Last week was an interesting one when an ‘anti-masker’ decided to tape herself in the Blairmore Post office refusing to wear a mask and then uploaded the video to social media. Her exploits are pretty much all I’ve heard all week and I was out of town.

For those of you who are not on social media, a local resident taped herself going into the post office without a mask, and when asked to put on the mask promptly said ‘no’ that it was against her human rights.

In the video the employee of the post office is heard asking her to mask up or they won't be able to provide service. The lady kept saying, “you are holding up my postage, that’s a federal offence ... I’m going to come back here every day until you serve me”. Blah blah blah.

First, let's be clear, I am ambivalent regarding the masks. I wear them because I’m told to wear them and it gives comfort to those who believe in them. So I mask up and head along my merry way.

It’s obvious that the woman is an ‘anti-masker’ and although it’s her right to not wear a mask outside once she enters a facility she no longer has that privilege; as much as I hate it, it is what it is.

If this lady wanted to make a statement I suggest she gets in her car and drives to the steps of the legislature, takes off her mask and protest there. That is her right.

What I find ridiculous and actually annoying is her patronizing voice, “I’m building a case against the worker” upon which she says, “honey”. Beyond her annoying antics is the obvious stress she caused the workers. Let's be clear, these are employees of Canada Post who are forced, through their jobs, to adhere to the rules of the corporation, a rule that says patrons MUST wear a mask. I can’t figure out why this woman would go after them. They didn’t make the rule, but are in charge of enforcing it.

It’s similar to when you go into a restaurant and refuse to wear your mask. When the server or owner asks you to put it on, do you think they are doing it just for a power trip? If Albert Health Services (AHS) goes into that restaurant and sees people without masks they will shut that place down, putting every person in that building out of work. It’s not their rules, it’s the rules set out by the government.

We have a local store owner who can’t wear a mask for medical reasons, if you don’t want to go there because they don’t wear a mask don’t, it’s that simple. The employees from Canada Post have no choice, it’s that or perhaps be suspended or lose their jobs. Is that what the woman in the video wanted?

She obviously wanted something when she walked into that building on two occasions with her phone taping her rant. I wonder if she knows that videotaping on federal premises is an offence? My guess is probably not.

I hope this lady is self-employed because if my employee went to the post office to harass the front line staff for 13 minutes on my work time, I’ll guarantee you she would not still have a job.

As a result of her antics the post office was closed for a day, the staff was put under tremendous stress and now there is a security guard posted. Unreal! I never thought I’d see that in our little community.

When I went in there today the ladies looked exhausted. I was told that the support by the community was humbling. They were gifted with muffins and cupcakes, baskets and flowers all as a thank you from the people in our community to help overshadow the antics of one. That’s what makes this place magnificent.

So I leave with this to the lady who went into the post office to make a point. First, take your cause to parliament and protest there. In fact go hang out on Jason Kenny’s lawn if it makes you feel good, but don’t stress out and harass a group of front line workers doing their job following rules they didn’t create.

Second, be kind, my lord we need that more now then we ever have before. How hard is it to just be kind, apparently for some a little more difficult than others.

Third, if you go onto a federal premises, put your damn tape recorder away; people have a right to privacy when it’s parcels with names and addresses.

Fourth, I hope you aren’t doing this on company time, you not only made yourself look like an idiot, and you may in fact open yourself up for dismissal. Once something is time stamped and viral there is no going back.

Whether you believe in masks or not, whether you believe the pandemic is over sensationalized or not, please DO NOT harass the businesses that are forced to play by the rules laid out by AHS. If a business chooses to not follow the rules, you have the right to not go there. It’s really that simple. The lady on the video should be embarrassed, because I’m pretty sure the majority of the community is embarrassed on her behalf. 

If she showed up in my business acting like that I certainly wouldn’t have been as kind as those workers!

LS

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