Letter to Lori Lightfoot
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING
Dear Mayor Lightfoot:
This letter is written for a very specific purpose. It is not about the huge uptick in Chicago’s violent crimes; not about the citywide carjackings; not about the riots and protests; not about CPS teacher strikes; and not about the Bears moving to Arlington Heights — all of which have happened or are likely to happen under your watch. This is in direct response to your discriminatory vaccine mandate that started on Monday, January 3rd.
Since 2003, I have been a personal trainer/strength coach and a major proponent for healthy lifestyles. Over the years, I have worked with every type of client: from helping the elderly to teaching preschool judo; from training the general population to improving high-end athletic performance. I understand that clients have different needs, and not every exercise is appropriate for every client. Making everyone follow the same one-size-fits-all training program would be extremely unprofessional and dangerous, as it would lead to a high likelihood of preventable injury. Should a high school football player and a grandmother train the same way? Of course not.
I realize that you are a politician and not a medical doctor or health expert, yet you are advocating a one-size-fits-all approach that contradicts common sense. Demanding that all Chicagoans become vaccinated — and socially punishing those that do not comply — is an abuse of power and not in your job description. (The mayor’s job description on chicityclerk.com does not include promoting discrimination against fellow Chicagoans.) Up until now, personal health choices have always been… personal. Now you’ve forced them to become public. I have seen that on your social media profiles, you label yourself as a “fighter of equity and inclusion for Chicagoans,” which is comical and hypocritical. The very mandate that you have promoted encourages inequality and exclusion. You believe that certain people with certain paperwork deserve the freedom to eat in a restaurant or workout in a gym, while others without said paperwork do not.
Equally puzzling is your stance that most of Chicago’s COVID-19 cases are caused by the unvaccinated. In fact, you have used your Twitter platform to personally attack anyone that may be questioning whether the vaccine is the right decision for them. Right before Christmas, on December 21st, you Tweeted:
To put it simply, if you have been living vaccine-free, your time is up. If you wish to live life as w/the ease to do the things you love, you must be vax’d. This health order may pose an inconvenience to the unvaccinated, and in fact it is inconvenient by design.
Wow. While I support free speech, your Tweet is equivalent to yelling “fire” inside a crowded theatre. It has, and was intended to, cause chaos and encourage people to trample each other. Chicagoans are no longer created equal. You have used Twitter to single-out and insinuate that all of Chicago’s positive COVID-19 cases are due to the unvaccinated. Not only is that perception factually incorrect, Twitter banned former President Trump for similar misinformation and hate speech. Your actions deserve a similar Twitter fate.
Here are five questions that some vaccine-hesitant Chicagoans might be asking, along with their truthful answers:
Does the vaccine prevent me from contracting COVID-19? No.
Does the vaccine prevent me from passing COVID-19 onto someone else? No.
Is the vaccine known to have any serious side effects? Yes. Myocarditis is a risk, especially in young men.
If I experience any complications from the vaccine will Moderna, Pfizer, or Johnson and Johnson reimburse me for my medical bills? No. Big Pharma bears zero responsibility for any side effects.
If I have previously contacted COVID-19, do I still need to be vaccinated? No. Natural immunity provides stronger protection than the vaccine.
Consider the Chicago Bulls for proof of this reality. Back on November 4th, basketball writer K.C. Johnson reported that the Bulls players reached full vaccination status and “the Bulls have done all they can to put themselves in the best position to stay healthy. They are fully vaccinated.” (Equating “health” with “vaccinated” is laughable but a topic for another time.) Yet, one short month later over half of the Bulls roster tested positive for COVID-19 resulting in NBA games being suspended. Even with fully vaccinated players, the Bulls could not field a full team. The vaccines were designed to prevent the worst COVID-19 symptoms — just like a strong immune system would do. Vaccines do not prevent infection or transmission. The Bulls locker room is a small microcosm of what’s happening in Chicago. In the past few weeks, I have known many vaccinated clients, family, and friends that tested positive for COVID-19. Having vaccine paperwork provides temporary protection and a false sense of security. The only way to truly be healthy is to have a strong immune system. So, Mayor Lightfoot, this is not a pandemic of the unvaccinated — as you have suggested. It is a pandemic of the ignorant.
Now into the pandemic’s third calendar year, none of your suggestions have worked in eliminating COVID-19: not masks, not lockdowns, not vaccinations, not boosters. Like a common cold or influenza, COVID-19 and all its variants are here to stay. Even more unforgivable is that none of our city, state, or national “leaders” have used their platforms to encourage a simple, common sense approach to promote better overall health. How many Chicagoans are healthier after these 22 months? In fact, every decision has worsened Chicago’s health. You closed the city parks, lakefront, and gyms — places people would go to become healthier. Regardless of your poor advice, I have encouraged everyone to maintain their training schedules and prioritize their physical and mental health.
However, my heart bleeds for the kids. The majority of children have robust immunity; kids are naturally resilient. But with CPS requiring all-day masks (even outside!?!), healthy kids are now experiencing daily respiratory dysfunction. Poor breathing leads to a weakened immune system, and a weakened immune system leads to worse health. With COVID-19 “outbreaks” canceling sports and other activities, sedentary lifestyles have become the norm — which leads to weakened health. The solutions are contributing to the problems! As of Monday’s mandate, parents that may be hesitant to inject Big Pharma into their children now cannot take their kids to after-school programs or a team practice — where the kids would be socializing, exercising, and becoming healthier — without proof of vaccination. Chicago continues to double down on a bad bet.
The worst COVID-19 symptoms have been proven to occur primarily in the elderly and those with co-morbidities, such as obesity. Most people that test positive usually experience various levels of uncomfortable yet manageable, flu-like symptoms. We should absolutely protect those at the highest risk, but to mandate the same treatment for all, regardless of age or current health status defies rational thinking. Your logic has divided the city and contributed to widespread panic, reinforcing a culture of fear. The definition of insanity is to repeat an action and expect different results. Masks, social distancing, vaccines, and boosters do not improve health. It’s sad that COVID-19 has been politicized and that the Democrats continue to only endorse vaccine propaganda. There is always more than one way to solve a problem, which is why Chicagoans deserve a new message.
Chicago needs to promote better overall health; encouraging lifestyle changes as preventative medicine. There are many experts in my field that agree; professionals that understand the science of keeping themselves and others healthy — and have been successfully applying it for years. I will volunteer to take on a leadership role, assemble an All-Star team of like-minded colleagues, and explain how we will use a different game plan to end this fear-based pandemic. We can demonstrate to the world why Chicago is indeed, second to none. Let’s create new expectations and apply exercise science philosophy to prioritize Chicagoans health. I have a plan and would love to share it; when are you available to discuss this in person?
Best,
Brian Kent