Especially in times of crisis. Especially when the government is trying to protect us. After all, what could possibly be more important than saving lives and preventing unnecessary death?
Is individual liberty more important than someone else's life? Is personal freedom more important than the greater good? Is medical autonomy, bodily integrity, or personal choice more important than what government officials claim is best for you, your children, or our community?
The reality is that different people answer these questions in different ways. There is an ideological divide, rooted in socially conditioned beliefs, than causes people to approach the topic of "what's best" from wildly different angles. It is imperative that we understand these are irreconcilable differences -- and they are not going to go away.
Remember the Shanghai lockdown of some 26 million people I mentioned last week? Turns out their initial 9 day lockdown was insufficient. Now the Chinese government is scrambling to stop the spread, taking up drastic measures to do so -- by forcefully separating children from their parents:
"Parents who brought their children in for treatment have seen them taken by authorities and moved to official quarantine facilities, often leaving families in the dark about their childrens' condition. When both parent and child have tested positive, doctors have used threats to browbeat families into compliance. In some cases, children as young as 3 months old have reportedly been separated from their breast-feeding mothers."
Can you hear the gut wrenching wails of a scared child? Can you hear the desperation in the parent's voice as they beg to stay see their children? What would you do if a government official tried to forcefully take your child out of your arms? Would you just accept that it's for the greater good?
It bothers me that some people would attempt to justify this behavior -- the government callously separating children from their families -- but what bothers me even more, is that the government assumes it has the authority to do so. If they can lay claim to our offspring, in the name of the greater good, what can they NOT do?
