My wife thinks I’m strange. Many of you men out there are probably thinking “Yeah, so. My wife thinks I’m strange too. So what?” I suppose it’s true that I am a little different. But does that make me strange? And, in reality, is strange really such a bad thing?
Well, I suppose that depends on what passes for normal.
The more I look at how screwed up the world is these days, I’m not so sure I want to be normal anymore. I certainly don’t want to just “be like everybody else.” The older I get, the more I realize that I really don’t want to live forever, certainly not in this messed-up world.
My wife doesn’t get out much. She home schools our 3 kids; cooks dinner; harvests food from our garden and preserves it. She doesn’t even like to go shopping. She pretty much prefers to stay home and take care of our family. But the other day, she and the kids went shopping with me. We just went to Wal-Mart and bought some groceries, a few clothing items, and a movie. And, on the way home she said, “You’re right, honey, it is getting a bit scary out there.”
Now, if you’ve been going out every day for the past 4 months you might not understand her statement. However, if you just go back in time to March 1st, you would understand better. For example, I just ordered a McDonald’s Big Breakfast. (Yes, I know it’s not good for me, as my wife daily reminds me of the evils of fast food.) I went through the drive-through, not because I wanted to, but because I had to. On March 1st, I would’ve just walked in and ordered, then sat down, used their wifi, and written my article. But not today. Right now I’m sitting in the parking lot typing while eating my food. But first I had to drive through the take-out line, and instead of seeing a human take my order, I felt like Stuart Redman in the Stephen King movie “The Stand.”
I remember way back in the end of March when all this Covid-stuff started I wanted to watch that old mini-series again where 99% of the world died from a deadly flu virus. But my wife wouldn’t let me. She said it would terrify the kids. Go figure. But I’ve probably watched that movie a dozen times over the years because I like the picture it paints of good over evil. I remember near the beginning of the movie in the small town of Arnett, Texas, the US Military moves in to quarantine the town. They go to Stuart Redman’s house and take him into custody because he had direct contact with patient zero. At first, he resists by saying, “Ya wanna git yer hand off my arm, Hoss?” I like that line. It’s 100 percent red white and blue blooded American. Get yer hands off me, Hoss, I’m an American. You can’t do that to me.
But, faced with overwhelming force and a lick of common sense, Stuart relents and goes peacefully. But then later on, in quarantine, after a barrage of medical tests and very little shared information, Stuart becomes feisty again. Dr. Dietz, one of the head epidemiologists confronts Redman because he is no longer cooperating with the testing regimen. The conversation doesn’t go well.
Dr. Dietz: Patty Greer says you’ve given her quite a bit of trouble, she’s quite upset.
Stu Redman: Well, that makes two of us. Being hijacked by a bunch of government sons of bitches in space suits does that to me every time. So if you don’t want to see how quick I can rip a hole in that thing ‘fore you can get outta here, you better give me a little information. You tell me why I’m not sick.
I’m starting to feel a bit like Stuart Redman these days. I feel like I’ve been locked in an examining room while the government experts run tests and dictate every facet of my life. And, if I resist, I’m called a bad person, told that I don’t care about innocent lives, and that I’m saving millions by blindly cooperating.
And, if I question the government experts, then I’m told by Hollywood movie stars and other influential media people to “Just wear the damn mask!”
Well, since when do Hollywood movie stars know anything about real life? They are probably one of the most screwed-up demographics of our entire culture. None of them can stay married for more than a few years; they have drug and alcohol-related problems that just won’t quit, and they have the moral fiber of a garden slug. I think Hollywood should just shut the hell up and go back to acting.
Here’s the thing. I would gladly wear a mask if I was being told the truth. But I know when I’m being lied to, and I resist. The “experts” first told us that 120 million people were going to die. That hasn’t happened. They first told us that the mortality rate could be as high as 12 percent. It’s less than one-half of one percent, and the vast majority of deaths are in people who already have one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peeling.
The bottom line is this: even after 4 months of research and testing and unlimited funding, the government experts still don’t know what the hell they’re doing. You can line up 10 of these so-called experts, ask them all the same question, and get 7 different answers. And I’m supposed to cooperate? I’m supposed to willingly surrender my way of life simply because the government, the media, and Hollywood actors tell me I’m a bad person if I don’t?
I feel like my life and my family has been hijacked by a bunch of government sons of bitches in space suits. Now, if you want to wear a mask, then by all means go ahead. But if you want me to wear a mask, then you’d better give me some straight answers before you see how fast I can rip a hole in yer space suit. Cuz I’m really starting to get a little pissed off!
I understand that Covid is real. I don’t deny that. But I also know when I’m being lied to, and I don’t cooperate with liars. So, if you want me to stay home and wear a mask, destroy my family’s financial future and pass moral judgement on anyone who doesn’t cooperate with you, then you damn well better fess up and give me the straight story. Because right now, I’m about fed up with all your lies. You want cooperation? Then give me the truth! But until then, “just git yer damn hands off my arm, Hoss!”
Skip Coryell is the author of 16 books, including “Civilian Combat: The Concealed Carry Book” and the post-apocalyptic adventure series “The Covid Chronicles” as well as “The God Virus”
