Reader upset with actions of cavalier youth during global pandemic

To the Editor:

I recently posted a comment on Facebook that I was disturbed by the fact that so few people in our stores are wearing masks, when there are clearly a lot more people in Kincardine than there were a few weeks ago.

Not only that, but in a recent foray to the store, two young men behind me in line not only wouldn't honour the physical-distancing lines on the floor, but - on seeing my mask - laughed and started (fake) coughing.

I was upset. Well-meaning people offered the advice that it wasn't worth getting angry over, I should just ignore people like that. REALLY?

So, let me get this straight, I posted that I was upset that so few people are wearing masks in Kincardine, when the local population has very noticeably swelled in recent weeks. I posted that I get angry when people ignore the physical-distancing rules in store line-ups, and crowd or mock the visible minority of people who ARE wearing masks.

The federal health authorities have not made mask-wearing mandatory but they have stressed repeatedly that doing so in situations where one cannot reliably maintain physical-distancing, can reduce infection numbers significantly.

I am doing my best to do so. And I'm being told to just avoid the people breaking the rules, or just avoid the places where I might run into them.

Am I the only one who thinks there is a disturbing parallel here? Ignore people breaking the rules because – what - probably nobody is going to actually die? Oh wait! Someone COULD die!

It doesn't affect you? You're in a safe demographic, so you turn a blind eye when people are engaging in risky, anti-social behaviour? Really, people? None of this sounds familiar to you?

I know that right now, the big focus is (as it should be) on combatting racism - it's about time.

But - we are also in the middle of a GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT IS ALSO KILLING PEOPLE. Innocent people.

So, no, I am not going to keep quiet and and ignore those whose demographic privilege means they don't have to worry about dying.

Regards,
Lynn Collins
Kincardine