To the editor,

    I am disappointed. I am disappointed in the people of Shelbyville and Bedford County. When I moved here 30 years ago, one of the things that I loved about living here was how friendly the people were, and how they genuinely cared about each other. For the most part, I find this to still be true.

    But I cannot understand why so many people around here refuse to wear a mask when they're out in public. Wearing a mask is not a political statement, or a sign of "weakness." It is a statement that you care not only about your own life, but also the lives of those around you. There are many who might say, "I'm feeling fine, I'm not sick." What they don't understand is that you can contract Covid 19 and not have any symptoms for up to two weeks, but all that time you could be spreading the virus to others. A mask not only keeps you from catching the virus, it also keeps others from catching it from you.

    At latest count, Bedford County has 808 cases of the virus. Coffee County has 303 and Marshal County 242. When I drive to Tullahoma, I don't see large gatherings of unmasked people. I do see grocery stores wiping down their carts, and more people wearing masks.

    I keep hearing the phrase, "We're all in this together." But when it comes to helping others keep virus-free, and saving lives, for many people it seems that personal comfort is more important than loving and helping your neighbors. Wearing a mask, and pulling it up over your nose, is a small inconvenience compared to the lives it can save.

Think about that, the next time you go shopping.

William Davis,

Shelbyville