Keeping the Politics out of a Political Time – The Great Passport Debate
Its hard these days not to jump on the political bandwagon.
Choose a side and stick vehemently with it – defending it to the death.
For those of you that do, and still respect that others may have differing thoughts and opinions – I applaud you.
Its not easy these days.
There are two clear sides with very little space for middle ground.
Those that respect the other side while sticking to their team, they deserve to be noticed.
They’re helping in making society keep on moving.
While it may be difficult, the reality is that we don’t always get what we want.
While our hearts and our minds may have strong feelings and strong beliefs, the power of government and the rest of the world for lack of a better word – often dictate what we can and cannot do.
Laws, bylaws, beliefs, systems, temporary measures and evasive actions – all things to mitigate what should be for the best of us, or the best of others.
Sometimes the best intentions walk a very fine line.
Either way, in this industry, our friends and clients don’t have many options when it comes to these next steps.
Right, wrong, wherever you stand on the vaccine passport debate – Restaurants and other establishments have very limited options right now.
With the recent government mandates in Ontario, and the bylaws that have been passed, vaccine passports – love them or not, are currently here and very real.
Our friends in Restaurants and events have been through nothing short of a whirl wind this past year and a half.
Facing complete shut downs, take out and patio only, and most recently a staffing crisis which has had employers scrambling to continue in an industry plagued by business loss after business loss.
An industry that thrives on making our lives easier, happier, and fulfills our needs of getting together and being with others – has wanted nothing more than to keep these promises and dreams alive.
They have pivoted in ways that we can only imagine.
They have suffered loss after loss, hit after hit, only to struggle their way back up to try and open up their establishments and their arms for us once again.
Finally we seem to be just starting to hit our stride with the main snag being the lingering staffing crisis – and enter the vaccine passport.
I think we can all agree that this is one step in the getting back to normal process that definitely causes more hesitation and inconvenience on everyones end.
Agreeable or not, its an extra step and yet another burden on our already struggling hospitality friends.
For those with the paperwork, its as easy as having it readily available and handy to display upon entry to these establishments where its permitted.
For those without, or those in stern disagreement with the latest actions of our governments – its back to the familiar four walls of our own homes or at best, patios that are starting to get chillier and frostier.
On whichever side you stand, know that those requesting the documentation, didn’t ask to be in this position.
These decisions go beyond them and much higher. They are simply the vessel with which the message is carried.
At this point, we can go with what we believe in, we can stick to or morals, or we can find new ways – just as our friends – to pivot once more and find a way for as many of us to get through this as possible.
We can attend to our events, or dinners, and our gatherings – documents in hand and smiles on our faces. Or we can get the best of both worlds.
Enjoy the comfort and familiarity of our own surroundings, while doing take away from our local eateries.
We can buy gift cards for use when this too shall pass.
We can support those that need it most. Those that are there for us for our special occasions and events and everything in between.
We gain nothing but a headache by going out and causing misery to those that didn’t ask for this, but gain everything by either supporting, or taking the front line to those that have the authority for change.
As always in life – we have to pick and choose our battles.
This doesn’t make us pushovers or weak – it makes us smart and calculated.
One day – one day – this too will be one for the history books.
Guest Blogger Rayna Davies
Rayna Davies is a graduate and practitioner of Business Management. She has developed an expertise in blogging, covering subjects like travel, world events and security. Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Prot
ection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and experienced many security details. These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities. She presently assists Sentinel Security in Executive Protection workshops and guest blogging and also assists Gloprosec Preventative Services in Intelligence gathering and Business Administration.
Her passions include World travel, having visited every continent.
