Next time you hear someone complain about lockdown, remind them of these words on suffering from The AIDS Memorial
An LGBT+ Pride parade in Washington, DC, in 1991. The paranoia of the AIDS crisis that seized the country the decade-prior still lingered, and some have remarked that the sense of fear and anger is being repeated again during the coronavirus pandemic. (Mark Reinstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
The AIDS Memorial has a message to those who feel having to wear a face mask is “suffering”.
As churches, Supercuts, Arby’s, Cracker Barrel and Walmart stores are shuttered, enraged Americans have dubbed the measures enforced to protect them and their loved ones from coronavirus a “culture war”.
Pockets of Americans have spilt onto streets demanding lockdown ends. But here to silence protester’s takes that they are “suffering” at the hands of these stay-at-home orders is The AIDS Memorial.
The group took to Instagram last Friday (May 8) to shutdown demonstrators’ ignorant growls, emphasising that “suffering is not being unable to cut your hair”.
The AIDS Memorial: ‘Suffering is people dying of COVID-19 and what their families are going through, that is suffering.’
The emphatic post was coupled with a raw photograph of Tom Fox, an account executive who died of AIDS-related complications in 1989. Lithely lying on a hospital bed, his anguished family surround him.
“This is suffering,” the AIDS Memorial said in its caption, which was written by Scott Fowler.
“Suffering is not having to wear a mask. “Suffering is not being prohibited from going to the beach.
“Suffering is not being unable to cut your hair. Suffering is not staying at home.
The caption continued: “Suffering is not claiming you know better than the doctors and scientists but yet you feel the necessity to voice your ignorant opinions on social media telling us you’re suffering because of it.
Suffering is people dying of COVID-19 and what their families are going through, that is suffering.
“I have lived through the AIDS pandemic and I’ll live through COVID-19 because I believe in science and the doctors.
“I certainly didn’t believe Reagan then and I don’t believe Trump now who went from hoax to pandemic in three months.
“Shut up, sit down, stay home, stay save, read this and learn about suffering.”
‘Thousands of users agree that wearing a face mask amid lockdown is not ‘suffering’.
Quickly tallying more than 17,300 likes, countless comments of solidarity and compassion poured in from users.
“Thank you for this,” one user wrote, “devastating and necessary.”
“Thank you for spelling it out for the present-day complainers,” another added.
A third user said: “Thank you for reminding us. Thank you for speaking.
“Let’s never forget.”
