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By Mel Rothenburger

Armchair Mayor

ROTHENBURGER: Nastiness around Trudeau coming down with COVID is appalling

Feb 2, 2022 | 4:29 AM

HERE’S A MESSAGE for the trolls who have been posting vicious comments about Justin Trudeau testing positive for COVID-19: get a life.

What kind of person could be so callous as to wish bad things on another human being who has contracted a potentially life-threatening virus? I’m not talking about nasties from the other side of the country, either, though I’m sure there are plenty of those.

No, I’m talking about the mean-spirited critics here in our own town and region who have been posting comments such as, “who cares?” and “what a joke” and “the little baby,” and “coward.”

Wow. We’re the Tournament Capital, the city of volunteers and friendly, community spirited people who genuinely want the best for everyone. What’s going on when we wish such ill on our leaders? Surely, we’re better than that. Somewhere, somehow, all this hate has to stop and maybe we can start by showing more humanity and less spite.

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Let’s remember that Justin Trudeau is a father of three and that two of those kids have also tested positive, as his wife did early in the pandemic. He’s our prime minister, like it or not. He’s also a fellow citizen and we’re supposed to care about each other as Canadians.

We can certainly disagree on political matters and we don’t have to like the measures taken by provincial and federal governments in their efforts to keep the spread of the virus down. But being offensive to someone who’s come down with it?

No doubt a lot of people think he’s a lousy leader. Others see this situation as certain proof that their own views on COVID vaccinations are vindicated. That’s no excuse for the poison being spread around these past few days.

Trudeau says he feels fine. We should be thankful for that, and we should fervently hope he comes out of it none the worse for wear and that his kids do likewise.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.