I Dislike Liars and Cowards, and Aaron Rodgers Is Both

I got a COVID vaccine at my first opportunity. That being said, I’m not a crusader and definitely try to avoid shaming people whose choices differ from mine. I don’t talk politics because such discussions are just a toxic mess of tribalism, and the vaccine debate is very much the same. So when a famous person, most notably professional athletes, choose not to be vaccinated, I generally abstain from any ensuing debate.

Naturally, this makes you question my headline. Green Bay Packers quarterback has been much in the news after testing positive for COVID after saying this past fall that he had been “immunized”. He was not vaccinated and will miss at least two games after his positive test. He has said he did not lie and had undergone alternate treatments to boost his immune system. However, when posed that question about his vaccination status, the first word out of his mouth was “Yes”. Further on his response he said, “There are guys on the team that haven’t been vaccinated. I think it’s a personal decision. I’m not going to judge those guys.” Clearly, he is indicating that he is not among the “guys” who have not been vaccinated. Add it all up, and Aaron Rodgers is definitely a big fat liar.

But wait, there’s more. And this is where I find him even more disdainful. Aaron Rodgers is a coward. I don’t say this because he has refused to be vaccinated. Fellow NFL player Cole Beasley and several NBA players, Kyrie Irving probably the most famous, are among professional athletes who have publicly voiced their refusal to be vaccinated. I disagree with their decisions, but I appreciate their honesty and admire the courage they have demonstrated. Aaron Rodgers, on the other hand, blamed his lie on “the woke mob”, “cancel culture”, and reporters who failed to ask follow-up questions. I call bull shit.

First of all, Mr. Rodgers, your response to the question very clearly suggested that you were actually vaccinated. YOU FUCKING LIED, and now you’re acting like a little child who was caught in that lie. Be a man and own up to the fact that YOU FUCKING LIED. Don’t try to blame anyone else. I do understand how annoying people can be on the issue, and I could forgive you for refusing to answer questions about your vaccination status. Admittedly, that would have made the answer rather obvious as happened with some other famous athletes, but it would’ve been better than your cowardly lie.

I don’t care if Aaron Rodgers chooses to get vaccinated or not. I took my two shots and will take whatever boosters come along. Kyrie Irving has refused based on his belief in body autonomy and is losing millions of dollars as a result. Although I’ve made a different choice, I respect Kyrie Irving for his efforts and admire his courage. Aaron Rodgers has displayed no such courage. Aaron Rodgers chose to lie and showed the world that he is a coward.

Are You Listening? Am I?

I have worked with a broad cross-section of people: straight, gay, cis, trans, white, black, brown, criminals, survivors, rich, poor, dropouts, doctors, left, right, middle, and on and on. I have learned a lot from them, and I have taught them a thing or two. I did it by listening, even when they said things I didn’t like. Especially when they said things I didn’t like.

I believe true change occurs when we are most open to listening to each other, especially when we disagree. I’ve never seen anyone persuaded by being told they are terrible for their beliefs. I have seen people consider different viewpoints when they have felt heard.

This, however, is not how the world seems to work nowadays. When I look out into the airspace, I see blaming and shaming. But I don’t see things getting better.

It strikes me as ironic that people get so upset with me when I suggest this. In the wake of the 2016 election, I participated in a discussion about creating a safe space for discussion. I brought up the idea of listening to all viewpoints, even the ones most of us found disagreeable. That didn’t go over very well. Of course, my idea of a safe space often differs from others’.

I’ve been seeing a similar climate lately. For years, I’ve been trying to hear from people who feel afraid and targeted based on their skin color, religion, gender, etc. I can’t change these things by blaming and shaming. I know that eliminating racism, sexism, every other -ism in the world begins with me acknowledging those prejudices within myself and working toward doing better.

I have also spoken many times with police officers who have taken on a heavy responsibility, sometimes being responsible for life and death decisions. My mom even knew an officer who was involved with a non-fatal shooting. It was completely justified (too long to discuss here), but his life spiraled afterward. These decisions have to be made in split seconds and carry heavy consequences for everyone involved, including those officers who have to make them.

That is not to say that anyone should be allowed to act with impunity. We must all be accountable for our actions. But we can also make a lot more positive change in the world if we strive to listen to and understand each other.

I stopped talking to large degree in the wake of the 2016 election. I didn’t feel like anyone was truly listening. I haven’t been listening nearly as well myself, tired of seeing all the blaming and shaming. I want to do better, though. So I’m going to start talking more and even more so trying to listen, especially to those with whom I don’t agree.

There’s a Method to My Mumblings

It occurs to me I have failed to write any daily double digits for some days now. I’ve been kind of backed up with writing a grad school paper that’s all about method which means it’s even more boring than these blog posts. I think I’m mostly done, but I also feel there are multiple things missing. Unfortunately, my brain is now fried, and I don’t think I can accomplish any more. So instead of working on that I’m writing this terrible blog post.

My Apologies to Hoagy Carmichael

“Sometimes I wonder why I spend…” so much time pondering what the hell I’m doing.

This One Is Extra Nerdy

I’m well past the point where I should be reading research for my big final master’s degree project. I’ve certainly read plenty. But I keep finding more. And this means the literature review that I just finished will need even more work than the edits I had already planned. Somehow, though, I’m loving it because I’m a nerd and love reading research. Still, someone needs to save me from myself.

Catching Big Stars in Bit Parts # 5

James Cromwell was a “that guy” until he became super-famous for “Babe”. This morning I caught him as a French policeman in an episode of “Magnum, P.I.” The benefits of watching while estudiando espanol.

Magnum Memories

One of my favorite “Magnum, P.I.” memories occurred when Higgins is being held captive at the estate. One of his captors notices his replica of the bridge on the River Kwai, says it was a great movie, and comments on Higgins doing so as well. Higgins in his impeccable manner replies, “I was there.” Today while estudiando espanol, I caught that moment in the episode “Summer School”, Season 6, Episode 12.

Constipation Blues

I don’t feel like writing because I’m constipated. I took some stuff earlier to hopefully alleviate that problem, but at the moment I remain in discomfort. Despite this, I did manage to estudiando some espanol and write the paper that is due today. All this was done, of course, while watching “Magnum, P.I.” And that leads me to pondering what I’ll watch next although I’m likely at least two weeks away from finishing. Let us ponder.

Feline Terrorism

It’s a rainy Saturday. The wife is away, visiting her brother. It seems like the perfect setting for reading a book, which is something I need to do for school anyway. Instead, I am being terrorized by a psychotic kitty. Somebody save me!!!

Wait, Did I Write Today?

I thought about just not writing today, but I felt guilty about that. So then I came up with an idea to share some of the random thoughts that go through my head.

That’s a big snore for such a little dog.

I can’t believe my wife loves “Shark Tank”.

I been studying too much Spanish and not working enough on my paper due this weekend.

What the hell does this damn kitty want now?

What kind of crap can I come up with to write today?

I need to do this again sometime.