Editor, Gazette-Journal:

On Friday it was announced Trump had contacted COVID. I confess it’s hard to have sympathy when he has constantly flaunted, ridiculed, and dismissed protocols, procedures, protections, and guidelines that have been put in place. This in my eyes is a teachable moment and a potential eye-opener for those who are willing to look.

Donald Trump is one of the most protected and powerful people in the world, yet due to his constant thumbing his nose at scientific and medical knowledge he not only contracted COVID he also spread it to and infected others within his circle. This is reckless, this is dangerous, this is callous, and this is his ego, his carelessness, and his ignorance all wrapped together and on display.

COVID doesn’t care if you are the president or not, rich or poor, healthy, or well. This is a lesson too many of you who still flaunt the rules and dismiss them. Wear your masks, social distance, avoid needless large groups and gatherings. Protect yourselves and others at all times. This is your chance to display better judgment and leadership than our current President. It’s not difficult, it’s not hard. It’s not because you can’t do it, it’s because you don’t want to do it and that makes you as foolish, egotistical, and ignorant as he was.

I don’t gloat over Trump getting COVID, but I don’t shed many tears for those who purposely stick their hands in the fire and get burned. Protect yourselves. Protect others. Do better.

Jeri L. Evans
Gloucester, Va.