To those protestors who rail against vaccine mandates as a threat to their personal freedom, I suggest they look at the plight of others across the globe to put their grievance in perspective.
• A Syrian family forced to flee their home due to violent conflict and now living in a squalid tent camp in neighbouring Turkey is a loss of personal freedom.
• A Muslim minority that faces systemic persecution by a ruthless Chinese government whose aim is to erase their religion and culture is a loss of personal freedom.
• A complete suppression of women’s rights in Afghanistan by a rag-tag militia of religious fanatics is a loss of personal freedom.
A vaccine mandate meant to provide more protection for us all from a highly transmissible disease is hardly in the same category.
Gary Markotich
Napanee