The Editor,
I am appalled and disheartened at the selfishness, the inhumanity and the idiocy displayed by those individuals taking advantage of the global COVID-19 pandemic to hoard (and, in some cases, sell for profit) essential provisions at the expense of our impoverished and disadvantaged population. They have turned this health crisis into a Neanderthal, dog-eat-dog death match.
By hoarding and/or reselling sanitization products, for instance, these profiteers have unwittingly deprived our impoverished from an effective means of self-sanitization, ultimately giving COVID-19 a strong advantage to run ever more rampant.
For those of you justifying your selfishness with “Well, I need to make a living,” consider that while your seemingly innocent business venture is booming and providing an overabundance of personal security, your malignant self-interest has suffocated the lifeblood of those less advantaged than yourself — those who cannot afford your exorbitant prices.
Ironically, the individuals you harm, through your monopolization of cleaning products could end up infecting you — we can’t stay isolated forever.
When it comes to salvation from infection and possible death, why are so many people blind to the methods of kindness, selflessness and honesty?
If we are to survive these difficult and oppressive times, we need to end our savage and selfish ways. Try lending a helping hand to our disadvantaged population by, for instance, assisting a senior with their groceries or by donating to a charity. Make responsible choices to stop the spread of the virus, especially by staying indoors if you have COVID-19 symptoms and washing your hands frequently. Instead of hoarding, share rations that are in short supply with your neighbours, creating a bottleneck for the virus. And lastly, stay informed as health officials disseminate the latest information and dispel the many myths.
Perhaps this COVID-19 outbreak could provide an impetus for our self-obsessed society to cultivate a modicum of altruism, although I am not optimistic.
I sincerely hope I am mistaken.
Peter Toth, Port Coquitlam
