Honor Freedom of Choice & Oppose COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate at Naropa
64 Comments
M
Megan Phippen
· petition starter
5 years ago
I appreciate you sharing this perspective, it is important to consider and I value hearing multiple voices. While it is a privilege to speak up for and exercise personal freedoms, it is also always a privilege to align with the dominant narrative. I feel it is important to also hear the voices of people who are unable to receive vaccinations due to chronic health issues and/or potential risk factors. I also honor those who seek to claim their religious and spiritual freedom in this context, many of who also come from marginalized identities.
A
Anonymous
5 years ago
MY BODY MY CHOICE.
K
Kuthoomi Castro
5 years ago
I love that the petition is to respect freedom of choice and to advocate for consent... and I hear that well and is essential. At the same time I know that depending on social location and identities, a request like this can be weaponize to uphold white supremacy. Freedom of choice and consent are experiences that QTBIPOs most often don't have and experience. Thus such request come with great privileged and in my opinion, abuse of them. The petition names that mandated vaccination is oppressive (For privileged, equality and equity feels like oppression). However, naropa is holding privileged folks accountable and asking them to check in, to let go of their privilege/individual stand, to decentralize themselves and centralize those who have been systemically in the margins. Decolonial choice comes with social responsibility. I fully support Naropa on this, it is about time privileged folks are hold Systemically accountable, something that would not be necessary if they were willing to do their decolonial social work. I understand the fear of not participating in a system that exploits people, the land, takes away choice, and neglects consent. I understand not trusting it at all due to its history of oppression and yet you checking out is only possible due to the privileges you posses and that has an impact. Choosing not to be vaccinated may be your way to stay safe, and yet the impact may be that others get sick or die. You may be safe if you are Asymptomatic, have a strong immune system, luck, or simple a result of your privileges, however, you still can be a host of the virus and pass it on. Mandatory vaccination attempts to check privileged folks in, otherwise they continue to check out, a choice most don't have.
I appreciate you sharing this perspective, it is important to consider and I value hearing multiple voices. While it is a privilege to speak up for and exercise personal freedoms, it is also always a privilege to align with the dominant narrative. I feel it is important to also hear the voices of people who are unable to receive vaccinations due to chronic health issues and/or potential risk factors. I also honor those who seek to claim their religious and spiritual freedom in this context, many of who also come from marginalized identities.
MY BODY MY CHOICE.
I love that the petition is to respect freedom of choice and to advocate for consent... and I hear that well and is essential. At the same time I know that depending on social location and identities, a request like this can be weaponize to uphold white supremacy. Freedom of choice and consent are experiences that QTBIPOs most often don't have and experience. Thus such request come with great privileged and in my opinion, abuse of them. The petition names that mandated vaccination is oppressive (For privileged, equality and equity feels like oppression). However, naropa is holding privileged folks accountable and asking them to check in, to let go of their privilege/individual stand, to decentralize themselves and centralize those who have been systemically in the margins. Decolonial choice comes with social responsibility. I fully support Naropa on this, it is about time privileged folks are hold Systemically accountable, something that would not be necessary if they were willing to do their decolonial social work. I understand the fear of not participating in a system that exploits people, the land, takes away choice, and neglects consent. I understand not trusting it at all due to its history of oppression and yet you checking out is only possible due to the privileges you posses and that has an impact. Choosing not to be vaccinated may be your way to stay safe, and yet the impact may be that others get sick or die. You may be safe if you are Asymptomatic, have a strong immune system, luck, or simple a result of your privileges, however, you still can be a host of the virus and pass it on. Mandatory vaccination attempts to check privileged folks in, otherwise they continue to check out, a choice most don't have.
Keep human beings free to choose! It is our right