By Steve Nelson
Give the bullies an inch and they’ll take a mile or two. That’s where we are as a peculiar form of sociopathic narcissism sweeps through the country.
This small rant was inspired by a shopping trip this week to Safeway at 287 and Arapahoe Avenue in Erie. A large sign at the entrance reads, “MASKS REQUIRED.”
Dozens of freedom shoppers strutted mask-less past the sign. At checkout, a gum-chewing, mask-free young woman gazed at her phone as the store manager bagged her groceries. He wore a gaiter style mask, drooped well below his nose. Perhaps your response would be like my response — I seethed in silence.
There have been too many reports of physical altercations and I, 74 years old and recovering from a serious injury, am no longer eager for confrontation. The posture of a few male shoppers suggested an “I dare you” state of mind, a dare I might have relished 4 or 5 decades ago. I’m not proud of that.
It should be little surprise that the “nobody is going to tell me what to do” phenomenon is running rampant. A former president flouted the law with impunity. Members of Congress barge through metal detectors with weapons. (Yes, our “own” U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert) Livid, crimson-faced freedom fighters, veins bulging in their necks, verbally assault public officials at school board and town council meetings, too often shutting them down entirely. Bullies.
The 21st century rebels with a cause are armed with a bibliography of nonsense. I’m retired and may have too much time on my hands as evidenced by my repeated and futile efforts to reason with anti-maskers on Facebook or my not-so-friendly Nextdoor site. For every pronouncement from the Centers for Disease Control, there are dozens of allusions to “research” proving that masks are dangerous, vaccines install micro-chips and, if all else fails, some combination of Hillary’s emails, Hunter Biden and George Soros.
If I note that I trust a coalition of the world’s most prominent epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists more than I trust Tucker Carlson, I’m likely to be accused of being brainwashed by the lame stream media, especially the New York Times, whose reporters are members of a vast conspiracy, colluding with nefarious forces who are determined to turn America into a socialist nation — like Boulder or Vermont.
My purpose in writing, beyond the admittedly cathartic spleen-venting, is to offer perspective gained from decades dealing with middle school students, which is essentially analogous.
Don’t make rules if you have neither the intention nor the means to enforce them. The Boulder County mask requirement is not a request. As to establishments like Safeway, the language is unconditional; “Businesses are required to deny individuals entry for failure to wear a mask . . .” There was clearly no effort on their part to enforce the policy, particularly apparent in the store manager’s nonchalance in the close presence of a mask-less customer and his own sloppy adherence. Enforcement may be too daunting for store personnel, but modeling of good health practices seems reasonable. My admittedly anecdotal experience hints that this is the norm, not the exception, in our community.
The county doesn’t have resources to guard every retail facility, but a few stiff fines might help. If an inspection team notes flagrant defiance, individual fines would be a deterrent. And if Safeway (The Albertsons Companies) wants to make a mockery of public health mandates, a series of rapidly escalating penalties, culminating in shutting them down, might get their attention. They have a responsibility to enforce the law. Since their beleaguered staff shouldn’t do it, they can hire security personnel. If these employees are verbally or physically assaulted, call the police and see if jail time is more persuasive.
We don’t tolerate bars serving minors or myriad other violations — why this?
Steve Nelson lives in Erie.