Charles Darwin published his theory on evolution in 1859. The book was called On the Origin of Species and described how animal species adapt over generations to changes in their environment in order to survive. Those who can’t evolve through changes in their DNA are doomed to extinction.
All species, including homo sapiens are subject to this “survival of the fittest” scientific theory. Such natural selection is definitely in play during the current coronavirus pandemic. All you have to do is look at right-wing America and their talking heads in the media.
The difference between animals and humans when it comes to natural selection is that humans have a significantly more developed brain. Well, not all of them. Tucker Carlson from Fox “News” is a glaring example of those who do not.
Those of us who do have more intelligence use science to stack the deck in our favor when it comes to survival. We don’t need to rely on our DNA to adapt over several generations; we can address an environmental challenge immediately and ensure our species continues.
COVID-19 is our current environmental challenge and the development and implementation of vaccines, as well as common-sense approaches to avoid transmission, is our way to guarantee “survival of the fittest”.
By using science, we are not at the mercy of natural selection; however, right-wing America wants nature to determine who survives.
The Conservative “Christian” Right
When Darwin’s theory was published, there was tremendous outrage from Christians across the world. They deny, and continue to deny to this day, the existence of evolution. It’s ironic then that the Christian right, and the people they trust for information, are really on board with natural selection when it comes to the coronavirus.
Carlson says people who try to stop the spread of COVID-19 should be punished. Proof of vaccination is becoming more common and Carlson insists that you should be able to buy a fake vaccine card without punishment instead of protecting yourself against a potentially deadly virus. Carlson is basically saying buy something illegal so you can go on about your business and let natural selection do its thing.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) says natural immunity is the way to go. Hey Nancy – natural immunity is another way of saying Darwin was right.
And then there’s Donald Trump. The man who brags he has a very large brain. Size is the most important thing with Trump.
The House Select Subcommittee investigating the response to COVID-19 in 2020 recently released a report. To no one’s surprise, they determined that Trump and his administration cared more about his re-election than implementing a plan to protect the health and well-being of Americans.
The most chilling part of this report is knowing that consultants from the medical field were seriously discussing letting herd immunity loose on an unsuspecting nation. Donald Trump was willing to listen and not do anything to stop the spread.
Herd immunity is just a way of letting natural selection run rampant. Trump and his administration knew that Black, Hispanic/Latino and Native Americans were being hit hardest by the coronavirus. These racial and ethnic groups do not have large numbers of GOP voters. It’s implied that Trump was willing to let millions of people die so they couldn’t vote against him.
Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed.
It’s All About Staying in Power
People who say don’t take the COVID-19 vaccine are really saying if you are weak, through no fault of your own, you don’t belong in their society. This is reminiscent of Hitler’s “master race” where only the strong deserved to live. Disabled people in Nazi Germany were determined to be unfit and either sterilized or put in concentration camps. People with compromised immune systems are considered “disabled” by right-wing logic and should just be weeded out.
As people like Tucker Carlson, Nancy Mace and Donald Trump have never indicated they care about the consequences of their actions, it is unclear if “just let the weak die out” is their intent.
GOP voters also have weak immune systems. But maybe the thought is COVID-19 will take out more Democratic than Republican voters to tip the odds in their favor.
It’s just patriotic to put your life on the line for a political party that is more than willing to sacrifice you and your family to stay in power, isn’t it?
Those of us with more evolved brains don’t think so. Maintain social distancing, avoid large indoor crowds, wear the mask and get vaccinated. And take as many boosters as Dr. Anthony Fauci recommends for however long it takes. The longer this drags out, the more variants will spring up until we get one that our immune systems can’t fight off. Even with a vaccine.
Viruses are all about survival too. It’s what they are programmed to do.