We’ve exchanged our humanity for processing

I don’t want to live in a world like this.

Yesterday (May 3, 2020), I went to the grocery store with my common-law partner and toddler. First, we had to stand in a line where they separate people 6 feet apart. It was finally our turn to enter and the security person, who was wearing a mask, told me multiple instructions that I couldn’t understand. One because she was wearing a mask, and two because she had an accent.

Apparently, these were her instructions:

• I am not allowed to bring in my own grocery bags. (I needed to place my grocery bags at the entrance of the store.)
• They have removed all of the baskets. No more baskets.
• My partner and I were not allowed to enter the store together. We would be granted entry separately, and only if we got two grocery carts and went in opposite directions.

I was all at once completely uncomfortable and on edge. I felt that my partner and I might be arrested at any moment for discussing our joint purchase of groceries. I felt naked and alone. I felt violated and outraged.

I no longer wanted to shop for groceries. I paid for 4 random items and then went to customer service to file a complaint. I deserve to be treated better.

I deserve to be treated better.

What is wrong with this picture?

The damage of fear and paranoia this so-called virus has caused is widespread and irreversible.

Virtually overnight, humans exchanged their humanity — their rights to be treated as a human beings — for satisfying their base level needs of feeling safe.

It is absolutely ludicrous that people aren’t allowed to socialize, gather and touch one another. Talk to each other in person. Share a smile and kindness. Treat each other with decency. Have conversations. Exchange words and energy.

This hole we fell into will be difficult to climb out of. The damage is done.

Thank you for this experience.

First Worlders now have a taste of what losing our freedoms is like. This is how it feels to be processed instead of treated with love, respect and kindness. How — when placed in an impossible situation — we will lay down our rights in an instant. Without thoroughly thinking it through. Giving a moment to pause. Looking for the truth or taking the time to consider our values and motives.

The word Trust has lost its meaning.

It’s hard to sit still when I’ve lost my trust in elected authority organizations and representatives, the ones who are supposed to work to uphold the rights and interests of their territories. Our rights and freedoms are disappearing overnight, some we know about and some we don’t know about yet. Democracies are turning into dictatorships and very few seem to notice or care about it.

There is no centralized or mandatory channel of communication.

Nowadays, there isn’t a centralized way of communicating messages. I don’t have TV. I don’t watch mainstream media. Mailouts are hardly engaged. I won’t even know what new laws are in place because I don’t where to look for them. I could possibly be handed a fine or arrested for a new law of which I am unaware.

The new laws that I do know about that have been created during this so-called pandemic are so unconstitutional that I can’t take them seriously.

Once a line has been crossed, you lose that ground.

The grocery stores have taken in upon themselves to go that extra mile by enforcing even more stringent rules than required.

Would any family in Canada agree to a new law making it illegal to grocery shop with their husband, wife or children?

What about those people who need assistance carrying the groceries?

Or those single parents whose kids are now treated as piranhas. Has anyone tried to make a rambunctious toddler aware of the new rule to keep 6 feet away from people and behave in an orderly manner? With my particular kid, this just isn’t going to happen.

Oh — here’s brilliant idea: Grocery stores could set up cages for the kids at the entrance of the store that the parents could use to force their children to behave.

And if you think this is over the top, from what I’ve seen, this is right around the corner.

Something is gravely wrong with this picture.

Everyone needs to shed their fear. Get rid of your ingrained fear of dying. Fear of death is at the root of being human and we all need to look it straight in the face and say, “I’m not scared of you.”

Overcome the fabricated fear of being near other human beings. Of germs. Of thinking every breath may be your last.

Humans, let’s remember what makes us human and start embracing each other with love and compassion. Don’t let the fear win.

This is a fight worth dying for.