Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

To mask or not to mask

I am confused. Wear a mask, don’t wear a mask. Masks protect others from, potentially, catching a contagious disease. This is what we’re told.

And what about when someone sneezes in public? As a retired teacher, we taught students to sneeze into their elbows, hopefully catching most spraying droplets with a sleeve. These days, I won’t go into a store where the parking lot is full and most people going in and coming out are not wearing a mask. It doesn’t make me feel safe.

No adult wants to be told how to live, but we do need to be respectful of each other. To err on the side of caution and protect those I come in contact with, I for one, will wear a mask and I hope you will, too.

Erika Hizy

Spokane

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-5098

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy