Hi, friends.

As ‘Rona rages on, even though I haven’t ascribed to any religion in two decades, I keep thinking about a lyric from this dang church song from my childhood: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that, you do unto me.” (1/7) https://www.huffpost.com/entry/restaurants-open-dine-in-ethical-coronavirus_l_5f03278fc5b612083c5f44b4?utm_campaign=share_twitter&ncid=engmodushpmg00000004

As a NYC creative-type who also bartends to support himself, it really feels personal, whenever someone chooses to not wear a mask in stores and restaurants and bars whenever the place requests/requires it for the health and safety of their workers.

It feels like they/we/“sOcIeTy” is telling ME, “Hey! Our personal comfort and pleasure is more important than your safety and health, and if you don’t like it, GET A NEW JOB/CAREER/LIFE!” It’s this whole weird, gross thing, and it’s getting... increasingly scarier for me?

No worker wants to feel like they’re in danger. No one wants to feel like the sacrificial lamb. We’ve been told that simple tasks (masks, hand washing, limiting contact) makes it exponentially safer for everyone around us rn, especially the folx w the least amount of options...

...who are being told that they either have to go back to a high-contact workplace right now or lose all Unemployment Insurance. And the people who are demanding mask-free, indoor chicken dinners and maskless tube-top shopping... are still being allowed to work from home?

*Their* bosses have said their offices aren’t safe for *them* to go back to. ...but what about *our* offices (bars, restaurants, grocery stores)? So, why are you coming into our spaces and making them more unsafe for us? Why isn’t what’s good enough for u good enough for me, too?

There’s a huge Compassion Gap in the world right now, and it’s really bumming me out. Please be safe, and please choose to observe the safety measures that others have asked you to observe in their spaces, for everyone’s safety and comfort, not just for your own.