Dear editor:
If ever there was a time when John F. Kennedy’s famous words, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” resonated more powerfully, it is now!
We are living in unprecedented times for us and, by and large, our governments at all levels are trying to do their very best to get us through this pandemic.
Of course, they can do better, and they have shown they will, as they have adapted and grown with the challenges.
What bothers me, however is something we all are guilty of to varying degrees. Namely, individuals and special interest groups, demanding the government give them priority or, worse still, demanding the government stop interfering with their rights.
This is only natural, of course. But we have reached the point where I believe we should stop demanding and start doing, and setting positive examples. I have had enough of all this criticism, selfishness and complaining. It is time to look inwards and ask ourselves, “Are we doing all we can to stop the spread of COVID?” I think if we are honest with ourselves, we must say No!
One look at the local beaches and parks on a good day, as of late, and you will see we are not following basic protocols. The beaches and parks are jammed and we are seemingly content that it is OK to bury our heads in the sand and think COVID is all but gone. It isn’t. As increasingly high daily case numbers have shown, COVID thrives on opportunity and we, unwittingly, are giving it plenty of opportunity to do so.
Of course many people are being very COVID-aware. But not enough! We can all do much more than we are, myself included! I know that we are all sick of COVID and experiencing varying degrees of COVID fatigue. But now is not the time to let our guard down. We have to dig deep, stop complaining about how hard done by we are and do what is necessary to stop the spread of COVID. We have done well for the most part, up to now. But we cannot relax for a moment and we must continue to do what we can as individuals and families, first and foremost, to end this threat.
If we are not prepared to do so then I believe, reluctant as the provincial government admirably is to do so, it must do 'whatever' is necessary to stop this virus in its tracks. The time for educating the public is over. We are at a crossroads and the province must step up as well and do its part. It is all well and good to talk the talk, but the time has come for the government to walk the walk as well. Which means enforcing their protocols in every sense of the word! What good is it fining people if you are not going to collect those fines? This is just one example of the government sending out mixed messages. There are many more.
We all have to step up now, at all levels, from the grassroots to the highest levels of government, and do what is necessary. It is time for us all to look inwards and stop pointing fingers. We should not have to be told to do so. I thought we were better than this. Do what is right. This is all that can be asked of any of us.
Rick Harrison
North Vancouver
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