I see so many people mocking the U.S. because so many of its residents refuse to take precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I hate to burst your bubble, but we have a lot of these clowns right here in Canada, in B.C. and in Metro Vancouver.
Oh, and New Westminster.
One New West resident responded to my recent column about making the wearing of masks mandatory in B.C. – just like Washington state just did. You can read that column here.
The writer is the kind of guy who thinks wearing a mask during a global pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people is an affront to his personal freedom.
This guy thinks he is too “smart” to give into this “paranoia.”
Here is an excerpt:
“Your idea of MANDATORY face masks revolts me. I have NOT worn a mask since this paranoia started & do not intend to because, i believe i have the right to choose & you do not have the right to choose for me. makes me think of days gone by when accused ‘witches’ were dunked in the river- if they drowned they were deemed innocent. let's keep our paranoia to 'ourselves' shall we.!”
Apart from reading like a ransom note, this sounds eerily like all of those conspiracy theorists who wrongly think COVID-19 is a “hoax.”
The writer even included a screenshot of a Facebook post in which someone calls COVID-19 a “huge scam.”
So don’t feel all smug here in New West because you think it’s only Americans who are behaving recklessly during the pandemic and denying the validity of the pandemic.
It’s right here in your own community and it's terrifying.
And, as a reminder, Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, is now recommending people wear non-medical face masks, especially when physical distancing isn’t possible.
So you can believe our nation’s top doctor, or you can believe dudes screaming “freeeeeeeeedom” into the void.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
