Today’s blacklisted American: Space historian and science journalist blackballed for opposing COVID shot mandates
Banned because the author expressed an opinion.
After a year of daily reporting the blacklisting of hundreds of innocent Americans for merely expressing dissenting opinions, I am sad to say that the new leftist McCarthyism has finally come after me.
In December I was blackballed by most of the Arizona caving community because I had disagreed with their decisions to discriminate against anyone who had not gotten a COVID shot. One of the local clubs was going to run an outdoor camping/caving event and had decided to require everyone who attended to either prove they had gotten the jabs or could show they were tested negative for the Wuhan flu in the past two days. I objected, first because this was discriminatory and was demanding private medical information from people that by law was forbidden, and second because the policy made no sense because the shots provided no certain protection against the virus.
Realizing that their policy was not going to do anything to protect anyone from COVID, the organizers cancelled the event out of fear, and then made both me and one other protesting caver scapegoats for their decision, demanding we be banned from all caving organizations. What made this particular action especially hurtful was that it was pushed and imposed by a number of people who I thought had been close friends. I instead discovered that they really didn’t give a damn about me, and if I didn’t bow to their political will they were most eager to make me a non-person.
So much for friendship, eh?
I hadn’t reported this at length in public because it was essentially a personal matter. Now however this new fad of blacklisting anyone who disagrees with the new fascists and their medical mandates has reached out to try to hurt me and others professionally.
As I had announced on December 7, 2021, a kickstarter campaign will begin in one week, on January 18, 2022, to finance the creation of a video game based on my science fiction novel, Pioneer. You can read about it in detail at PioneerSpaceGame.com.
In promoting the campaign and the game, its producer Aaron Jenkin did what he usually does for all the video games he has produced. He contacted a variety of game journalists and game licensing companies to let them know. One site for game journalists immediately picked up the announcement and published it so that journalists would know about it and could choose to review it.
That’s the good news. The bad news however is just another example of the intolerance of our times, and the fear that this intolerance is generating. When Aaron contacted a game licensor who had in the past routinely plugged his games, he was flatly turned down. As he emailed me,
Their endorsement could have been a huge help in funding the budget, but they declined because of concerns over Mr. Zimmerman’s anti-vaccine rhetoric. Ridiculous, but it does shows that we really do need liberty lovers to step up.
The irony of this licensor’s position is that it is fundamentally wrong. I am not “anti-vaccine.” In fact, I don’t think I have ever written anything expressly in opposition to getting the COVID shots. What I have written repeatedly is my unwavering opposition to mandates that force someone to get the shots. No one should ever be forced to take this experimental medicine. It should be up to the free choice of each individual.
Regardless, this licensor’s hostility to any opinion questioning COVID shots, or possibly the fear of their own blackballing should it be discovered that they did not blackball Aaron’s project, has denied the project its proper publicity.
When Aaron emailed me this bad news last night, I immediately apologized for putting him in the middle of this ugliness. I also asked him if I could write about it. His courageous answer:
No need to be sorry. I’m right where I want to be in this.
But yes, I think it’s good to mention since it’s something we’ll need help to overcome.
It is hard to describe the relief I felt when I received this email. During the effort to blackball me from caving, I was mostly horrified by the unwillingness of too many people to stand up to that effort. People would mouth support to me privately, but then do nothing to defend me in public, thus allowing the bullies to win and cancel me.
Aaron however is not doing that. He is facing the onslaught, and going ahead with the game. He is doing this even though the action of this single licensor is not the only blacklisting he has experienced. He has had enormous trouble casting his voice actors because too many have done the same thing, backing out or refusing to work with him because of my stance on political issues. This intolerant opposition has delayed the game’s release by more than a year.
No matter. As he wrote, “”We really do need liberty lovers to step up.”
Will you step up? I know the game is going to be a marvelously fun thing and a great adaptation of my novel. Will you help by supporting the Kickstarter campaign when it opens on January 18th? You can also express that support now by signing up for campaign alerts here.
Give as little or as much as you wish. Or you can buy my book here or at amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other ebook vendors, and find out exactly why Aaron was so eager to produce a video game based upon it.
The amount isn’t that important (though larger contributions will certainly be appreciated) but the act to publicly support Aaron and myself is. It isn’t sufficient for a handful of determined individuals to stand up to these bullies. They must be joined by everyone who loves freedom, everywhere.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
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Bob,
They were probably worrying about the bats getting sick.
(Your position on Covid and the experimental “Vaccine” is well founded IMO. It’s coming)
ITS ALL COMING DOWN, NUREMBERG LEVEL?
(Feel free to copy and share with a friend)
Something you must read and understand. You have heard much of this before, now there is apparently hard evidence:
UPDATE: US Military Report States COVID-19 Was Created by a US-Funded EcoHealth Alliance Program at Wuhan Institute of Virology – RedState
FOIA obtained document from within the military reveals:
1. Fauci and all the rest of them apparently lied in order to protect their actions and to promote a particular drug technology and an agenda.
2. Hundreds of thousands, maybe millions died unnecessarily? Forced by government agencies to ONLY have available an experimental “vaccine” for treatment and not allowing by government policy proven effective existing drugs and therapies. Experimental drugs should be used for those most at risk when applicable. With experimental drug risk there must come informed choice.
3. Gain of function research on bats in China, banned in America, escaped the Wuhan lab. When and where will this escaped manipulated virus stop? Your guess is as good as mine.
4. Hydroxychloroquine *IS* effective against Covid.
5. Corruption, collusion and perversion at the highest levels of government.
6. The only solution? The Constitution and the forced transparency and possible consequences that it structures. Because that is the only thing at this point that saves our country from the many Nazi like policies that the American federal and some state governments are proposing and planning for us all. If America fails here the entire world and the concept of individual freedom goes down and becomes a distant memory.
7. Where does the authority for such actions by empowered government agencies and the people that populate them come from?
STRATEGY OVER MORALITY / S.O.M. The Existential Exercise Of Power And The Foundation Of Abuse Of Power
copyright, J.G. L., 2011
EXPLANATION: Strategy Over Morality describes a two-tiered “conversation” between a Public and their Empowered Leadership where the Public believes there is only a single, no tiered conversation occurring, and that single conversation is assumed by the Public to relate to the Public’s morality and truth model perspective.
Have read the book a few times and can’t wait for the game. Would also love a follow-up to the Pioneer story if you should ever choose to continue it. Wishing you and Aaron all the best!
Fear and the ability to grow it and manipulate it is a powerful tool and weapon.
https://redstate.com/jenvanlaar/2022/01/11/new-us-military-report-states-covid-19-was-created-by-a-us-funded-ecohealth-alliance-program-at-wuhan-institute-of-virology-n504679
Subscribed and contributing. And I’ve posted your bio, book info and kickstarter info to my “local” gamer community.
Got your back, Mr. Z.
This week I’ll reread Pioneer, and next week plan on contributing to the Kickstarter.
Here is a Robert Heinlein quote that came to my mind when reading your Post: “Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire.”
Original Mark: You might want to reread Heinlein’s quote a few more times, since you need to learn it.
My impression of your discussion in another thread on BtB has been that you and others are entirely focused on defining these “isms” rather than looking at the actual bad or good behavior of politicians and individuals. Such discussions really are no different than arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
In fact, they are usually used to obfuscate the discussion to hide the misbehavior and power-grabbing of others.
Ah, thank you.
I plan to participate in the Kickstarter. There was a time in the gaming community that we didn’t care about your politcs. We cared about your love of games. If it is a good game, I will play it. I love independent developments and this is a good example of what that looks like.
I bet Kevin Sorbo, Dean Cain and Adam Baldwin does voice work. Also, Gina Carcano.
When I read: “Space historian and science journalist blackballed …” I first thought to myself, who could it be? Who is that only? Do i know him? It must be very well known, but then the penny dropped! :-)
Mr. Z. – I agree with you that it’s important to call out the “misbehavior and power-grabbing of others” – especially our elites, elected officials, administrative officials, and those in civic society with power to affect the public good. But in addition IMHO we need to offer systemic and historically based criticisms during this critical turning point in our country. That is why I write about history and the systemic forces driving current events. You are obviously incredibly irritated with those of us who engage in that type of discussion – since as you say – “Such discussions really are no different than arguing about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin”. Thanks for honestly stating your belief and I’ll take my discussion elsewhere. I have to admit I’m somewhat surprised at your stance given your long association with John Batchelor who inspires me by conducting conversations with experts from a wide range of perspectives including historians and social critics.
I was planning to back this project, purely on gaming grounds, after first reading about it here a couple of weeks prior. Now I am even more eager to show support when the KS begins.
Original Mark: My gosh you are being much too sensitive. I appreciate your contributions, but in this particular case I thought the discussion was simply becoming too hidebound and divorced from the problems of our time. My opinion, merely. Nor was I trying to shut you down.
Your choice of course.
Cotour–
Just started watching the new Timcast-IRL (Tim Pool) and he goes over the text you posted above in detail.
— https://youtu.be/Gquans7_5jk
Haven’t had a chance to watch the Project Veritas videos in their entirety yet.
Jeez– (my opinion) — “they” conspired with the chi-coms to engineer a virus to kill old people and the infirm, and we paid for it.
The lesson to be learned from this– these alleged people, intend to kill us all.
Bob & Wayne – Jakoś to będzie:
There is an artificial palm tree that stands in the center of Warsaw called ‘Pozdrowienia z Alej Jerozolimskich’ (Greetings from Jerusalem Avenue), and it’s a surprising sight in that often cold, grey city. The palm tree refers to a popular idiomatic expression in the Polish language – palma odbija – literally: “the palm tree sprouts/bounces back”. This indicates cosmic renewal which is outside common understanding, and escaping the common daily ways of reasoning.
The ‘Greetings from Jeruzalem Avenue’ Palm tree is truly an odd sight but accepted by the locals as an example of the Jakoś to będzie philosophy.
If you get a chance to visit Poland, you may hear people say ‘Jakoś to będzie’ (pronounced ‘Ya-kosh toe ben-jay’). These are words of encouragement, and the phrase on one level means ‘things will work out in the end’.
Poland is part of the West but also understands the East; so there is a creative tension which adds to insight. Protests, including the one that started the Solidarność movement in August 1980, are a crucial part of Polish history and is assisted by the Jakoś to będzie mentality. Protests and major political actions require debating economics, politics, technology, & globalization, the ability to take action in crisis situations, and a conviction that things will work out, no matter what. Furthermore there is a faith that people are resourceful in situations where systems fail. It’s important to note that leaders of those protests can only add to the momentum of change by communicating what systems and underlying forces have failed the People. This provides focus to enable real change, and real change is what I believe BehindTheBlack is striving for in its social commentary. What is your opinion this cold January morning?
Robert….this is absolutely out of control. The “cure” has become much, much worse than the disease. I live in Ontario and our idiotic premier has us locked down again. Our idiotic prime minister is talking about a MANDATORY vaccine. This is scary stuff. Keep fighting the good fight. PS…as a Canadian, I am dumbfounded at how easily Americans gave up their rights. I expect that from us passive Canadians but you guys should have been the sinning light on this, present company excluded.
Sold me on the kickstarter, we need an entire industry of Aarons.
Sorry to hear, Bob. They won’t stop pushing until they provoke the inevitable pushback. When it begins, they won’t like what is happening but they will not be able to control it. As a former liberal, I often ask myself this question: If I still held those misbegotten beliefs, and if I thought the Democrat/leftist agenda should be pushed onto everyone regardless of legality, constitutionality or even common sense, and yet if I knew that the majority of Americans with traditional beliefs constituted the majority of the country — and the segment of those Americans who are armed outnumber all of the armies on Earth combined — by what madness would I want to provoke them? I often remember the words of radio talkshow host Michael Savage, who has called liberalism “a mental disorder.” He is being proven correct every day now.
You might want to take heart, however, in the fact that even more insanity has been directed at others:
https://redstate.com/brandon_morse/2022/01/12/ronald-mcdonald-house-sends-eviction-notices-to-unvaccinated-children-and-their-families-n505407
Randy – looks like Ontario isn’t the only province run by idiots…
“Quebec to impose health tax on unvaccinated Canadians”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59960689
I weep for the Canada I used to live in.
I’ve known Bob for many years. In fact, his voice on various radio programs, became a welcome sound during my years spent in Iraq.
When I returned home to Arizona, I finally met him, in person, at a meeting of local cavers. The caving community embraced him enthusiasticly as a wise man. Many sought his counsel before making decisions that would effect the local caving community and its politics.
However, even before the C19 issues, cracks had began to develop in the foundation of Az groups that “just wanted to cave”. C19 vaccine status was just the last in a line of issues that have lead to Bob and others being essentially excommunicated.
Fortunately there are plenty of holes in ground left to explore. Bob will always be the wise man I will seek counsel from for all things caving.
Pit Assassins, Local #4
Dayton, NV
Mike: Thank you for the kind words. Much appreciated by me in these very dark times.
The Polish Invasion of Germany (September 2, 1939)
Mark Felton Productions (December 2021)
https://youtu.be/sP79RBS5uFc
5:53
“….the story of the Fraustadt Raid, when Polish forces drove 8km into the Third Reich.”
COVID AND THE VAXX BY THE NUMBERS
Official government numbers from the Brits, troubling to say the least. You cannot make this stuff up.
“Over those four months, there were 3,070 Covid-19 deaths among the unvaccinated population in England, compared to 12,058 deaths among the vaccinated population during the same time frame.”
If the Covid / mRNA Vaxx is about saving lives, should it be being pushed as hard as it is being push by the powers that be? (That is a rhetorical question)
Whilst you were distracted by a Christmas Party the UK Gov. released a report confirming the Fully Vaccinated account for 4 in every 5 Covid-19 Deaths in England since August – The Expose (dailyexpose.uk)
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot_20220112-173235_Chrome.jpg
That’s funny, here’s another one. My hoa Facebook page had a person that ran for an appointed position but didn’t get the spot. Claims of nepotism and cronyism started flying and when I continued asking for proof, the mob showed up and it included the page administrator, talk about cronyism. I was suspended from the page for a month and I haven’t returned, just not worth it.