The debate about mandatory Covid vaccination has led to a significant shift in the relationship between individuals and the government. The government now has the power to dictate what individuals can put into their bodies, raising concerns about the potential loss of both bodily autonomy and autonomy over one’s own healthcare decisions. There are also concerns about the government’s intentions in mandating the vaccine, as there have been instances in the past where medical procedures have been used for purposes beyond their intended goals, such as the CIA’s fake Hepatitis B vaccine program in Pakistan.
The concept of the “banality of evil” suggests that even good people can do harmful things without realizing it. This concept is relevant to the debate about mandatory Covid vaccination, as it raises questions about whether individuals may blindly follow orders and participate in actions that may have negative consequences, simply because they believe they are for the greater good. The “boiling frog” analogy further illustrates this idea, as it warns of the dangers of gradual changes and how people may unknowingly participate in harmful actions because they believe they are for the common good. It is only when it is too late that they realize the consequences of their actions.
As the mandate was implemented, many people found themselves questioning whether forcefully injecting the vaccine was truly a good thing. They knew that they might not realize the consequences of their actions until it was too late, much like a frog in boiling water. Despite their initial support for the vaccine, they began to wonder if they had made a grave mistake in blindly trusting the government.
People may be required to do certain things by mandate, and those who question the ethical justification for these mandates may be ostracized as “antivaxx” by society. This can lead to a divide between those who support the mandate and those who do not, with each group feeling that their perspective is the right one. The tendency to label and ostracize those who disagree can create indirect censorship, resulting in a monopoly of truth. It is essential to foster an open and inclusive dialogue in order to thoroughly consider all perspectives and come to a well-informed decision.
I was deeply upset when I discovered that I wouldn’t be allowed to board a train in Indonesia due to my vaccination status. Despite having received two doses of the Covid vaccine, I was required to have three in order to comply with the regulations. As a result, I had to cancel my trip. It was disappointing to have my plans disrupted in this way, and I couldn’t understand why I was being punished for not having received one additional dose of the vaccine. Thankfully I found out that it is possible to obtain a vaccination proof in Indonesia even if you haven’t actually been vaccinated. *wink*
References:
Nawaz, M. (2021). The Vaccine Mandate: Good Intentions, Evil Results [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ugbn7cuab3mNgKbo81ajM?si=df79999d00f84e52&nd=1
Arendt, Hannah. “The Banality of Evil.” In Eichmann in Jerusalem: A Report on the Banality of Evil, 1-63. New York: Viking, 1963.
Vires in Numeris 