An esteemed colleague from the entertainment biz sent me a link the other day to an interesting USA Today feature story on the recent Lollapalooza Music Festival. Held at Grant Park in Chicago, the iconic annual hoo-ha featured an eclectic array of marquee artists, including Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Megan Thee Stallion, Marshmello, Journey, Dababy, and Tyler, the Creator. The event generated an estimated 375,000 turnstile ticks throughout its July 29th - August 1st run. Reportedly, each ticket holder was required to show proof of COVID vaccination upon entry.
After shaking off the initial shock of Journey performing on the same bill as Ms. Stallion, the story gripped my attention tighter, as it brought to light several points I've struggled with myself during the 18-month COVID crisis; the inconsistencies (Wear a mask / Don't wear a mask / Wear two masks), the confusion (You can do "that" here, but not there), the political arrogance (Do for thee, but not for me), the misinformation (The pandemic is over — no more masks / The pandemic is here to stay — mask up). And apparently the virus can't be transmitted in groups of X-number. But a group of X-number+1 is a super-spreader. Heck, it's enough to make a "deplorable" even nuttier, and a "lefty" even loonier.
In recent weeks, the frustration factor has ramped up further as it's been confirmed in the face of the delta variant outbreak that vaccines ARE the foolproof solution — sorta. Huh? Particularly troubling is how the official inconsistent guv'ment responses have fueled public panic, widespread fear and Walmart fistfights.
There's been no true, sound leadership on either side of the fence. And Fauci has proven to be, um — less than credible. At times it can seem like they're all just making this shit up as they go along. Hmm. Too often it could be perceived as if the "peasants" are being played by the "rulers" purely for political purposes. Let them eat cake! Had the vaccine been available on the Trump watch, we were warned in advance by the "smart people" to fear "the jab." Orange man bad! But since it arrived to the general public after the election, we are commanded by the same people to DO IT! DO IT NOW! TAKE THE F-ING SHOT, OR ELSE — YOU IGNORANT, RECKLESS FOOLS!
Just last week, faded Hollywood superstar and former California governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, took time out from banging the maid to wag his Montecristo in the faces of defiant anti-vaxers. "Screw your freedom," he scolded, as if he's even remotely relevant anymore. My personal aversion to the COVID vaccine is not informed by a freedom-fighting spirit. I just recognize that this whole thing is sketch A.F. Truth be told, I don't trust any of "them" — not Biden, not Trump, not Fauci, not the CDC, the WHO, the DNC, the RNC, the PTA or the IRS. So, "screw" YOU, Arnie!
We're told to "follow the science." But even science has become politicized. Considering the sources, my concern is that "following the science" now might lead us all right off the edge of the flat earth.
So, what about all the widely-reported public gatherings this summer? Personally, I maintain that the pandemic has continued to be a real threat since March 2020. Although I love seeing things coming back to normal, I still have to ask, what's really changed since the three weeks we were told to hunker-down in order to "flatten the curve?" Not much that I can see.
If Lollapalooza is "safe" now, that's fantastic — let's move on. But why wasn't it safe last year? Sure, we have the vaccine now, but we also have the new delta variant, compromising the vaccine's effectiveness. As a result, to offer a football analogy, the chain hasn't budged but a yard downfield. And it would be nice if the goalposts weren't being moved constantly.
What has changed is that commerce now no longer has any patience for a public heath crisis. The economy has to get moving again. And I totally agree — it shouldn't have been shut down to begin with. Chicago mayor, Lori Lightfoot took the Palooza payday last month (as she should have) and former president Obama partied the other night with the "sophisticated" elites (as he should have). But they received relatively little criticism compared to what got heaped on those "Neanderthals" at Sturgis.
We're all emotionally fatigued right now. But one sure-fire way to bounce back is by going out and living life. Just back off (if possible), mask up (if necessary), take the shot (if led), make smart, responsible choices and for goodness sake, let's knock off the name-calling. And BTW, never (ever) "bow" to tyranny.
