I have been working on a different post and trying to resist the urge to write about this, but I feel it needs to be written. As I write this my region of California has been put on a stay at home order due to the lack of available ICU beds. And in the days that have followed the availability of those beds is diminishing.

To give context to my rant I need to go back to the beginning of this pandemic. I have been appalled by the leadership in my county, or lack there of. I have seen a health officer forced to quit because of harassment and death threats after issuing a mask mandate. I have seen people get crazy angry over the wearing of a simple mask. I watched the board of supervisors of my county try to find a way out of the state mask mandate in the midst of the first surge. I have seen friendships end over differences of opinion about Covid. I have had people point and laugh at me wearing a mask in my car. I have been accused of being too careful, too concerned about the risk. I have seen people I know be diagnosed with Covid, and I know people that have died of Covid. I’ve heard an endless number of conspiracy theories. I’ve seen a lack of national leadership. I have seen individuals and some businesses defy the basic precautions to slow the spread.

With all that said, I have some questions. What is so bad about wearing a mask? I not excited about wear a mask, but since it can save lives it seems like a no brainer. I’ve heard people say wearing a mask violates their rights, I’ve thought about this and I don’t see it. It doesn’t silence your voice, it doesn’t interfere with your faith, it doesn’t take away your right to protest, it didn’t prevent anyone from exercising their right to vote. It doesn’t interfere with going to work or freely moving about. The people who have died of Covid have lost all those rights. And how many of them lost their life because of someone who couldn’t be bothered?

Now I hear the anger at this new stay at home order, and I understand, we are all ready for this to be over. But it’s not! I understand the frustration of businesses that are taking a hit in the midst of this pandemic. I understand they don’t feel it’s fair to have to close or have to change again how they do business. But on the other side, how many lives are they willing to sacrifice to have business as usual? As an immunocompromised person I am expected to stay home, I believe it isn’t until the last tier that we are invited to rejoin society. To me, it feels like I am giving up some of my freedom only to watch others make, frankly, stupid choices. On Thanksgiving I spent the day alone, as I have all the holidays this year, because it’s not safe for me to have close contact with most people. But I watched over the holiday as millions of people traveled and spent time with family, totally disregarding the advise of the experts. And why? Because it’s what they wanted to do, damn the consequences!! I hope that none of their loves ones get Covid.

And now at their most recent meeting the out of touch leadership in Orange County is once again trying to be excluded from a state order. They feel the stay at home order isn’t fair and that OC shouldn’t have to be lumped in with the other So Cal counties. They feel OC is in better shape, but the numbers don’t support that. Never the less, they are going to ask the governor to separate Orange County and let the county be responsible for dealing with Covid. This is a frightening prospect, I can’t imagine the governor will approve this request, I certainly hope he doesn’t. Then I saw on the news in the another state during a meeting of local officials there was one official who’s 12 year old child was at home and this official needed to leave the meeting because protesters were pounding on the door of her home. This is not right, yes there is a right to protest, but not to scare family members, especially children. I support the right to peacefully protest, by all means carry a sign, safely gather and even chant or yell, but pounding on the door of a private residence crosses a line, actually I studied law and that would be considered trespassing. And all this is again over a simple piece of fabric that when worn can save lives.

Please for the sake of your fellow human beings, please wear a mask, socially distance and wash your hands. And please only gather with your own household or your own social bubble. And if you feel compelled to protest, do so, but please do it safely and legally. Someone’s life literally depends on what you do.