I've Def Been Thinking About Anti-Virus Protestors Recently

gohaamm

Apr 25, 20204 min read

I think it’s safe to say that everyone in literally the entire world would love for everything to go back to normal tomorrow; we would love for the country to open up and the economy to get back to its pre-corona days. Personally, I would love to be in a restaurant with a Moscow Mule, sitting across from a group of gals. But anyway, unfortunately small businesses are bearing large burdens because of this frozen time-period, which has left many neighbors and friends worried about their families and their own well-being. However, as another week of quarantine and shelter in place orders continue, a new development has surfaced out of extreme right-wing pockets of the country: ANTI-VIRUS PROTESTORS. Everyone has a right to protest –especially those of the 20+ million Americans who have had to apply for unemployment in 2020 –but today we’re here to analyze the anti-virus protestors who, as someone close to me has said, have bastardized the hardships of others in the name of politics and individual liberties.

This is a movement including some people who simply don’t care that there’s a worldwide pandemic, because they need their non-essential business to re-open NOW. This includes, but is not limited to: bowling alleys, gyms, and hair salons. And if you think they're going to let you take their liberty without a fight, you're wrong. In states including Texas and Michigan, 'Operation Gridlock,' has unfolded. These brave patriots have taken to the streets, creating blockades with their cars in protest without following social distancing measures (that are working) and literally touching each other. They are protesting their governors and their federal government for taking away their right to choose how to individually respond to the coronavirus. And to them that is just simply unacceptable.

(GIFs are perfect for any and all scenarios)

In any case, it’s important to put these protestors into perspective, because their voices aren’t the first to be heard in a long history of people dealing with worldwide pandemics.

“A Completely Shallow and (Mostly) Inaccurate Portrayal of Anti-Virus Protestors Throughout History.”

1. The Plague of Justinian (541-542 CE)

Byzantine Empire

pictured left to right: local townsperson, visibly carrying the plague, protesting that they no longer had access to a vital FOOD group in order to LIVE. he is met with a mundane response from homeboy on the right (who's probably a priest or something) keeping the people safe from eating grains that have been infected by rats and fleas. probably a good idea ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

2. Smallpox (1520)

Americas

jeez, THESE anti-virus protestors were Amerindians who were nearly wiped out as a result of the smallpox and other diseases brought by white dudes from Europe. I mean, all these colonizers wanted was indigenous peoples' land, and their resources, and the supposed gold they could mine and take... it really wasn't *that* big of a deal. and they were just whining about being sick and dying literally every hour. *scoffs*

3. The Black Death (or Bubonic Plague) (1347-1351)

Europe and kinda everywhere else

and what about THESE guys? I mean anti-virus protestors were all upset because fleas and rats were ravaging populations by the HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS, and as a result people were starving and poor. i mean, only 60% of Europe died in about four years, their reasons for protesting were like, so not valid.

4. COVID-19 (2020-)

Everywhere

But today in 2020, people aren't protesting their loss of food or the viruses that colonizers brought with them. Today some people are protesting their bad hair day, their desire to ball with the bros at the gym, and the fact that government officials are acting like mommies and daddies and pleading with them to please, stay home.

This whole thing seems pretty unfair if you ask me. Why does a small group of people, who are funded by various groups and organizations throughout the country, get to shake up this pandemic response at the expense of everyone else? As long as these brave soldiers continue intentionally going against the rules, the people who are suffering most are now one step further from opening their businesses and beginning to look for jobs again. Federal economist Stephen Moore described these people as another Rosa Parks of our generation here to "protest against government injustices". Yes, you read that correctly. Rosa Parks, the civil rights activist and all-around badass who protested against white supremacy and systemic racial injustices. Yes, the one from the back of the bus. These people are arguing that because they are being asked to stay home to help others they are basically being subjected to a hellish society run by evil Commies. Well, if these people were protesting against racial discrimination like our friend Rosa Parks instead of loathing the fact that they are being asked to not indirectly kill people by spreading their germs, maybe their argument would stand a better chance. Xoxo