Shooting down fake news.
These things start popping up on social media, every single year.
They drive me around the bend.
First of all, it is time to get your flu shot.
If not for yourself, get one for the rest of us so your germs don’t fly over and infect us just in time for Christmas.
You cannot, repeat cannot, get the flu from the flu shot.
Ask your mother, ask your doctor, ask the pharmacist. Google it, if you must, but stop repeating the lie that you can get sick from the flu shot.
Let’s go to the infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Dr. William Schaffner says it is not possible because "the vaccine is constructed from a killed virus."
WebMD says you could get some aches or feel tired, but reactions are usually mild and are "not the actual flu."
The Canadian government website says it most clearly: “You can’t get the flu from the flu shot.”
Full stop.
That’s not to say you can’t get a sore arm or a fever, but that is not the flu.
Maybe you already had the virus before you got the shot. That’s also possible, but please stop saying the flu shot made you sick.
It is true you might still get the flu even with the shot, but that’s because you caught a different strain from what they are protecting you from.
In any case, if you got the injection, it's likely you won’t be as sick as you might have.
If you don’t want the shot because you don’t trust the government or drug companies or you think it's poison or you don’t like shots, so be it. However, you will not catch the flu by getting an injection. Stop the insanity!
Next up: The war on decorations!
Very soon, hundreds of people will be going on and on with all sorts of self-righteousness.
“I shall not be putting my Christmas decorations up before Remembrance Day out of respect for our veterans.”
I have never understood that.
There is no connection that I can come up with.
I am a proud daughter of a Second World War navy veteran and I honour and respect all people in military service, but I don’t for one second think they would care if I hang up a Christmas wreath on my door before Nov. 11.
It certainly doesn’t mean I won’t give Remembrance Day its full attention and respect.
If anything, they all fought for our rights to decorate any darn time we please or not to decorate at all if we prefer.
And now, my all-time least favourite: A hundred memes and capitalized statements are about to start showing up.
I WILL BE SAYING MERRY CHRISTMAS NOT HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Nobody, repeat nobody, has ever suggested we can’t or shouldn’t say Merry Christmas. At least, I have never run into anyone. And if I did I would say it anyway.
It is neither a political, religious nor spiritual suggestion.
I’ve never met anyone who was insulted by a friendly greeting. I hope there are no workplaces that insist upon one greeting over another, because it is ridiculous.
Wish me “season’s greetings” or “happy holidays” or “happy shovelling.” Who cares?
When should you say merry Christmas?
Whenever the spirit moves you.
Much like "have a nice day.”
Say it to the harried store clerk who has had to listen to Christmas tunes since November.
Say it to the restaurant server who smiled when she set down your breakfast platter.
Say it whenever you want to share the happiness that comes with the festive season.
Say it when you can’t hold in the excitement that you will soon be with family, when you will be enjoying shimmering lights and exchanging brightly wrapped gifts.
Say it in the hopes it might brighten someone’s day, whether or not you know if they celebrate it or not.
If something is offered with a positive intent, how can it be wrong?
There's so much dividing us these days.
Let’s not make up differences that don’t need to exist.
Roll up your sleeve.
Hang up your wreaths.
And wish everyone you meet the merriest of Christmases with a clear conscience..
