Opinion

Freedom comes with responsibilities

To the Editor;

Any theater not only has the right, but in my opinion, the responsibility to require their actors to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. They have the right because it is a business that sets its own regulations. They have the responsibility because it is a business that takes on a diverse group of people of all ages and has them working in close contact situations. It would be negligent from a public health point of view not to require their actors and crew to be vaccinated to participate.

“Freedom loving Americans” really need to understand what freedom entails. There have always been limitations on freedom or public health. And this isn’t even the “big bad government” forcing anything, but a theater.

No one has the specific right to be part of a production if they are not willing to adhere to the rules and requirements  that the theater requires, particularly health and safety requirements.

If I were producing a play right now, you can bet that the actors I cast would need to be vaccinated. I would also require vaccinated audiences and masks, but that’s me.

People certainly have a right to be angry about this rule, but going online and tanking a hardworking nonprofit’s business review average is petty and dishonest.

But then, a great number of petty and dishonest actions have been taken against the Center Theatre during these last few years, many by local elected officials, who should honestly be ashamed.

Most people know I am not involved with the Center Theatre anymore, but attacking them for their public health requirements is plain old wrong.

It seems to me, so many of these  anti-vaccination folks who are giving the theater such low reviews because of their actor vaccination requirements are the same people who will say things like, “Freedom isn’t free.” That expression is not just about people who fight for freedom –  it means that freedom comes with responsibilities. People should remember this instead of actively engaging in behavior that is bad for their community.

Bobby Keniston

Dover-Foxcroft

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