Culture

It’s Patriotic to Wear Your Mask

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Recently, it has become evident that there is a significant portion of the population so fascinated with the concept of freedom that they willingly put others at risk. They don’t want to wear a mask in public. The government is not to tell them what to do.

I guess many of us can say we saw this coming. The American attitude toward authority, no matter how justified, has always been murky. There is also a fundamental distrust in government. Congress holds a 30% approval rating and President Trump enjoys a mere 49% approval rating (his highest approval throughout his entire presidency).

We aren’t fans of following orders, especially by those in power. The mass production of the yellow Gadsden flag reading “Don’t tread on me” is a great representation of this fact. As a result, some people have claimed that their constitutional rights have been infringed upon by their state’s stay-at-home orders. Even businesses that require face masks be worn for entry have been labeled unconstitutional.

But, to be blunt, you don’t have the constitutional right to enter a Costco without a mask. I never met the founders, but I assume that’s not what they had in mind. We shouldn’t feel disrespected that our government, at any level, is requiring the public take the necessary steps to keep as many people safe and healthy as possible. That’s their job.

Instead, we should demand a response from our leaders, and that includes mandatory face masks. Yet, some people feel so deeply disrespected by being told what to do that they will purposely ignore health recommendations and break the law to show everyone who’s boss.

This misplaced feeling of disrespect can also be deadly. Like the murder of a Calvin James Munerlyn, a Family Dollar security guard, because he denied entry to those without a mask.

Some individuals among us are convinced that wearing a mask means they have succumbed to an over-hyped narrative predicated in hysteria. They aren’t about show off how weak-minded they are by wearing a mask.

However, regardless of what actions your leaders take, you really should want to wear a face mask anyway.

So, if you need any convincing that wearing a mask in public really is essential to public health, here are four reasons I came up with:

1. It keeps others safe from you.

This is the obvious one, but it still doesn’t seem to have resonated with everyone yet. The CDC has been clear that some individuals are reported to have the coronavirus but are asymptomatic. You may think that you don’t have the virus, but there is no way to know without a test.

Let me be clear: The consequence of being an asymptomatic carrier of coronavirus, without taking necessary precautions, is death. You will never know if you spread the virus to others without a mask. If you wear one while practicing social distancing, you can at least know that you did your part.

2. It’s not all about you.

This goes hand-and-hand with the first point, but I find that it’s important to make this distinction perfectly clear. The notion that you should wear a face mask because it may protect you from the coronavirus is not a reason to put one on.

For a mask to provide high quality protection, it needs to be medical grade N95 mask that is properly fitted to the wearer’s face. These masks do protect the wearer from the virus, but they must be reserved for medical personnel and front-line workers.

A recommended cloth mask will not provide this kind of protection, but that is not why we are being asked to wear them. It really is about others. Wearing a mask is emblematic of the kind of compassion we need to get through this pandemic, and it can save lives.

3. It enforces a social contract.

Going out into public without a face mask breaks the collective social contract that is vital to our well-being. No matter how objective we view our decision-making, we are influenced by the behaviors of others.

If I notice on my trip to the grocery store that I haven’t passed a single person without a mask, I may re-evaluate my decision to come unprotected. In contrast, if I come wearing a mask only to notice there are tons of people without masks, I may feel less inclined to wear mine in the future. I might even feel silly.

That’s not what we want to happen on a nationwide scale. We all have a responsibility to uphold this social contract so that others will follow suit. If we choose not to, the mutual understanding between individuals breaks down and the consequences will be great.

4. It’s a sign of strength.

I’ve stated how the American reluctance to show weakness is largely to blame for the hesitance to wear face masks in public. However, it’s not that we need to feel more comfortable showing weakness in this circumstance. What must be understood is that a face mask is not an inherent symbol of weakness, but of power and strength.

When we take action to protect the most endangered among us, we are showing just how strong we can be through the worst pandemic in a century. It represents a reluctance to back down and how powerful we can be when we work together toward our goals.

If you take anything from this article, take this: Wearing a mask is perseverance. It’s resistance. It’s patriotism.