Needling is good for you when it comes to virus protection
Have you ever been needled by anyone? I suspect it may have happened to you more then once!
Childhood vaccinations may soon become a requirement to attend public school and perhaps other vaccinations to attend work.
An online dictionary describes needling as, “1. To prick or pierce (something) with or as if with a needle, dust needled his eyes,” or as in a vaccination, 2. To provoke or annoy (someone) by continual criticism or questioning.
“I just said that to Charlie to needle him.”
Incidentally, I do still have a physical dictionaries.
Growing up with seven children in our family, I was the middle kid who often got it from both sides. Two older brothers loved to play let’s tickle him until he cries or dogpile him until he cannot breathe. It was meant to be silly fun, but often got carried away until mom came to help.
As I played high school sports at
George Elliott school, in what is now Lake Country, I rapidly learned that you could needle your opponents just by talking to them. Sometimes this would distract them from the game. It did not need a physical body check. Words can be hurtful.
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden has taken more than a needling from Donald Trump who likes to call him “Sleepy Joe.” In politics, what starts out as good natured needling can often turn ugly.
Personal needling can be the same. A lot of needling is just not worth a response.
There have been vaccinations for well over a century now and their safety is really not in question.
Growing up, I was needled by the local health nurse who came to our home. Indeed, those same older brothers, mentioned above, told me that the needle was so long, it would go in one arm and come out the other.
My mother had no problem dragging me out from under the bed when the nurse arrived.
In the 1950s there were still no vaccinations for some growing-up scourges.
It is not a lot of fun to have a whole family quarantined in one house for two weeks.
Red measles also meant all windows curtained, at our home, to protect sensitive eyes. We have come a long ways with vaccinations and red measles is readily controlled today.
My doctor stated the flu vaccination is cumulative and may help prevent other flus in the future.
Despite all the advancements, it is startling to learn the “local” leader of an anti vaccination group is also connected to a neo-Nazi “freedom” party.
There is no freedom in dying. B.C. Attorney General Mike Farnworth said “the vast majority of us will get vaccinated and this will even help protect them. Then they can crawl back in their holes and shut up!” Often the truth has to be blunt.
Freedom of speech does not give anyone the right to defy legally constituted laws that are made to correct the ills of society. Group gatherings have been a major source of infections.
We all must realize that we need also do our voluntary part by rolling up our sleeves and getting a slight poke to help control the pandemic. If you want to go outside the country in the future, this may be a requirement. Think about Hawaii or wherever you might like to travel.
On the positive side, our woodscut spruce Christmas tree is up and still has the same Angel of Good News on top. Yes, this variety has poky needles, but locally grown trees have become a little expensive. We all will need to look at prices of everything as we try to help restart the 2021 economy. Buying local may help.
Hopefully, we are all aware from this pandemic that there are powers beyond human beings which can be a challenge to understand.
Sometimes religious beliefs can help with that understanding. Challenge yourself this Christmas season to explore what you believe. The Christian Christmas celebration is about giving up petty needling and spreading joy and hope to the world.
Do your duty and get needled! Happy New Year!