The following was posted on Facebook Monday by a person, a teacher – who is also my apolitical daughter – whose children just lost their other grandfather to Covid-19:
When mourning the loss of a loved one, we go through different stages of grief. I am in the angry phase right now. There are a few things I need to get off my chest so I can move on to the next stage of this process:
- I am disappointed in my community. When I go to Walmart and see I am in the minority for wearing my mask or when I read snarky posts from my “friends” about mask-wearing, all I can think is TOP BEING SO DAMN SELFISH! THIS ISN’T ABOUT YOU! It’s about doing the right thing in order to protect our elderly, who are, quite frankly, the better part of our quickly deteriorating society – by far! GET OVER YOURSELF. When we flooded, I was proud of my community for the way in which we pulled together and supported each other to get through it. Why is this different? I have my theory which brings me to my next point.
- Wearing a mask is NOT a political statement. But NOT wearing a mask does speak volumes. It says things such as: “I’m selfish, I’m disrespectful, I have no regard for the aging community, I think I’m above the rules.” And to you, I say you shouldn’t complain when your children refuse to follow your rules because YOU SET THE EXAMPLE that they don’t have to, that the rules don’t matter. We see it in the classroom. We know who you are, because your children are the ones rolling their eyes, outright refusing, muttering under their breaths, copping attitudes, and being blatantly disrespectful when teachers tell them to put on/pull up their masks. This is the example you have set and they are following YOUR lead. We get them a couple of years; you get them their entire lives. ENJOY! You will reap what you sow.
- If you want things to go back to normal, you have to wear the mask to get the numbers down so that can happen. You all want the state to be fully open, but you don’t want to do what it takes to get there. That’s like wanting money but refusing to work. And you call yourselves Republicans. You will not get the outcome you want if you refuse to do the thing it takes to get your there. Duh. It’s baffling how willingly ignorant people can be.
- It’s NOT a hoax. It’s not a conspiracy. Just stop. The election is over – wasn’t this supposed to disappear after the election? Instead, it’s worse than ever. Or wait…maybe you’re going to now switch to the backup conspiracy theory that the Democrats just want to shut everything down again. It’s convenient that you have come up with conspiracy theories to cover both outcomes. Covid-19 getting better AND it’s getting worse, so you can continue this nonsense and ignore reality. HELLO? IS ANYONE HOME IN THERE? You can’t get 10 people in one room to agree on anything, so do you really think the ENTIRE WORLD came together to conspire and create this elaborate hoax for our election? Again, get over yourselves.
Louisiana Voice 
Absolutely. Spot. On!!! I constantly struggle to put aside some harsh feelings toward these people, and I’ll never look at any of them the same way. I know that doesn’t matter in the least to any of them, but “the shoe will be on the other foot” eventually and I’ll make damn sure that they remember the whole damned thing… as I react in the same rational, considerate, compassionate way I always have. But, they’ll see it on my face. Kind of like when I see a Trump supporter right now and I don’t rub their noses in it.
So, so well said and so, so absolutely true. This afternoon my wife tested positive and I feel almost positive I know how she contracted it. From a relative, close friend, and big Trump supporter. I have told my wife for months that if one of us contracted the virus it would be her and prognosticated who she would get it from. Like your daughter, Tom, I am ANGRY with these people. Neither will I ever forget the harm they have and are inflicting on so many people. I am sick of the ignorance. Sick of their attitudes. Sick of their callousness.
Thank you for sharing your daughter’s Facebook posting. My deepest condolences to her and her children on their loss. God bless them.
CJG, hope your wife has a mild case and recovers quickly.
Praying for a speedy recovery.
Your apple didn’t fall far from you. She expressed it perfectly. I’m so glad she posted it on FB.
Perfectly said, and so very sadly true.
Excellent piece, We seem to be near the point where about half the people won’t take the virus seriously until they get it – and, to the extent they follow their Dear Leader, they still won’t.
Your daughter’s post is perfect. Maybe these comments have to come from an “apolitical” person to be heard. I saw a Tik Tok post with Mrs. Potts from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast that keeps ringing in my head: Why be so dramatic, it’s just a piece of fabric-WEAR A MASK.
Tom: I’m ordering the t-shirt I emailed you. Had enough of the people who refuse to social distance and not wear masks.