The Lone Star State stands strong and willing to give it all up for freedom. In Texas, we know what is at stake, and we are not a state that is accustomed to backing down.

Corporate officials at Southwest Airlines, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, decided to recant their initial statement that employees would be placed on unpaid leave while waiting for a religious or medical exemption. This news comes after corporations struggle to abide by differing federal and state policies and concerned employees voice their opinions by protesting outside HQ offices.

Employees at Southwest now have until November 24th to be vaccinated or apply for an exemption. Southwest’s Senior Vice President of Operations and Hospitality, Steve Goldberg, and Vice President and Chief People Officer, Julie Weber, said, “if employees’ requests for an exemption haven’t been approved by December 8th, they could continue to work while following mask and distancing guidelines until the request has been reviewed.” Goldberg and Weber also told staff “that if an employee’s request for exemption is denied, the employee can reapply if the employee ‘has new information or circumstances it would like the company to consider.'”

It’s not that Texans are against vaccines and/or masks, we just won’t stand for being told what we have to do by the federal government. We know that if you give an inch, they will take a mile. We also know that if you give up that mile, you will NEVER get it back.

If you boil all of this down to playground days, the government needs a swift kick in the shin. It has gotten too big for its britches, and we, the people, have to stick together. If we want this to remain the land of the free & home of the brave, we have to continue standing up and fighting for our freedoms!