Questions that deserve answers

I think it has been well established over the years that I am a naturally curious person. In fact, I’ll admit that I’m downright nosey and as such I have a lot of burning questions that need to be answered.

This week, I’m just going to put some of these questions out there to see if any of you good readers have the answers that will satisfy my curiosity.

In no particular order then, I’m just wondering:

1. Will this be the year that we finally see the end of this dreaded COVID-19 virus, the scourge that has changed our world in so many profound ways? Let’s hope so or at the very least let’s hope we find a way to manage it and live with it. Fingers crossed that the end is near and that we can finally move on with some semblance of normalcy.

2. Will people finally accept that they must wear a mask when they are in public places to prevent the spread of this dreaded disease or will they continue to snub their noses at everyone who is trying to do the best they can to protect themselves and everyone else? Come people, we are almost two years into this struggle and there’s no good excuse for not doing your part. If you aren’t worried about yourself, please think of other people.

3. Will this be the year that the provinces implement mandatory vaccination legislation? There is talk of this, but mandatory vaccinations must be a last resort and only when the virus becomes too powerful to manage by other means such as masking and social distancing. Instead, countries such as Canada and the United States must work to ensure populations around the globe are vaccinated. That is the key to eradicating this virus.

4. Speaking of government overreach, will 2022 be the year that provinces begin taxing people who refuse to get the vaccination to protect them against the virus? The bigger question for us here on the South Shore is will Nova Scotia be one of those provinces to take such action?

5. With this being winter, will drivers finally learn that before they take to the roads following a snowstorm or a frosty night, they must first clean the windows on their vehicles? Not likely, even though those people pose a serious safety hazard not only for themselves but also for other drivers on the road. People just never learn.

6. Speaking of winter, will 2022 be the year that I finally learn to like the colder months? Hmmm. Again, not likely. I am not a winter person, plain and simple. Never have been and I really don’t see that changing anytime soon. Bring on spring. The warmer weather can’t come soon enough.

7. I know we live in Canada but for news junkies such as myself who follow the political antics in the United States, will this be year that Americans finally wake up to the real threat that is Donald Trump? It’s not looking like it what with half of the population still believing that Joe Biden stole the last presidential election. I know the politicians in our country aren’t perfect, but let’s be thankful we don’t have to contend with Trump.

8. Will this be the year that my family and I get our own doctor? Don’t think so. We’ve been without a family physician for a while now and it really is disheartening to be in this position. The sad part is that there are so many more Nova Scotians who share the same challenge. We all know the health care system is in crisis and there is no easy answer to the problem, but people’s lives are on the line. We need solutions and we need them now.

9. Will humans ever figure out a way to get along regardless of our race, culture, religion affiliation, age or sexual orientation? This is the year 2022. We can do better. No, we must do better because our society and future generations depend up on.

10. Will this be the year that every homeless person finds shelter, that every hungry person finds food to eat, that every sick person finds medical care and that every victim of a crime finds justice?

11. With this being 2022, have most people finally accepted that global warming is a real thing and not some government or scientific conspiracy designed to manipulate the marketplace? It’s real people. Just consider the environmental disasters that have swept around the world over the past two decades. Oh, it’s real. There’s no mistake about that.

12. Will this finally be the year that we eradicate poverty? There is no excuse in a country as wealthy as ours for so many Canadians to be suffering and struggling just to survive. We must find a way to close the gap between those who have and those who do not.

13. There are some words in our everyday vocabulary that should be banned because they are offensive and hurtful to certain people and cultures. I am sure you are aware of many of these. Can 2022 please be the year that we stop using these offensive and hurtful words when describing some people?

14. In 2022, will people finally put away their cell phones and disconnect from their electronic devices so they can reconnect on a more intimate level? Not likely but the question has to be asked.

15. Will this finally be the year when we will learn to be more understanding and compassionate about the feelings of other people when we’re on social media? I don’t know about you, but I am tired of the lack of decorum shown on social media. we can surely learn to tolerate people and accept that not everyone shares our opinions and views. If not, then maybe you should shut down your social media platforms.

There’s a lot to unpack here, but let’s just all try to get along. The real challenge is for all of us to tackle some of these issues and strive to do better. We owe it ourselves and everyone around us and that’s the view from here.

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Vernon Oickle, the author of 32 books, writes The View From Here column, which appears weekly in the South Shore Breaker.