Pride Before the Fall

I was on the phone with a friend last night talking about, what else, the coronavirus and how people aren't wearing masks or taking basic precautions to help protect themselves and others. I said Americans are apparently too individualistic and prideful to to do this one simple thing.

For all the people I know are wearing masks, there are also a number of outspoken ones who loudly refuse. And I'm in the liberal northeast of the US. In middle-America, mask compliance is much lower. (I know this from first-hand accounts from friends and family who are travelers and transplants in other parts of the US.)

Last night, I was involved in a conversation on Facebook where someone added this comment, copied and pasted verbatim:

"I REFUSE TO WEAR A MASK! I AM NOT SICK. I AM NOT MUSLIM. I WILL CHOOSE JAIL OVER COMPLIANCE. HUGE OVERREACH. ALL LIES."

I was seriously shocked. What does this have to do with being Muslim, or any other religion, or any political affiliation for that matter? This is about caring for your fellow human beings.

Here's some recent articles on the benefits of mask use:

• Study: 100% face mask use could crush second, third COVID-19 wave
• Face Masks May Be The Key Determinant Of The Covid-19 Curve, Study Suggests
• Two Missouri hairstylists with coronavirus saw 140 clients in their salon, but no one got infected (spoiler alert: because they wore masks and took other precautions in the salon)

In addition, there's talk of the EU banning travelers from the US because the virus is not under control here. I already know of one US citizen who was unable to return to their home in the Netherlands after traveling here for a funeral, until they presented some sort of health documentation..

Not only that .. I kind of find it liberating not to have to worry about what face I'm making, if I look pleasant enough, if someone is going to tell me to "smile."

Some of the new hotspots in the south and west are rolling back their previously anti-mask stance. In Texas, the governor previously banned local governments from imposing their own mask requirements, but now says they will be allowed. Universities in Texas will also be enforcing mask use this fall. Arizona has also allowed local governments to set their own rules for masks. (Basically, this is Republican governors refusing to set an example themselves at the risk of upsetting their supporters, but allowing the local governments to do it.) After reopening, the county where Boise, Idaho is located is rolling back to a shutdown stage due to a recent increase in infections. And this is something I think people are going to have to accept - as the virus ebbs and flows, regions may move back and forth through their different lockdown statuses and requirements.

I've been writing here for a long time about how disappointed I am in how time to fight against this virus has been wasted... and now people have just given up. This essay about the COVID Quitters seems to share my sentiments...