Summary

The article discusses the contentious debate over mask mandates in US schools amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly focusing on the human ego's resistance to safety measures and the political divide influencing public health decisions.

Abstract

The piece reflects on the global impact of COVID-19 since its emergence in late 2019 and the initial hope brought by vaccines, which was subsequently challenged by the Delta variant. It emphasizes the effectiveness of masks in reducing transmission, despite the human ego's reluctance to comply with such measures. The article critically examines the political stance of certain states that are banning mask mandates in schools, arguing that such decisions are influenced by a desire for personal freedom and control, rather than the scientific evidence supporting mask use, especially given the vulnerability of children to the virus and the lack of vaccines for them. The author, a parent, advocates for mask mandates in schools to protect children, including their own, and criticizes the politicization of public health measures, urging society to prioritize lives over ego and partisan politics.

Opinions

The author believes that the human ego is a significant barrier to adopting safety measures like mask-wearing, which is crucial in the fight against COVID-19.
The article suggests that the debate over mask mandates in schools is not truly about freedom of choice but is influenced by a resistance to acknowledging the virus's control over our lives.
It is highlighted that the decision to ban mask mandates in schools is short-sighted and potentially harmful, as it disregards the collective safety of children and the broader community.
The author points out that the majority of parents support mask mandates in schools, indicating that the anti-mandate stance does not reflect the will of most families.
The piece criticizes the political dimension of the mask debate, noting that it aligns with party lines, with Democrats generally trusting the administration's guidelines and Republicans often viewing them with skepticism.
The author argues that the focus should be on saving lives, particularly those of children, and that the discomfort or inconvenience of wearing masks pales in comparison to the loss of life.
The author expresses a personal commitment to mask-wearing as a parent, prioritizing the safety and well-being of their child and others.
The article suggests that children, who are growing up with masks as the norm, may have a different social experience than previous generations, but this sacrifice is worth ensuring their survival and future health.

The Human Ego is Battered, And COVID-19 is Capitalizing

The US debate on masks at school isn’t about freedom of choice

We are closing in on two years since the first instance of the COVID-19 virus came to light in Wuhan, China, long before it was recognized by the country and the world as a global threat.

It has been a crazy 20 months, but I am not here to make everyone relive the nightmare it has been for all of us.

With the vaccine earlier in the year, there was hope that we’ll soon be past all of this, and get to live normally again. See each other’s faces, exchange smiles as we pass strangers, and maybe even travel the world again.

And for a brief moment, it did look like all this would come true — until the virus mutated and the “delta” variant decided to wreak havoc all over again.

But during all this while — one thing was clear — there are ways to potentially mitigate the risk of spread by taking certain actions.

The biggest and most important of these actions was using a simple little piece of cloth — about 5x3 inches, with a couple of strings to hold it across your mouth and nose. It didn’t seem all that hard, especially when the other alternative was potentially losing your own life or that of loved ones — untimely and without enough warning.

Not that it is ever easy to learn to live with death.

But there was one problem. The human ego refuses to budge. We can’t accept the fact that a tiny micro-organism — a virus — can dictate what we do and we don’t for such a long time. Going “mask-free” became so critical to us, that we decided to risk our lives. Sure, there was the assurance of the vaccine, but it was made known quite early, that the new variant may not be fully prevented by the vaccine.

Yet, there are states where the administration is hell-bent on “banning” schools from mandating universal masking in schools.

We know that there aren’t mass vaccine drives and approvals for kids yet — and we know they’re vulnerable to the virus still.

Why then are states banning mask mandates?

Well, let’s see what the logic there is — because I couldn’t see any until I was told it is this. Governor Doug Ducey of Arizona says:

“Parents are in the driver’s seat, and it’s their right to make decisions that best fit the needs of their children. Safety recommendations are welcomed and encouraged — mandates that place more stress on students and families aren’t.”

The state announced plans to withhold federal funds from mask mandate schools.

I am a parent, and I object

So, let’s break down his rationale. Parents have the right to make decisions for their children. Let us consider the case where parents are divided — half of them want kids to wear masks, other half don’t.

The half that don’t feel the need for masks will end up jeopardizing the safety of the other kids too — so the decision the make does not impact just their own kids, but others’ kids too. And the decision of the other kids’ safety is NOT theirs to make.

Let’s ask the parents directly? It seems like the majority of parents are in favor of mask mandates, so why not just listen to them?

My biggest problem though is that this also has a political tilt. Democrat-supporting parents are in favor of mask mandates, while most Republicans are against it. So, it boils down to ego — Democrats trust the administration in power — i.e. the Biden administration and will follow “rules” they put in place to keep their kids face. While, Republicans feel there’s probably a conspiracy behind asking kids to wear masks too.

Lives are lives. Let us not make this political

You know, I get it too — it isn’t just political. We’re humans and we thrive off social interaction. It is extremely unnatural for us to not see other people’s faces and not be able to interact and mingle freely. We want to be able to do what we want. We’ve fought for our freedom from many things — and we hate to be subject to a virus to dictate what we can and cannot do. The governments are just proxies and trying to do their job — it is really the virus that is holding us down. We want to feel like we’ve won over it, and reclaim control of our lives.

It is human nature. But those numbers of rising deaths across the world — what about them? They’re mere numbers until you have one of your very own add to that tally. Then, it becomes deeply personal.

As a father, I know one thing. If something ensures there is a significantly higher chance of my 3-year-old son or the kids around him not adding to that tally, and when it is something as simple as keeping a mask on — I will do it. Every single time.

I am OK with being forced to follow a rule if that rule is aimed at keeping my son and all the other sons and daughters safe.

And what do the kids think? Well, 3-year-olds don’t have much of a political view so let me acquaint you with what he thinks. My son grew up in these times and the ONLY way he knows is with masks on. ALL his outings since he had a bit of an “opinion” were after putting masks on, so the only way he knows to be in public is with masks on.

He won’t even let us keep our masks off even if we wanted to, in public that is. Is that normal? Definitely not. But, we don’t live in normal times. It is OK if it will take time for my son and other kids to realize there is also a world where people don’t wear masks. It might change the way they see the world. They may not experience “social life” the way we did when we grew up.

However, what it may guarantee is, that my son and those other kids are ALIVE to see that normal world. They’re around to know what a world without the virus feels like. Let’s give them that chance and not let our egos blind us from this simple reality. Please.