The Arbitrary

Dear Lila,

I am so damn proud of you, kid.  I am in awe of your ability to be independent and mature – you just seem to have it figured out right now, but never forget, I am here to support you, as needed.  Always and forever.  It’s still, after almost 13-years, difficult to drop you off knowing you won’t sleep over again for 7-nights – and I miss your awesome face when you’re away.

Sometimes I just sit in your empty room – and I pray that you are as happy at your mothers’ home, as you are with me.  Every time I browse the latest movies and come across something interesting, I tell myself “wait for Lila, because she will love this movie, too.”  I was wrong about the movie, Lamb – as that was an absurd cinematic experience, but at least we experienced it together.

Lately, I have been feeling down – and I just hope it hasn’t been so noticeable for you.

The pandemic, especially how it has been handled in California, has certainly messed with my head – and I am sometimes not sure if I can hold it all together.  It pains me to see you wear a mask for 8-hours per day at school – then wearing a mask at basketball practice, and during games.  The public continues to treat children like some miniature contagions who are a risk to other people – but if they actually follow the science, they will understand that is not true.  You and your classmates are not the problem – it is the groups of scared adults pushing fear-based public health policy who are.  I also pray that those making these poor decisions will become less afraid and come to the realization that children have been disparately impacted by the extreme and fruitless measures local governments have taken to “stop the spread.”  Two-weeks has transformed into two years – and with each variant, the bureaucrats react with fear and anger toward their communities…unless you conform, absolutely. 

I believe that every family should have a choice – but no matter where we go in California, we are required to cover our faces, and often times, even just to eat out, show proof of a vaccination you or I do not need.  I would’ve never, in a million years, guessed society would fragment because of a virus and persistent virtue signalers shouting misinformation from every corner of social media.  It has happened, and it makes me wonder about the future. 

This will probably be insignificant to you, but I realized just how damaging covering our faces for two-years has been when your middle-school basketball team took off their masks for a team photo after your last game. It hit me hard when I realized I did not know what your team-mates looked like, or how amazing the smile of a group of kids is.  The fact that you all smiled so bright helped me understand I must continue to stay strong and approach every situation with a more positive perspective.  But, I am advocating for you kids constantly – writing the County Public Health Department and asking questions they can’t answer (i.e., where is the evidence that kids covering their faces during intense indoor sports is effective to reduce COVID transmission?  Or evidence that basketball ever increased the risk – especially for a group where 85% are vaccinated?).  Writing to the local County Supervisors, again, asking questions they can’t answer.  Talking to other parents who just say, “it’s what the County wants us to do.”

Not only is California leading the way in arbitrary, fear-based mandates – but the general population in California is more than willing to be compliant, 100%, because of the fear mongering.  They don’t look at the data, they just believe in talking heads like Dr. Fauci, who is no longer effective at his job.  They believe in super elite politicians like Newsom ($20 million net worth) and Pelosi ($300+ million net worth) who say one thing, then do another.  They aren’t leaders, they are parasites hungry for power and control.

To me, when we reflect as father and daughter – I need you to use this as a lesson to truly understand that having “authority” as an elected official or leader does not mean you are “always right.”  It is time to question the motives and tactics in Santa Clara County – especially as a fully vaccinated household in an area where vaccine rates are close to 85%.  What they are doing is not right – and I want my children, your sister included, to be strong and question leadership when it fails.  Question me, if you feel I am wrong.  Please, never blindly follow the herd, or engage in group think or identity politics.  You are better than that.

I love you with all of my heart, Lila – and I can’t wait to give you a hug next Wednesday.

Love always and forever,

Dad