The people throwing the biggest pity party right now in Canada (other than John A. Macdonald stans) are anti-vaxxers and COVID-19 deniers moaning about how they can spew their misinformation without being criticized for it.
They are the same group who think that freedom of speech means freedom from criticism or consequences.
I receive regular messages – 99.9% of the time anonymously – comparing wearing masks with living under the Nazis – an idea that would be laughable if it wasn’t so horrible.
The latest was a long manifesto that landed in my email inbox from “wilderness voice” claiming that being criticized for being an anti-vaxxer or a COVID-19 denier is the same as being subjected to racism for the colour of your skin.
Yep, you heard that right.
“Consider a future where we move all those non-vaccinated persons into certain sections of the country (‘camps’ or ‘schools’) for education and training,” reads one ridiculous assertion.
“The vaccination decision is a personal choice that every Canadian has the right make based on their own understanding, situation, and values. Whether it's the colour of your skin, your heritage, your chosen gender identity, faith, or health decision, isn't it ALWAYS WRONG to discriminate?”
You have got to be kidding.
From what I can gather, people who don’t get vaccinated are able to continue doing pretty much whatever they want.
I was speaking with somebody from WorkSafeBC the other day and they said employers are not even allowed to ask a worker if they’ve been vaccinated.
So let’s stop with that.
Let’s also stop with comparing not getting the COVID-19 with being subjected to racism. It’s utterly offensive to say something like that.
Putting others at risk from a virus is in no way comparable. You are not a victim, nor are you unfairly persecuted, for being a COVID denier.
Burnaby has reached the 75% mark for COVID-19 vaccinations - I implore everyone reading this to get the jab if you haven't done so already.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
