No more being nice
A friend of mine recently joked that those who have fake vaccination cards should then be treated at the hospital with “fake incubator cords.” This example of “gallows humor” is reflective of how many of us are feeling right now. As a double-vaccinated public school teacher, I am getting increasingly annoyed at those who loudly spout their anti-mask, anti-vaccination beliefs.
A recent example at our local Kaiser reiterated this for me very clearly. A middle aged man was in line for his COVID shot, but was loudly proclaiming his position that COVID is “not a big deal;” and said he was merely getting his shot to “shut up those complainers.” Sadly, he also (loudly) explained that he was recently in Las Vegas and “no one there was wearing masks.”
I sat there, stunned. Not sure how to respond, I thought how a compassionate person should respond. “Thank you for coming in to get your vaccination. Yes, I know it’s scary, but please think of all those people who we are helping by getting our shot. Those unvaccinated, children, etc.” But sadly, that’s not how I responded. I loudly exclaimed to anyone listening. “We are getting our shots to help protect those we love; and maybe help keep our community safer.” The lady sitting next to me in the waiting room looked over at me and nodded. Sadly, I thought, this is our new “Them vs. Us” battle.
I’m tired of being polite. I’m tired of seeing students kept home because of community spread. I dread the day when one (or some) of my students have a positive COVID exposure, and they and I will have to stay home until I get a negative COVID test. It is unnecessary, and can be avoided. All of those who stand along the highway, waving their “Honk if you love USA” signs should think twice. Yes, go ahead and share your freedom of speech, but by mingling unmasked in such large numbers you increase your risk of spreading COVID. Again, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that those of us who are trying our best to stop community spread should speak our minds. Not to be mean, but if you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. I’d hope that common sense prevails and we can keep our schools and other key establishments open. However, if the anti-makers, anti-vaccination folks keep slowing us down, it may be a long winter ahead.
Speak up, share your opinion and ask those not masked/not vaccinated to stop getting in our way. It’s time to come together and stop the spread.
Toni Reynolds
Kailua-Kona
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A win-win situation
Mahalo to the Hawaii County Council for passing Bill 44 related Hawaii County’s building codes with only minor changes to definitions and clarifying language to the factory built housing sections.
I am especially appreciative that now Hawaii County families will have more options for building safe, lower cost homes that may provide them a path from renting to buying. Our nonprofits who provide housing can also use factory built housing for those they support to keep them from homelessness. I hope with the updated building code adopted and recodified, that now our builders can move ahead and put a big dent in the 13,303 housing units we need by 2025.
Now is the time for builders to ramp up and provide buyers with options from multiple factories and site built companies. It’s a win-win situation for our construction workers, our county’s plan checkers and inspectors, and our residents.
Shirley David
Kailua-Kona
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Take care of Americans before refugees
I do not want any more refugees in the United States. This is my country. I want some say in having hundreds of thousands of people who in 50 or 100 lifetimes have not improved their country. It is not the responsibility of American citizens to take care of all the underdogs of the world.
Why is the government so happy to have all these people from other countries to help when they do not do a very good job with a large part of our American population?
Are all the children in the United States eating three meals a day? Do all the children live in a safe place? Do they have adequate schooling, schooling that will afford them a way to make a living? Do their parents have decent jobs? Do they have access to emotional help if they need it?
How many of you reading this today are willing to have a dozen, 100 of these refugees move into your community? How many of you are willing to share the schools, doctors, housing, stores with people that you will be supporting?
We Hawaiians, all Americans, make a great deal of effort to be good neighbors, to support our schools and food bank, to live a life that is safe for yourself and your neighbors.
I do not want a bunch of people that our tax dollars or most likely, borrowed money, will support. It is not what most people worked and saved for or expected.
Sandra Gray
Kapaau
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