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Original Post: https://www.voat.xyz/viewpost?postid=6360458a30c7d

After reading all of your suggestions, both here at over at conpro I found one idea buried deep in the comments that I thought could work. Attempt to use a religious exemption.

Shoutout to rapid_water for putting the idea in my head.

I'd already said several times that the masks were never about safety or public health, but always about control. Specifically they are method of forcing people to show their submission to tyrannical authority. They are a sign you wear on your face that says "I submit". Submit or be drummed out of society, submit or suffer. This is mark of the beast territory as far as I'm concerned, and on those grounds I claim a religious exemption. I reject the beast in all its forms.

I chewed on this for a few minutes and thought it may just work, although be it a long shot. So I tried it.

It failed immediately. The girl behind the counter called her supervisor, who promptly reject anything I had to say, wouldn't give me any time to make any arguments, and then close the glass window between us, effectively hanging up on me.

I was prepared for disappointment, so I didn't rage like I have in the past. I left quietly after trying and failing to contact the director I spoke to the day before. As I left I noted how many mask signs they had up everywhere. Signs on the doors coming in, practically a gauntlet of them I had to walk through once inside, and more at the window. I reflected that of all the places in the world to be super uptight about masks why was it here in podunk Indiana? Not even at the height of covid had I seen so much signage.

I mourned my career for a few miles on my way home, then I remembered something my brother had suggested. DOT physicals. I'd never heard of these before but he explained that for about 100$ you can walk into just about any large truckstop or urgent care and get a physical done. So I googled it really fast, called one nearby and asked about their mask policy. Sure enough they don't care at all. Perfect.

I considered if I should just get it done, then figure out how to get it to my people at work after. They can be a bitch to work with at the best of times so maybe it would be better to wait for a bit since I won't be pulled out of service until they get the paperwork (or lack thereof) processed, and that could be several weeks. That would be several weeks I'd keep working, adding to my savings for if I do get canned. I chewed this for a bit then opted to call them and ask if they would even accept the report from a random DOT physical. I figured if they said hard no I could at least tell them to "reschedule" to later this month at the same place. That would buy me some more time.

It ended up not being necessary as the medical people said they could change my physical location to this DOT place I had lined up, since it was in network. PERFECT! They'll even pay for it. I talked them into setting it up right now, off I went, got it done and was out of there in an hour.

My eye was still an issue of course, but otherwise I'm shipshape. And let me tell you I am relieved. I'd more or less made my peace with moving on from my career, but I'd not wanted it to happen all the same.

Now I wait and see if medical will try to pull me out for that bad eye. I'd give it less then 25% chance since I see 20/20 with both eyes open, and we have another guy with a fucking glass eye for God's sake.

Anyway, I'm very very happy just now, and wanted to share my relief. Cheers to everyone who shared words of encouragement, fuck you to everyone who said cave in, and for those that said a prayer on my behalf, you have my thanks.