Friday, May 15, 2020

In Other News, A Lot Of People Are Self-Centered Shitheads

Wearing a mask in public during the pandemic is meant to protect other people, not the person wearing the mask. Sadly, people often act like selfish, entitled, inconsiderate shitheads. Many people are refusing to wear a mask in a perverted solidarity with Donald Trump, a man who despises them, who is also the biggest shithead most of us have ever seen.

"People can get belligerent when being asked to do something that they do not want to do," said Meegan Holland, the spokeswoman for the Michigan Retailers Association. However, Wendy E. Parmet, the director of the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University, notes: "I never had a right to do something that could injure the health of my neighbors."

A sampling of incidents:

Van Nuys, California: A Target employee ended up with a broken left arm after helping to remove two customers who refused to wear masks.

Perkasie, Pennsylvania: A cashier told a man refusing to wear a mask that he could not buy a pack of cigars at a convenience store. He punched her three times in the face.

San Antonio, Texas: a man who was told he could not board a public bus without a mask shot a passenger. The victim was hospitalized and the gunman was arrested.

Flint, Michigan: A 43-year-old security guard (and father of eight children) was shot and killedat a Family Dollar store after insisting that a customer put on a mask.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Two McDonald's employees were shot by a customer who became angry after being told the dining area was closed and she could not eat inside the restaurant. The woman refused to leave, but 2was eventually forced out of the restaurant. She returned with a handgun and fired three rounds into the building, hitting one employee in the arm. A second employee was hit with shrapnel in the neck and shoulder. A third employee was also hit by shrapnel in the side.

Stillwater, Oklahoma: An emergency proclamation requiring the wearing of face masks in stores and restaurants was amended one day after being issued because of numerous threats of violence. Store employees were verbally abused and threatened with physical violence. There was at least one threat involving a firearm. City Manager Norman McNickle: "It is unfortunate and distressing that those who refuse and threaten violence are so self-absorbed as to not follow what is a simple show of respect and kindness to others."

Decatur, Illinois: A customer shoved an employee of the Hucks Food & Fuel after a dispute over his refusal to wear a face mask while paying for fuel. The employee was shoved in the chest. He then punched the customer in the face.

Illinois: Rob Karr, the president of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, compiled a list of episodes that took place in the first 48 hours after masks became mandatory. One customer threatened to get a gun from his car to shoot an employee who insisted he wear a mask. Several employees were hit, while others were verbally abused. Sometimes customers fought each other.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Several police officers forcibly removed a man from a public bus for disobeying a city mandate requiring riders to wear face masks. The mandate has since been rescinded.

Holly, Michigan: A 68-year-old man was arrested after he wiped his nose and mouth on a Dollar Tree store clerk's shirt when he was told to wear a mask.

Brooklyn, New York: A 22-year-old woman was thrown to the ground and arrested in front of her child in a subway station, after police asked her to put her mask on properly.

Colorado: A man planning to attend a protest of "stay at home" orders was arrested after police found pipe bombs in his home. He had encouraged demonstrators to bring firearms to a May Day protest.

Austin, Texas: A man was arrested for pushing a park ranger into a lake, after the ranger told a crowd of people to stand six feet apart.

Rancho Palos Verdes, California: An employee at a Trader Joe's told a customer: "These are the rules. I am asking you kindly to wear the mask." The customer, who recorded the exchange, refused. "We are in America here. Land of the free." Then she turned her camera on other shoppers: "Look at all of these sheep that are here, all wearing this mask that is actually dangerous for them." The police were called, but never arrived. [I'd like to know how wearing a mask is "actually dangerous".]

Ohio: Nino Vitale, a Republican state representative, cited his religious beliefs to explain why he would not help limit the spread of coronavirus. "This is the greatest nation on earth founded on Judeo-Christian Principles. [That is not even a little bit true.] One of those principles is that we are all created in the image and likeness of God. That image is seen the most by our face. I will not wear a mask."

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