VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

COMPLETELY SELFISH

To all the anti-maskers and anti-vax protestors — you are contributing to the sickness and death of millions of people.

To all the people allowing mass protests to happen, you are aiding this by association.

For people like myself, who live with a severely compromised immune system, waking up every day to news of more gatherings, more infections, more deaths, vaccinations that cannot be guaranteed because of our medication, and no end in sight, continues to fuel our debilitating fear.

We are not alone, there are many people with and without underlying medical conditions who are just as understandably afraid.

There are so many people trying to stop the spread, but it only takes a handful to destroy the hard work and sacrifices of the many.

I have two children, in widely different grades, whom I have had to homeschool for over a year.

Because of your selfish behaviour they cannot go to school for fear of bringing the virus home to me.

Because of your selfish behaviour, their education is being sacrificed.

Because of your selfish behaviour, they are unable to spend time with friends.

Because of your selfish behaviour, they are unable to go to the local park or playground.

Because of your selfish behaviour they are stuck at home with their sick mother, who, although doing her best, is incapable of providing them with the full education they deserve.

I have questions:

Why are your human rights important, but not ours?

Why is it OK for you to openly contribute to the sickness and death of people as you spread this virus?

Why are you so foolish to think that this could be a hoax?

How are you going to feel when you need urgent hospital care and you cannot get it because you have filled the hospital with COVID patients?

I would ask how you would feel if it was a loved one needing care, but you are clearly too selfish to consider others. K. Morris, Eastern Passage

DRIVEN TO ANGER

It has taken over a year, but I am angry. I have, at various times, been annoyed, frightened and accepting. I have accommodated and adapted. But the events of the last month have made me angry.

In my extended family, we are 11, ranging in age from five to 72.

We have a teacher, a frontline medical worker, and five who work in nonmedical, essential supply chain jobs that cannot be done at home. We have one adult whose health would be seriously compromised by contracting COVID due to a pre-existing medical condition. The parents of the five-year-old have never seen the classroom where he spends his days. Two teenage girls are not having the high school experience they should expect; there are no dances, no musicals, no field trips. I am retired. I stay home and worry about the rest of my family. If it cannot be bought online or picked up curbside, I don't buy it, and I am grateful to those individuals who make those choices possible.

We are no different than thousands of Nova Scotian families. I am not complaining; as I have said — adapt and accommodate, and everyone stays safe.

But then, I am confronted with the actions of a collection of pseudo-adult miscreants who have the effrontery to put my family at risk with their thoughtless disregard for the guidelines that

have been put in place to protect not just my family but yours. And theirs.

We should all be angry. Common sense, kindness and regard for others cannot be mandated. The individuals exhibiting this antisocial behaviour must be prepared to develop at least a smidgen of empathy for the rest of the population if we are to defeat this virus. Sandra Thomas, Fall River

THROWN SCRAPS

Imagine a scenario in which the government shut off your source(s) of income.

Right after that, they stood before you and said, “but don't worry about it, we're going to give you 15 cents for every dollar you're about to lose.” And then, before they walked away, they said, “oh yeah, we'll help you get a loan, too, if you care to have some more debt in your life.”

When you ask them when the money

may start coming your way, they respond, “not sure yet, but we'll start letting you apply in a few weeks.” And then, after that, they spent some time publicly congratulating themselves for having helped you out.

Sound like a fair deal? Of course not. And yet that's essentially the take-itor-leave-it deal that's been put before thousands of Nova Scotia small business owners who have been forced to close indefinitely.

Now if — for some inexplicable reason — this does strike you as a fair deal, then I invite you to try it out for yourself. I'm sure you'll do just fine with 15 per cent of your normal income, right? And if we are truly “in this together” and want to share the sacrifice, perhaps Nova Scotia's elected officials could reduce their income to 15 per cent of normal in solidarity with these business owners for as long as the shutdown

lasts. Not likely. Rules for thee, but not for me, as the saying goes.

Everyone understands the need for public safety measures right now. But forcing entrepreneurs to close and then offering them pennies on the dollar for lost income should be a source of embarrassment for the current government (and an opportunity for the opposition, if they're still out there somewhere). Joel Stoddart, Kentville

FLAWED ARGUMENT

Re: The May 1 op-ed “Intellectual straitjacket” by Mark Mercer.

Mercer's opinion fails to include the impact of privilege within the university system and society as a whole. This privilege maintains a systemic imbalance of power and influence that keeps many voices out of the discussion and learning experience.

Brian Duggan, Halifax