A self-proclaimed 'humble shopkeeper' has shared their views on the current state of Australia's Covid crisis, calling for Aussies to 'be more tolerant' and respect one another's opinions.
As widespread lockdowns and calls for mandatory vaccines have sparked hostile arguments and protests across the nation, the note was stuck to the window of O'Henry Big Menswear in Balwyn, east of Melbourne.
The note gave readers a friendly reminder to take a step back and remember that everyone has their own struggles, even more so during lockdown periods.
The note encourages residents to be more tolerant of each other during Covid induced lockdowns
'We're living through times where fear and mistrust have replaced hope and open-mindedness, despair and isolation have replaced joy and community and for many it has becoming tragically all too much,' the note reads.
'Nobody knows what anybody else is going through, feeling or dealing with and yet if they hold differing views to yours concerning the current world situation they are treated as the enemy'.
'How did we get to this diabolical situation?'
It comes as Victoria recorded 73 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, with only 24 being in isolation.
Victoria is also under strict restrictions, including a 9pm-5am curfew, but health officials are hopeful that case numbers have 'plateaued' meaning the state can return to some normality before the magic 70 per cent vaccination rate.
A Melbourne menswear store (pictured, its owner Chris Ferns) has shared a brilliant message, sticking a note to the window of the clothing store, O'Henry Big Menswear, in Balwyn
If the state is to get out of lockdown, the shopkeeper raises a valid question.
'More importantly what can be done to rectify it or to at least stop making it worse?,' the note went on.
'I am but a humble shopkeeper and don't profess to be terribly wise but I can see and feel the terrible toll that it is taking on us all,' the note continues.
'Pro-vax, anti-vax, pro-mask, anti-mask, pro-lockdown, anti-lockdown etc, it's time we all realised that we all have the right to our own opinion and try to be more tolerant of each other.
'I am but a humble shopkeeper and don't profess to be terribly wise but I can see and feel the terrible toll that it is taking on us all,' the note reads (pictured, O'Henry Big Menswear)
'Remember, just because two people argue, it doesn't mean that either of them is right'.
While many would counter that sentiment, with science and statistics backing up vaccination and mandatory mask wearing, the message still stands.
In an amusing end to the note, the writer then apologised to a person who had opposed his 'previous message', admitting he swore at them and should be 'practicing what I preach. Sorry'.
