We Are Fighting the Pandemic and Ourselves

What happened Monday outside Rady Children’s hospital was a sign of the disagreements, emotions and tensions over vaccines, masks and mandates that the continuing pandemic continues to spawn and spread.

About 100 people were there, some on one side and some on the other side. As the San Diego Union Tribune reporter who was there described it, it started as a rally by a group whose message was that any attempt to require vaccination is an infringement of human rights. Police patrol cars showed up after counter protesters arrived, holding up a large “Vaccines Save Lives” banner. The U-T reporter said there were even a few scuffles, with both sides claiming they were provoked by the other.

Meantime, at schools everywhere, some that have already re-opened at others that will soon reopen, there are disagreements and disputes over getting vaccinated and wearing masks.

And at workplaces, employers are trying to figure out how to manage the workplace with some people vaccinated and some people not and some people wearing masks and others who won’t.

And stores and restaurants are now dealing with whether to make customers wear masks and whether to require proof of vaccination.

And on social media, of course, the sometimes-nasty back and forth goes on and on. After a year and a half now since the pandemic began, it appears as if we not only still have the virus to fight, but also, at times, each other.

(Photo Getty Images)