That's what I am, freedom of choice, choice to vaccinate and mask up or freedom not to. The other side doesn't seem so keen on freedom of choice.
As to death, I am reminded of Buddha's "thousands" verse from the Dhammapada, that it is better to live in wisdom and strength for a day than a thousand years in ignorance and lack of self control, namely that the quality of life is more important than its length. In this scenario I'd say it is better to live in freedom and fearlessness for a day than in bondage and fear for a thousand years.
Your example doesn't falsify the statement that freedoms once given away are often never given back and the potential that has for future abuse by institutions which may become or are already corrupt, as is a near constant trend throughout the history of mankind.Malcolm wrote: ↑Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:46 pm This is false. For example, as above, all children in public school in the USA are required to receive vaccinations for mumps, measles, etc. Of course, if their parents choose not to school them in the public school system, they are free not to. But most schools require these vaccines for children, whether public or private.
A crime isn't really the same as bodily autonomy regarding vaccination is it? And "accommodate and adjust" to these institutions isn't really the same as blind trust and obedience either, which seems to be more the case in this scenario. But let's make it analogy of a single man rather than a conglomeration of interrelated powerful institutions, why should a Buddhist have faith in the words of or obey a man whose thoughts/speech/actions are completely contrary to the Dharma and, worst of all, is known to frequently lie?Malcolm wrote: ↑Tue Aug 03, 2021 2:46 pmThis is not the case. When, during the Buddha's day, monks committed civil crimes, they were turned over the civil authorities. The world at large has always promoted values, actions, and ways of thinking that are contrary to the Dharma. But we live in the world with other people. Therefore we have to get along with other people who are not Buddhists. This means we have to accommodate and adjust to the presence of governments, media, tech, large corporations.