From the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, police officers, firefighters, paramedics and other EMTs, probation and corrections officers, and health-care workers went to work daily, and interacted with the public, risking infection. In the early days, the fatality rate was unknown, so they faced an uncertain danger. The vaccines became available almost a year later.

During this time, thousands of first responders contracted Covid-19, and many died. Those who recovered from the illness, or even had asymptomatic cases, now have immunity at least equal, and probably superior, to the immunity from vaccines.

But what is the thanks that a grateful nation gives these first responders? Those who refuse the vaccine, including those who are already immune, are being fired. Many are losing their pensions and health insurance, and some are even losing unemployment benefits because they are considered to have quit their jobs: “You’re fired, but you quit.”

Recall that health experts from Dr. Fauci down (or up, depending on your point of view) agree that those who are vaccinated can carry about as much virus in their noses and throats as those who were not vaccinated. That is, vaccine protects the recipient from severe disease or death, but does NOT protect people the recipient comes in contact with. That is why vaccinated persons are still required to wear masks.

In other words, demanding that first responders – or anyone – be vaccinated belongs not in the category of public health, but in the category of authoritarianism: Comply or else! Befehl ist Befehl, an order is an order. Jawohl Herr Oberartzt.

There may be a worse example of ingratitude and petty vindictiveness toward those we owe so much, but I am unable to think of one.

When President Biden agreed that first responders who refuse the vaccine should be fired, the crowd cheered. These people may think of themselves as liberals, but are they? They may think of themselves as intelligent, but are they? Who will take the places of fired police, firefighters, paramedics, doctors, and nurses? Surely not these untrained, unqualified, narcissistic brats.

The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten. − Calvin Coolidge