The Hysterics Try to Destroy Eric Clapton for COVID Wrong-Think – RedState

Eric Clapton is probably not the “greatest” guitarist in historical past, however he’s definitely up there on the subject of influencing not solely his style however many others. The bluesman has spent many years writing hit music and touring the world. However after years of adoration, he’s being thrown overboard.

Why? As a result of he dared to dabble in COVID wrong-think by opposing mandates and lockdowns for his concert events. It’s all actually horrible stuff.

This, per Rolling Stone.

Rolling Stone particular report: Inside Eric Clapton’s baffling vaccine skepticism and stunning historical past of racist statements https://t.co/5FxgwHhdnC

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) October 11, 2021

Previously, Clapton has been reluctant to voice his political beliefs. As he instructed Rolling Stone in 1968, “What I’m doing now could be simply my mind-set, but when it will get right into a paper someplace, folks will say that what I’m saying is the best way they must suppose. Which is unsuitable, as a result of I’m solely a musician. In the event that they dig my music, that’s nice, however they don’t must know what’s happening in my head.”

However in latest months Clapton has himself turn into a number one vaccine skeptic, a part of a group that Dr. Anthony Fauci has mentioned is “a part of the issue — since you’re permitting your self to be a automobile for the virus to be spreading to another person.” And whereas by no means explicitly condemning the lockdown, he’s mentioned “stay music would possibly by no means get better” and joined Van Morrison for 3 songs that quantity to lockdown protest anthems. By the use of a pal’s social media account, he’s additionally detailed what he referred to as his “disastrous” expertise after receiving two AstraZeneca pictures (“propaganda mentioned the vaccine was secure for everybody,” he wrote).

Let me summarize that for you. Clapton is towards lockdowns, has by no means explicitly spoken towards the vaccines, and easily shared his private expertise by which he acquired actually sick. For that, he’s now being attacked and shunned in Rolling Stone, {a magazine} that after idolized him. Actually, there is no such thing as a relationship so sturdy that COVID hysteria can’t destroy it.

Clapton additionally took photos with what Rolling Stone calls “anti-vaccine mandate” (sinister) Gov. Greg Abbott. Describing Abbott as “infamous” within the hit-piece, the writer describes Clapton as upsetting folks on Twitter. Absolutely the horror, proper?

However the present controversy is prompting a contemporary examination of Clapton’s previous habits, which incorporates jarringly racist statements he made within the early a part of his profession. How did we get from admiration and empathy to bewilderment and even a sense of betrayal?

I’ll let you know how you bought from admiration and empathy to bewilderment: since you individuals are insane. You might be treating a vaccine like a non secular ceremony. Clapton has not made anti-vax feedback. Somewhat, he’s been trustworthy about the truth that folks can have hostile reactions to it. But, the writer appears to border that as heresy towards the church of COVID.

As to the subject of lockdowns, their affect is questionable, and there’s little question they result in many different unintended penalties. Being towards lockdowns is hardly groundbreaking stuff. It’s particularly not groundbreaking when you think about musicians make most of their cash from touring.

In fact, they need to get again within the sport and discover pointless mitigation objectionable. Clapton is simply courageous sufficient to precise his displeasure out loud. However you may guess many others within the business agree with him. The blues style and the rock ‘n’ roll scene it birthed are imagined to be about counter-culture, preventing authority, and making your individual manner. As an alternative, it’s become a bunch of pansies whining that folks gained’t put on masks.

And since Clapton engaged in COVID wrong-think, Rolling Stone penned a multi-thousand-word article mentioning feedback they declare are racist (what’s that must do with COVID?) and excoriating the blues guitarist as a harmful actor preventing a cultural civil conflict. The destruction is the purpose. In case you step out of line concerning the faith of COVID, even if you’re Eric freaking Clapton, the institution will come after you.

Maybe there’s a lesson to be discovered right here?