And there was no one left to care for me

Where I live almost no one wears masks, including postal workers, cashiers, most customers. My husband was recently hospitalized five times. I have immunological disease. We both look healthy. If you breath on us giving us COVID-19 you might kill us. Would you kill someone and not feel devastated upon realizing that your neglect did? You may be ignorant of the consequences of your actions because you are a silent spreader.

Martin Neimoller (1892-1984), a German protestor against Hitler, one of the first to speak out against the complacency of the German population in allowing the Holocaust, wrote this poem:

First, they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out —


Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out —


Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out —


Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak for me.

His words inspired me to write this:

When COVID-19 killed New Yorkers, I did not care —

Because I was not a New Yorker.

When it killed the meat packers, health professionals, and aged veterans,

I did not care — because, I am not any of those.

When it killed blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, people in prison, and poor people –

I did not care because I am not any of those.

When it killed my friend’s friend, my son’s neighbor and made a friend’s mother and another’s husband deathly ill --

I did not care because I am not any of those.

When it killed me –

I died because there were not nurses, doctors or hospital beds left to help me.

BETTY GARDNER

Priest River