Ask Amy: COVID doctors weigh skipping family wedding
If you as physicians lack the ability to make a clear choice, based on science, then what chance do the rest of us have?
Because you are concerned and compliant (good for you!), if you did attend the wedding, you would have to get tested, travel, (possibly) isolate, get tested again, and wear masks and maintain your distance while there.
The ethical choice is for you to stay home.
The way to bow out gracefully is to respond honestly: “We are heartbroken to miss this wedding, but we realize that we pose a risk to others, and we could not live with ourselves if someone became ill because of our presence. We hope you have a wonderful time and look forward to seeing lots of photos and videos.”
These family members might be willing/able to livestream the wedding for you.
Dear Amy: I feel very much a part of our country, and have many patriotic feelings. However, I believe that for some people, flying the flag at home has become a conservative political statement.
That is not a message I wish to convey. I want to fly the Stars and Stripes on my house over the July 4 holiday.
How can I do this without sending the wrong message?
Confused in Kansas
Dear Confused: You can (and should) fly the flag without sending the “wrong message,” by not caring what other people think or how they interpret your patriotism.
In fact, I believe your concern and overthinking about this contributes to the very problem you are attempting to highlight.
If you believe we are in the midst of a culture war, then be a brave warrior and exercise your own freedom and the right to fly the flag, for goodness sake.
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(You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.)
