My heart broke again the other day.
I love listening to CBC Radio. It has always felt like “home.” I love hearing different perspectives and life stories, even if I don’t always agree with what I’m hearing, I am glad to know what’s on people’s minds.
Recently, though, I was saddened to hear a radio host’s tone as she interviewed a medical specialist. The show was about masks, how to take care of them, how often to change them, etc. She was lighthearted and jovial. The specialist said that hesitation when wearing one is like when we started wearing seat belts and that we should get used to this, even wear one without COVID being “out there.” Like masks may never go away.
While I wear my seat belt without hesitation and I am “going along” with wearing a mask despite there being no solid evidence that they work, this is not something to get used to. It is not something to talk about lightheartedly. While I get that smart people are recommending masks, I do not need a medical degree to know that wearing one feels wrong.
Wearing a mask means no chance of friendly or meaningful connections with others in public. It destroys our chance of developing relationships. No more chatting with a friend or neighbour at the store because, well, I can’t see them. I can’t tell who anyone is anymore.
No more joy out there. No more smiling at strangers, which has always come naturally to me. No more approaching a senior to help – I may be putting them at risk, better keep my distance! How can this be a good thing? If I or a member of my family must be put at risk of acquiring an illness that continues to affect a minuscule percentage of Alberta’s population, well, fine. I would sooner take that risk and chuck out masks than trade what makes us human.
Let’s look at classrooms. So, a virus that has shown to have little to no impact on children and has shown to spread little to none between children and adults in other countries is dictating how children learn. No more seeing the teacher's smiling face, no more hearing clearly what is being said. No more smiles at friends.
I have written my MP, MLA and city councillor, and not just about masks, but about the inhumane health measures that make no sense to my heart. They are breaking my heart. They are keeping me from my extended family and my church community. They are dividing people in a severe and ugly way.
Please forgive me for wanting a balance between managing the low risk of this virus and maintaining our humanity. This is not the world I want me or my children to live in. This is not “normal.”
Please go easy on me in the comments. I deeply love and care about all the people in my life, both young and old, both healthy and not-so-healthy.
Nancy Boyko, Edmonton