Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

It seems as if Republicans are having a come to Jesus moment, now that their latest ploy to derail the Biden administration's effort to vaccinate America is backfiring on them. For months, Republicans in Congress, in states, and in the media have downplayed the importance of getting vaccinated mainly by telling people to ignore the science and safety of the vaccines. Earlier in the year when people started getting vaccinated in record numbers, the rate of COVID-19 infections decreased greatly, and most people took the pandemic seriously. Things were starting to look good as people began to believe that the nation as a whole could defeat the virus. Republicans who were spreading misinformation must have believed that too, because they realized that good/encouraging news from the medical experts would make President Joe Biden a very popular president so early in his term. People would forget about ex-president Donald Trump and Republicans would lose their edge in order to convince the nation that Biden is a failed president. As the nation began to open more and more, Republicans went back to their playbook by attacking the science community, again spreading misinformation about the virus by enlisting conspiracy theories about China and even about the science community. They have relentlessly attacked Dr. Anthony Fauci, a man Trump picked to lead the fight against COVID-19. Instead of letting the expert do his job for which he is famous for, Republicans across America, again lead by Trump, watched red states push back measures/guidelines from the CDC arguing "constitutional" rights. People are once again congregating in large numbers with few masks present as if they are defying the virus. One has to wonder how many among them are vaccinated. If they had been listening to Republicans/Conservatives lately, it is a safe argument to say, not many.

The delta variant and the now known lambda variant is taking an increasing toll on health workers and the medical system as the nation goes through another surge. Many people had largely ignored the importance of vaccinations coming up with all kinds of excuses because the virus hadn't hit them. Now, we are starting to see people die, and the one thing they have in common is that they wished they had gotten the shot sooner. We are hearing people say that it is hard to watch a loved one suffer from so much pain and watch them die a lonely death. Another troubling thing is that many people who call themselves Christians are among those who shun the vaccines. The world can only look at them and ask, "where is your faith?" Two examples in the media that you won't hear on Fox News concern a member at Hillsong Church and Billy Graham's grandson. The Hillsong church member seemingly mocked taking the shot, and Graham's grandson is in critical condition. Both incidents highlight how some seem to be waiting on God to move when He has already made a move. It reminds one of the stories of a man sitting on a tree limb surrounded by floodwaters waiting to be rescued. Several people come by offering help. He refuses, saying that he is waiting on God to save him. The man ignores other attempts, falls, and drowns in the water. When face to face with the Creator, he asks God why He didn't save him. God says, "I sent you help, and you refused."

As the nation opens more in the face of another surge, people have a decision to make. Some Republican leaders seemed to have made their decisions. Some are telling their constituents to take another look at getting vaccinated while at the same time implying that it is their choice. The governor of Alabama, a Republican, recently said that unvaccinated people are the reason why the nation is in a precarious position and that she has done all that she could to keep her state safe. She just let her conservative-leaning supporters have their way as other Republican governors have done. Good leaders lead, even when some of the followers don't like it. When leaders are up against something that they fix, they get help. The godly ones will seek God. Trump didn't seek God, but it was the people of science who knew that with the knowledge(that came from God) they had a vaccine that could be developed. God helped man to develop vaccines in record time, and they are working. In essence, those not vaccinated are like the man on the tree limb. Don't say what God will do when He's already done it. America will not get a wink/nod from God because of her standing in the world. And God will not be used. There are other nations taking measures that are not popular to their inhabitants, but they are trying. They are doing their part. God is doing His. What about America? Remember, the world is watching. So is God.