinic. Both north Florida. They live in the most red county in the country. She's not fact checking anything, and just last week I discovered he sits and watches cable Fox News at night. I'm still trying to process it.

I will take all the help I can get.

I was told by my other daughter who lives there with them that none of them are vaccinated.

Ponte Verda Beach.

I need to add that none of these guys ever voted anything but Democrat before 2016.

Just baffled I tell you.

I do blame Fakebook.

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Jul 17, 2021Liked by Amee Vanderpool

One Clue into the son-in-law neurosurgeon, originally from Greece but was raised in Australia his family still lives there.

Murdoch has more power

there than here.

Imagine 🤔🤦🏼‍♀️😕

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Jul 17, 2021Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Very sad to see intelligent people believing such blatant misinformation.

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Jul 18, 2021Liked by Amee Vanderpool

I am so frustrated with thses anti-vaxxers who spew nonsense on a global digital platform, drive cars with electronically controlled engines, and take ibuprofen for their headaches but don't believe in "science". Unless they are Amish driving a horse and buggy, they are hypocrites. Natural selection will thin the herd but as this is a virus it will take some innocent folks too. That part pisses me off more than anything else.

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Jul 17, 2021Liked by Amee Vanderpool

Great article Amee. I have also encountered problems within my family. I am immunocompromised due to a transplant and haven’t seen some of my closest family members in a very long time. Thank you for the laughs regarding your mom. She is awesome. It helped ease the OMG feeling from the rest of the info. Thank you.

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Great work, Amee! Well said indeed. And your mother sounds amazing!

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Can you please add a Paypal option to subscribe?

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Hi, Mary-I can't do that BUT here is how we work around it. Simply "make a tribute"for the annual fee ($60) via the link here (you can cut and paste it or use the orange button at the top of every article that says "Make a One Time Tribute Now": https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/sheronewsletter?locale.x=en_US

And in your Pay Pal message, say "for one year subscription" and include your email address. I will set it all up for you. Thanks!!

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DONE! THANKS!

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Also, why are you spreading the messages of these pipsqueaks who no one has ever heard of? Aren't you spreading misinformation now too?

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All of my factual statements have corresponding underlined cites and my recount of personal details is just that: personal. So to answer your question, NO.

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Speech you don't like and don't agree with is exactly why the First Amendment exists.

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Well stated.

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Ian, you wrote the entirety of what *I* would love to write somewhere. Srsly. I'm angry & irritable every time I enter a store and I see the smug, supercilious faces of people that I *know* haven't gotten vaccinated, walking around wearing their Trump merch and no masks. I dare just one of them... just ONE... to say something about my DOUBLE masks. Just one! Yup, I'd probably cause a scene at our local grocery, I'm that incensed.

I, for one, don't blame you in the least and I'm right there with you in spirit. My little corner of the world is most likely less than 50% vaccinated. Other parts of our county are likely 90% vaccinated, which gives us an overall of about 67%. Do I trust that the yahoos that live out in the sticks with me are wearing masks if they're not vaxxed? Hell to the NO!

Hoping you and yours stay safe & healthy!

<3

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