Vaccine Green Pass the New Global Government Control Mechanism
George Sosich
Que ano tumultuado foi este de 2020! O coronavírus causou um caos em todo o mundo, e como estamos nos estágios iniciais de 2021, a situação ainda não se resolveu. Muitos morreram e continuam a morrer; o vírus (juntamente com novas mutações) ainda está se espalhando; as viagens internacionais ainda são muito restritas e, é claro, houve um enorme impacto negativo nas economias, resultando na perda de muitos empregos, no fechamento de grandes e pequenas empresas, e muitas pessoas sofrendo de ansiedade e depressão.
Além disso, em várias nações, as situações políticas e culturais sofreram uma deterioração à medida que o secularismo se enraizou e se espalhou. As nações ocidentais, construídas sobre uma base de princípios cristãos praticamente abandonaram seus fundamentos cristãos. As ideias ateístas e progressistas conquistaram uma base forte e dominam a cultura popular. A globalização se tornou uma realidade. A “cultura do cancelamento” gradualmente empurra os cristãos para o escanteio do discurso público nas nações ocidentais, e pouco a pouco estão sendo introduzidas leis que contradizem os princípios bíblicos e em alguns casos estão proibindo a publicação ou a pregação de tais ideias.
Devo admitir que, às vezes, ao refletir sobre estas coisas, fiquei bastante abatido e até mesmo temeroso com relação ao futuro. Fiquei impressionado com a sensação de estar no lado errado da paisagem cultural e do “politicamente correto” e me perguntei quais seriam as implicações para minha esposa, para mim mesmo e para nossos filhos pequenos. Tem sido uma luta permanecer positivo e esperançoso no meio de tudo isso.
Recentemente, enquanto travava esta batalha, veio-me ao pensamento o versículo: “Eu lhes disse essas coisas para que em mim vocês tenham paz. Neste mundo vocês terão aflições; contudo, tenham ânimo! Eu venci o mundo.”[1] E logo depois: “Não se deixem vencer pelo mal, mas vençam o mal com o bem.”[2] Como sempre, quando começo a ficar desanimado, o Espírito Santo me traz à memória as escrituras que preciso, que inspiram o meu espírito e destravam conselhos bíblicos que se encaixam perfeitamente na minha situação. Graças ao Senhor!
O lindo discurso de Jesus para Seus discípulos depois da Última Ceia na noite antes de ser traído e eventualmente crucificado está registrado em João 16:33. Eu sempre fiquei maravilhado por João, o Amado, ter dedicado cinco capítulos inteiros do seu Evangelho para as últimas horas que Jesus passou com os discípulos antes da Sua crucificação.[3]
Naquela noite, Jesus estava enfrentando o que seria o momento mais doloroso e difícil de Sua vida terrena, e Ele sabia que Seus seguidores também estavam a caminho de um período de forte tentação para suas almas. E assim, com grande amor e compaixão, Ele passa a noite inteira com eles dando-lhes Suas últimas instruções e encorajamento para ajudá-los a se prepararem para o que estava por vir.
O primeiro versículo do capítulo 13 nos dá um vislumbre do coração de Jesus naquele momento. “Um pouco antes da festa da Páscoa, sabendo Jesus que havia chegado o tempo em que deixaria este mundo e iria para o Pai, tendo amado os seus que estavam no mundo, amou-os até o fim.[4]”
E assim, com o coração cheio de amor por Seus seguidores, Ele começa por Se humilhar para fazer o trabalho de um servo, lavando os pés e exortando-os a servirem uns aos outros também em amor.[5]
Logo depois, Ele prepara seus corações advertindo-os de que alguém estava prestes a traí-lO, até mesmo indicando quem seria.[6] Ele então lhes dá um novo mandamento: “Amem-se uns aos outros, como Eu os amei.”[7] Além deste tipo de amor cristão tornar-se um testemunho para o mundo da verdade do cristianismo, Jesus devia saber que Seus discípulos precisariam deste tipo de irmandade sacrificada e da união resultante para resistirem aos dias perigosos que se acercavam.
Serem informados de Sua iminente traição deve ter abalado muito os discípulos, e na primeira passagem do capítulo 14 Jesus os exorta a não deixarem seus corações se perturbarem e lhes dá a boa notícia de que Ele irá para o céu adiante deles, a fim de preparar o belo lar eterno que os espera;[8] que Ele não os deixaria desconsolados,[9] e que lhes daria paz no meio de seus problemas.[10]
O capítulo 15 começa com um chamado para ficarem fortes e frutíferos permanecendo na videira, Ele mesmo, e a firme promessa de que responderia às suas futuras orações desesperadas se nela permanecessem.[11] Ele então lhes deu outro chamado para amarem-se uns aos outros,[12] e os encorajou a não se deixarem abater diante do ódio que o mundo demonstraria, porque isso seria um sinal de que estavam imitando seu Mestre.[13]
No capítulo 16 Jesus reconhece a dor que inunda o coração de Seus discípulos ao ouvir estas coisas, e os encoraja de que não ficarão sem um pastor, porque Ele continuará a guiá-los através do Espírito Santo.[14] Depois Ele os conforta dizendo que de alguma forma sua dor será transformada em alegria e regozijo, e que devem ter bom ânimo porque Ele venceria o mundo e lhes daria paz.[15] A traição e morte de seu Senhor e a perseguição futura por parte de seus inimigos resultariam em paz, alegria e regozijo!? Deve ter parecido tão contrário aos seus temores naturais de tais coisas. Mas certamente os discípulos devem ter acreditado nEle, e nós também devemos.
Finalmente, no capítulo 17, Jesus ora por Seus seguidores. Ele não ora para que escapem completamente das dificuldades vindouras, mas sim para que Seu Pai cuide deles durante tais dificuldades.[16] É uma oração muito linda, e terminar a conversa desta maneira deve ter sido um grande consolo para Seus discípulos.
Imaginando-me no lugar dos discípulos na época, consigo entender melhor essas passagens e o quanto deve ter significado para eles serem avisados e encorajados dessa forma. Eles devem ter sentido profundamente o amor e o cuidado do Senhor por eles e, apesar das más notícias do que estava por vir, certamente sentiram-se fortalecidos.
Não tenho muita certeza de como os eventos atuais se desenrolarão e o que o futuro nos reserva, mas se os tempos em que vivemos continuarem a piorar, então estas passagens serão um grande consolo para mim. Nelas estão o conselho, a instrução e o consolo que preciso para enfrentar o que quer que o futuro me traga. Não só posso ser consolado pelo conhecimento da presença de Jesus e de Seu Espírito, como posso até me regozijar e me alegrar! Não preciso deixar meu espírito ser vencido pelo mal, pelo contrário, posso tomar o agravamento da situação mundial como uma oportunidade de vencer o mal com o bem, sendo uma testemunha para aqueles ao meu redor que também podem estar desesperados com as circunstâncias, mas que não têm Jesus para consolá-los.
Estou muito feliz por o Espírito Santo ter me lembrado desses versículos.[17] Apesar da minha incredulidade às vezes, e de ser infiel, Ele permanece fiel.[18] “Aquele que dá testemunho destas coisas diz: ‘Sim, venho em breve!’ Amém. Vem, Senhor Jesus!”[19]
[1] João 16:33 NVI.
[2] Romanos 12:21 NVI.
[3] João capítulos 13–17.
[4] NVI.
[5] João 13:4–17.
[6] João 13:21–26.
[7] João 13:34–35 NVI.
[8] João 14:1–4.
[9] João 14:18.
[10] João 14:27.
[11] João 15:1–10.
[12] João 15:17.
[13] João 15:18–25.
[14] João 16:6–13.
[15] João 16:20–22, 33.
[16] João 17:15.
[17] João 14:26.
[18] 2 Timóteo 2:13.
[19] Apocalipse
Vaccine Passports and Medical Paternalism
TAGS Health
Vaccine passports have been implemented, or are being developed, in a number of countries around the world. In February 2021, Israel introduced its "Green Pass," which becomes "effective the week after receiving the second dose" of the vaccine and expires after six months. It was followed by China, which launched its digital "International Travel Health Certificate" in March. Subsequently, in April, Denmark implemented its "Coronapas" and Estonia introduced its "VaccineGuard." Although the United States government recently dismissed the idea of a national vaccine passport, the state of New York has already launched its own "Excelsior Pass," and several other states are developing similar programs, whereas South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Florida, Texas and Arizona have banned the use of COVID-19 immunity passports within their borders. Other countries have also announced their intentions to launch vaccine passports in the near future, including: the United Kingdom, which will be using an NHS (National Health Service) phone app as its COVID-19 vaccine passport starting on May 17th; and, the European Union, which is planning to "facilitate free movement inside the EU" with its "Digital Green Certificate" as of June.
In addition to prohibiting unvaccinated people from travelling (e.g., boarding airplanes, staying at hotels, etc.), these electronic documents are already being used to prevent them from attending social and cultural events at stadiums, theaters, and museums. Unvaccinated citizens are also not being permitted to enter a variety of other venues and businesses like gyms, dance clubs and studios, swimming pools, hair salons, wedding halls, tattoo parlours, restaurants, and coffee shops, among others. Essentially, the implementation of vaccine passports has led to a situation where governments protect the rights and freedoms of vaccinated citizens, while infringing upon those of their unvaccinated counterparts.
The ultimate goal of vaccine passports, which are based on the notion of "health paternalism," is to coerce people into accepting injections of the experimental vaccines that have been incessantly promoted by politicians, mainstream news, and unelected medical experts for many months. However, those individuals that are not persuaded to submit themselves to unwanted medical procedures by sophisticated propaganda techniques will be forced to live a "life worse than death" through the suspension of their freedom, as well as the reasonable enjoyment of their lives within their private spheres. James M. Buchanan warned about coercive government measures that abolished liberty, as he argued that state regulations designed to protect individuals based on "scientific grounds" were "highly deceiving," because the state is essentially using scientific authority to impose a single moral value on society.1 Similarly, Robert D. Tollison and Richard E. Wagner argued that allowing the state to impose regulations on the premise of protecting the health of its citizens presented "an open invitation to tomorrow’s arguments about the social cost of sugar, sunbathing, saturated fat, recreational injuries, obesity, and on and on. Down this road lies not a free society but a totally regulated society with only one acceptable lifestyle as prescribed by the health paternalists."2 Milton Friedman was also opposed to "the health paternalists," as he argued that if the government was given the responsibility to protect our health, "the logic surely calls" for protecting "us from using dangerous bicycles and cap guns, the logic calls for prohibiting still more dangerous activities such as hang-gliding, motorcycling, and skiing."3 In his own opposition to "health paternalism," Mises asked:
Vaccination passports support the idea that people can and should be coerced into making healthy choices, which would be condemned as "a form of health fascism" by Hayek, Buchanan, Friedman, Mises, and many other contributors to liberal theory across history. In fact, they would likely argue that vaccine passports eliminate freedom, because they allow an external authority to deliberately interfere in the lives of unvaccinated people in ways that prevent them from attaining their goals, and pursuing their personal interests. For instance, Hayek, Buchanan, Friedman, and Mises defined freedom as "the absence of coercion of a man by his fellow men." With that in mind, they warned that the primary danger to freedom was any form of strong central power that intervenes in the private spheres of individuals and implements policies aimed at achieving a predetermined end based on expert scientific opinion.
Freedom from coercion, known as the negative concept of freedom ("freedom from"), was highly valued by Locke, Constant, Tocqueville, Hobbes, Bentham, Hayek, Mises, Friedman, and Buchanan, in addition to many other liberals. All of these prominent thinkers were preoccupied with answering one question: "How much am I to be governed?"5 In doing so, they were largely reacting against despotic and tyrannical rulers and governments. Proponents of the concept of negative freedom believed that ‘there should be always a frontier between public and private spheres, and that individuals should always be free to do as they please and live as they like when they are in their private spheres,’ where no one would be permitted to intervene.6 However, the implementation of vaccine passports would essentially mean that protected individual private spheres do not exist for governments and their so-called health experts. This is something that Hayek warned about when he argued that coercion would "be much more common" if there were no protected private spheres.7
Based on the concept of freedom advocated by Hayek, Buchanan, Friedman, and Mises, vaccine passports also violate economic freedom, which basically refers to the freedom to consume, produce, exchange, and cooperate spontaneously and voluntarily. They believed that "if one abolishes man’s freedom to determine his own consumption, one takes all freedoms away."8 In other words, if coercive state actions violated or abolished economic freedom, then general freedom would essentially be taken away from individuals, including freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and intellectual freedom.
The concept of freedom defended by Hayek, Buchanan, Mises, and Friedman aimed to safeguard "the maximum degree of freedom for each individual separately that is compatible with one man’s freedom not interfering with other men’s freedom."9 For them, a wider the area of non-interference and a broader the range of choices available to individuals corresponded to a greater degree of freedom. On countless occasions, these prominent liberals warned that in order to have freedom, the coercive power of any entity had to be limited, especially that of the government. They had faith that the legal system would be enough to avoid heading down "the road to serfdom" (road to unfreedom) by preventing state authorities from possessing unlimited powers that they could use to coerce as they please. However, since the onset of the pandemic, legal systems in country after country have failed to safeguard the private spheres of individuals from interference or coercion on the part of the state.
During this pandemic, much of the world has been subjected to the sudden and rapid implementation of poorly thought-out rules and policies, based on the incompetent and inexperienced central planning and design of the state. These decisions were often made by consulting only a handful of medical advisors who are not trained in areas like political science, economics, sociology, finance, history, demographics, psychology, philosophy, ethics, anthropology, and law, all of which offer important considerations for decisions that affect the whole society and the common good. In essence, politicians, in cooperation with their unelected health advisors, have managed to gain control over entire societies and reshape them in a failed effort to achieve the common good, while disregarding centuries of progress made by prominent liberal thinkers when it comes to protecting the rights and freedoms of individuals. Now, these same politicians are determined to impose vaccine passports, which will vastly expand oppressive state powers, while marginalizing unvaccinated people by suppressing their rights and freedoms, and robbing them of their ability to achieve happiness and self-development. Moreover, these oppressive governments and leaders that are pushing for vaccine passports will not forewarn those people who do not want to be injected with experimental substances about what awaits them:
Dennis Edwards: Those of us who refuse the vaccine may become 2nd class citizens. God's word warns us that in the last days a One World Government will come on the scene of man promising humanitarian utopia. That dream will not be fulfilled but instead a period called by Christ as "The Great Tribulation" will come to pass, a period so horrible in mankind's history that no period before it could compare with it. The prophet Daniel in 700 BC called it "a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time."[Daniel 12:1] Jesus said something similar: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."[Matthew 24:21 He went on to clarify further, "And except those days be shortened, there should no flesh be saved (Does that mean no animal or human life would be left on earth if God did not shorten those days?): but for the elect's sake (those that love God) those days shall be shortened."[Matthew 24:22] We who are true believers will be sought out an killed by the powers that be during that 3 and 1/2 years of tribulation.[Revelation 12:14,17 and 13:5 and 7] But those of us who know our God will be strong and do exploits.[Daniel 11:32] For more information read my book "Where is America in Bible Prophecy?"
Birsen Filip
Birsen Filip holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and master’s degrees in economics and philosophy. She has published numerous articles and chapters on a range of topics, including political philosophy, geo-politics, and the history of economic thought, with a focus on the Austrian School of Economics and the German Historical School of Economics. She is also the author of The Rise of Neo-liberalism and the Decline of Freedom (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020).
Note: The views expressed on Mises.org are not necessarily those of the Mises Institute.