I do my best to avoid inconsistency. I am aware of the various seeming contradictions present in my character. I do my best to hold true to a core standard, and I'm willing to be challenged for justification based on those standards.
I, for instance, am willing to carry a gun day to day, and willing to use it in defense of innocent life. "Love thy neighbor as thyself" is my standard here. If I were being threatened, assuming I'm innocent of capital crime at the time, I would very much want to be defended. If I were threatening innocent life, whether by psychotic break or willful disregard, I would very much want someone to stop me.
The above is an extreme example of my justifications for what might seem inconsistency.
Current standards in the regional branch of my SCA hobby seem quite inconsistent, and I wish I understood or even knew the justification.
It is the current policy of Calontir to require proof of vaccination or negative test results for attendance. I disagree with this stance, but if I don't like it, I can stay home, that's my choice. I could go further afield to another kingdom where they don't have these requirements. I have that choice. I'm vaccinated against COVID-19, so I could just grit my teeth and set aside my moral compunctions, but that would be somewhat hypocritical, so I'm avoiding that as much as possible (the opportunity to attend Lilies War with certain friends compels me to grit my teeth this June).
It is the prerogative of those in charge to set these rules in place for the safety of their kingdom if they believe it the best course of action.
What strikes me as massively inconsistent among the leadership is the decision to lead the Kingdom to Gulf Wars where these requirements are not in force.
If vaccination cards and tests are so important and necessary for safety, why would our leaders encourage the populace to attend Gulf Wars, let alone attend themselves.
Of course, anyone uncomfortable with the requirements or lack thereof at Gulf Wars may choose to stay home. That's their choice.
But the leadership demonstrates by their attendance that they do not feel the requirements are necessary. So why do they impose such rules on the Kingdom?
Let it be said I have plenty of respect for the leadership, they do a hard job on a volunteer basis. I merely disagree with their conclusions on this matter, and I write this mainly to clear my own thoughts and to perhaps spark a new line of thinking. These are questions, not accusations.
Lilies War will be requiring either a vaccination card or a negative test. The test would actually screen for the virus, so, sure, if you wanted to be super careful that would be the course of action, one I would find to be overblown and still ultimately useless, considering anyone could get infected at the gas station on their way to the event and be contagious by the end of the week. Vaccination cards mean nothing, we know the virus is spreading quite easily among the vaccinated, having mutated into Omicron some time ago. The people who show vaccination cards instead of negative tests are a much greater threat.
Onward to the subject of wearing masks. Properly fitted medical grade or N95 (or similar) rated masks work as intended. The filters are fine enough to catch any virus. So if a venue is going to require masks, it should be these masks. That is almost logical.
Almost. Because these masks ARE capable of protecting the individual wearer, unlike the basic cloth facemasks everyone was encouraged or required to wear for quite a long time. So an individual wearing the N95 mask is protected by that mask. They do not need anyone else to wear a mask to improve the protection of the N95 mask.
So if one wishes to wear the mask, then one should do so, and thus be very well protected from all airborne diseases.
If one does not wear a mask, they are no threat to the individual who does wear a mask, because the mask sufficiently protects the wearer.
Not everyone needs a mask, only those who consider themselves at risk.
Like it or not, masks became a political statement. Never should have (and I have other thoughts on how that contention came about) but it did. And "masks required for all" past this point becomes a political statement, because the ironclad logic has completely demonstrated the masks will only protect the wearer. Those who want the protection can have it. Those who don't will no longer be inconvenienced.
What I'm saying is, the fighting over all of this can stop. No one has to fight to be protected, they can protect themselves, and no one has to fight for their perceived freedoms. Let the fighting stop.
I must beg for this to end, because I see the continued safety theatre of masks, and tests, and vaccination cards as a cruelty for inspiring fear. 'If we need all these precautions it must be serious.'
When your child is scared of the dark you don't sit down beside them and also act frightened. That would be cruel.
I will not be cruel.
Because I must,
Jesse
Dusty trail, saw vapor light
Was it a mirage? I don't know, but it seemed right
I felt mission, I felt trust
I knew then that I must
Must go to her from this cruel world
- Cruel, Cruel World, by Willie Nelson