We are living in a time when it is more important than ever for us to be wise, strategic, and focused. We must use discernment and be diligent in seeking facts and truth.
A few days ago, we put out a call to action, asking people to send comments to the Washington State Board of Health (WSBOH) regarding a discussion on mandating Covid-19 shots in children as a requirement for childcare and school. Shortly after our CTA was released, I started receiving messages, emails, and texts from people regarding a different agenda item that was to discuss WACs (246-100) that had been circulating from different groups, organizations, and people. I didn’t really know much about it, so I went on a deep-dive as it was very concerning – using law enforcement to quarantine citizens against their will.
Given everything we have experienced in Washington state over the last two years, nothing is out of the realm of possibility. I really wanted to get to the bottom of this. I took the time to dig through the meeting materials for all of 2021. I read through all the code mark-ups and proposed amendments. Some of the codes are nearly 20 years old, specifically the one really raising blood pressure, 246-100-070 went into effect on February 13, 2003. The amendments proposed to all the various codes did not include Covid-19.
Deep breath.
It was too late to convince people otherwise and calm the fears of the masses. Public figures and large groups, including a church, were sharing the misinformation, which included a screenshot of the meeting agenda – it was a doctored version of the agenda and not the actual agenda. The damage had been done and people were bent on believing what was circulating.
I tried my best to share the facts and show people the documents, in hopes they would dig in and see first-hand for themselves. But most people were unwilling to take the extra step and were willing to believe what was being shared by so many…most of these being typically reliable sources. For someone who has never been involved in politics or activism, this was an interesting experience for me.
For one, it made me realize just how easy it is for people to be distracted and the actual message to be derailed. Remember, we issued a call to action to comment on mandating injections for children to attend childcare and school. In the end, few people were even thinking about this piece which is more eminent than the WACs.
Secondly, if we, as conservatives, can’t come together on our messaging and action items, how will we ever make the progress we need to make? If we are putting people into panic-mode, it doesn’t allow us to respond in a measured way, but instead constantly reacting with high emotion. This can be used for good at the right time and for the right purpose.
I get it, it’s so easy to get amped up about the various issues we are facing today. Washington is being run by a tyrant who is drunk on emergency powers. It’s not safe for us here, under the current “leadership”, and I don’t believe the idea of forced quarantine is out of the question. It’s a legitimate concern and we must be paying attention and address it. But we need to make sure we direct our energy to the right place at the right time.
Distraction and fear are tools of the enemy. As difficult as it is in these days, it’s so important that we take a deep breath, and a step back, review the facts and information. We must pray for discernment and direction. Remember, God does not give us a spirit of fear…that is from the enemy.
*By Julie Barrett, Founder, Conservative Ladies of Washington
