I was criticized for wearing a mask
Yesterday, while on the beach, I was called out for wearing a mask (which a friend made for me).
Really?!! Wearing a mask during a pandemic? What an outrageous concept.
Apparently these poor citizens are the victims of public pronouncements that advised that wearing a mask is something to NOT do. Can you believe such a failure of coherent thought? Pandemic? Masks?
Google any photo over the last 100 years of people in pandemics. What do they all have in common? People wearing masks.
Why did these poor souls think what they thought? It is because they actually listened to policy makers who told them to not wear masks. Why did those policy makers do that? Because we did not have enough masks for the front-line health care workers.
But can’t we understand more than one thing at a time? Yeah sure, we must not subtract from the supply for health care workers.
But if I can make my own? This pandemic is revealing SO many aspects of humanity, some awe-inspiring and some very dispiriting. The collapse of coherent critical thinking and “group stupid-think” is one of the more dispiriting ones.
My home-made mask may not protect me as well as the real thing, but it may help prevent me from unknowingly spreading this virus if I happen to be already infected.
Christopher Donison
Victoria
Dr. Bonnie, Coach Dix game-time thrills
I miss sports. I miss planning my day around game time — the uncertainty of the outcome, how my team will perform, will we win or lose?
But there is an alternative. Now, I plan my day around briefings from Dr. Bonnie and Coach Dix. Dr. Bonnie executes the game plan, gives us our scores, tells us what we need to do better — all with great intelligence, compassion and empathy, of course, backed up by good science. I love watching her stick handle through tough questions. Then it’s Coach Dix’s turn. He’s direct and blunt, demanding we deliver 100 per cent.
I’m sure he’ll kick the garbage can in the dressing room if we do anything less.
It has become a highlight of my day.
Thank you so much Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix.
Victor Van den Boomen
Central Saanich
A slogan for these dark times
Here’s a slogan for Dr. Bonnie Henry in support of her social-distancing practices.
“Six-feet apart or six-feet underground: take your pick”
David Scarth
Brentwood Bay
Drifting through the daffodils
“Tip-toeing through the tulips on a cool springs day,” photo, April 2.
This is a beautiful picture to cheer us up during these uncertain times, but please inform your caption writer that the woman is not tip-toeing through tulips, but is drifting through daffodils.
These lovely yellow flowers are blooming all over the city now, and their magic is that, no matter which side of the street, path, driveway or garden border they are planted on, they seem always to point their faces toward the place from which they can be most admired and appreciated. Whenever I walk past them, I find that I have a smile on my face, and feel I am being reassured that this period of fear and uncertainty will eventually pass.
And thank you, Times Colonist, for your continuing informative coverage on all aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, with articles on subjects from local to worldwide.
Nicky Kew
Victoria
Daily applause wakes up shift workers
Re: “Amid challenge, Henry relishes chorus of clangs,” April 2.
I am one of the essential workers keeping our communities going. My fellow workers and I are on the job 24-hours a day and that means some of us work at night. You don’t see us because we try to sleep during the day or evening.
While the nightly outdoor cheer for front-line workers is a nice gesture and the sentiment is appreciated, its daily clamour is waking us up. This has been going on since last weekend in Vic West. Please stop.
Dave North
Victoria
It’s never too soon to flash the ‘victory’ sign
Re: “Six-finger greeting, then ‘V’ for victory,” April 1.
Good idea, but I hold up two fingers, for two reasons:
Firstly, it shows two-metres distance, since we’ve been on the metric system since the 1970s. Secondly, why wait until victory is achieved before giving the “V” sign? After all, Winston Churchill didn’t wait until victory was in sight by the allies before flashing the “V” sign.
It will take effort on everyone’s part, but believing in eventually victory doesn’t mean having to wait until then to show off the “V.”
Richard Silver
Colwood
Truckers need access to washrooms
Re: “Rest stops barring washroom access to truckers a ‘huge problem’ as virus spreads,” March 31.
I was dismayed to learn that truckers are being prevented from using washrooms. It’s a disgrace and very rude to our vital supply-chain workers.
When we see goods on store shelves, we have truck drivers to thank.
These are important and often under-appreciated people. Show them some respect. At least allow these hard-working people to use washroom facilities.
Christine Robinson
North Saanich
Please stop hoarding frozen vegetables
It’s disconcerting that I am having difficulty buying frozen vegetables for my family.
Why are stores not limiting the amount people can buy like they do with other products? I went to Thrifty Foods, Fairway Market and Save-on-Foods to get a couple of bags of frozen vegetables the other day and it looked like locusts had hit the freezer — human locusts that is.
The government says our supply lines are good, yet there is nothing available in this area.
Paul Crozier Smith
Victoria
Pandemic highlights class divide
Two million Canadians have recently applied for Employment Insurance in order to receive $490 a week. Hundreds of thousands of Canadians are keeping us healthy and grocery stores are stocked for moderate salaries.
Meanwhile, Major League Baseball players are receiving $4,700 per day to stay home and await opening day.
When this pandemic is over, perhaps a new socio/economic order will address this outrageous, obscene discrepancy.
Peter McNab
Victoria
Surprised by Derik Lord parole decision
Re: “Murderer Derik Lord granted day parole,” April 1.
I am surprised that a murderer, who continues to claim he was wrongly convicted and who shows a significant lack of remorse, has been granted day parole.
As well, I am troubled that Derik Lord identifies as Metis after discovering and embracing his heritage in jail. I wonder exactly how that played out.
I am a registered Metis member and had to complete an exhaustive process to prove I am Metis. It is an insult that someone can “self-identify” or claim to be Metis and then take advantage of it.
But I do share a few things with Lord. I had a chaotic childhood, moved 14 times by the age of 15, was always isolated and was bullied. I did not murder anyone.
Shannon Moneo
Sooke
Pat Elemans’ death devastating news
Re: “Pat Elemans, tireless ambassador for UVic business school, has died,” April 1.
As president of the University of Victoria Alumni Association and a Gustavson grad, I know that many alumni in Victoria and around the world feel a sense of loss with the news of Pat Elemans’ death.
Pat was a connector in our community, both on and off campus. She was able to bring people together in any situation; she was also someone who people looked to for advice, support, and compassion. It is devastating news that Pat is no longer with us, knowing that she had so much more to share.
In addition, many of us lost a mentor and a friend. It is our responsibility, as members of the community, to continue to champion her efforts to bring people together and to promote the hard work of budding entrepreneurs and visionary students. She will be missed.
Brian Cant
Victoria
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