A Visit to Burger King

We went for a stroll along Matosinhos beach last evening. Hardly anyone seemed very concerned about the virus. There were a few fearful ones wearing their masks, but most people have figured out the scam by now. There's nothing healthy about putting on a mask when out walking, and it's particularly nonsensical to put on a mask when out to catch a breath of fresh sea air.

It was a nice end to the day with temperatures hovering around 20C. Once the sun set, the temperatures dropped a little more. We felt peckish, so we decided to get ourselves some food at Burger King. We put on our masks, headed inside, and placed our orders at the self service machine. With temperatures a little low for sitting outside, we looked for a table inside. However, we were soon reminded that indoors dining is forbidden for the unvaccinated on Saturdays and Sundays. We were therefore instructed to eat our food outside.

We went outdoors where we found a table, and that's when it struck me how strange it was that there weren't anyone sitting inside, because the terrace outside was full of people, despite the relatively cool temperatures and the lack of proper lighting. People were sitting there despite these discomforts. Yet we're told that 85% of people in Portugal are vaccinated by now, so what's going on?

One reason could be that the 85% number does not apply to the complete population of Portugal. It applies to adults above a certain age, and most of the people at Burger King were young. However, even if the 85% number was accurate for the guests at the restaurant, there would be 15% who weren't vaccinated, and if the typical group of customers is 4 individuals, we get that the chance that everybody in a group are vaccinated is a mere 52%.

But if people were forced to sit outside due to a stubborn friend or two, the atmosphere wouldn't have been as upbeat as it was. People seemed content to sit outside; even quite happy. My wife felt this too. She sensed a spirit of defiance, as if sitting outside was an act of righteous rebellion.

We might have witnessed the early stages of of a trend I predicted back in August. Vaccine passports will be seen as a social burden rather than a privilege. Carrying one for everyday affairs indicate a willingness to submit, which is never a cool thing among friends. Hence, even the vaccinated will prefer to avoid the use of their passports.

This will in turn lead to a certain reverence towards the unvaccinated, because we will be perceived as the most committed to the cause of liberty. Our refusal to submit will be seen as strength, rather than insolence.

All that's needed to push this trend further, is to remain calm and unafraid. Pointing out the nonsensical nature of the rules and the relatively harmless nature of the virus will serve this purpose.

This will make people start to actively seek alternatives wherever vaccines are mandated. Once people realize that vaccines have nothing to do with health, and everything to do with control, they will be seen as bureaucratic measures to be avoided as much as possible.

My wife believes that vaccines will be mandated for everyone at some point. But she also expects to see loopholes. Her colleagues will find workarounds, not least because they need her more than she needs them. She too has taken on the mindset of a sovereign, and it's making her decidedly happy about things.

I was right in my assessment when my wife expressed her intention to get vaccinated. She wanted me to put my foot down, which I did. The result of this is that she too sees herself as a sovereign. How could it be any other way? She's married to a sovereign. Becoming a serf for the elite was therefore never an option, and I proved this by saying no to her expressed intention.

Matosinhos beach