I have about a dozen ideas for some commentary. Because I could not come up with a specific one to write about, I thought I would put them on my wheel of woe and give it a spin. In case you are wondering some of the sections on this wheel include the continued assault on Obamacare during a pandemic, a President who apparently failed fourth grade civics, the manufactured crisis for the post office, Indiana’s failure to address the vote by mail expansion, the growth and acceptance of QAnon conspiracies, the legal action being taken on the National Rifle Association by the New York Attorney General, and a congress for whom corona relief has become a political football instead of a life and economy saving reality.
All of those are worthy for slots on the wheel of woe, but after giving it a spin it came up on face masks. So welcome to my rant.
There has been plenty of argument about face masks and whether they work to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The simple answer is it will not stop you from catching it from someone else. But if you have been exposed and infected it will lessen the likelihood that you will give COVID-19 to someone. Bill Nye, yeah the science guy, did a good demonstration on the effectiveness of masking. It is one of the few things on the topic on the internet that make sense.
One thing I find disturbing in the mask debate is that wearing a mask is somehow violating people’s constitutional rights. Sorry, Charlie, I have read the constitution more than once and no where in it does it state you have a right to refuse to wear a mask.
Another is that people feel that by wearing or not wearing a mask they are making some grand political statement. The only statement you make by wearing a mask is that you are being considerate of the health needs of others. Those who don’t? Draw your own conclusions.
Then there is the violence and threats. All over the country there are reports of people going into melt-downs when some retailer suggests that they wear a mask. There have been reports of people opening fire with semi-automatic weapons, one of a woman throwing an elderly woman on the ground and breaking her leg, then there was the couple that showed up wearing masks with swastikas on them, and just general tantrums that seem to say people hate their neighbors.
My latest observation of the selfishness brought about by those who can’t wear a mask and can’t control their own actions is coming from the opening of the college campuses. Notre Dame is already shut down for two weeks because reckless socializing has led to a spike in COVID cases.
The thing to remember they are calling this the novel coronavirus for a reason. It is new. We are still trying to keep it from spreading because we have limited treatment options and no vaccine. And to some people it is very deadly.
Those of you not wearing a mask. It could well be you who gives this disease to someone who will die from it. The further we go the more likely it will be someone you know. Already Daviess County has had at least 22 people die from COVID-19. Those deaths have been quiet, often tucked away in a hospital or a nursing home with such limited family access it is like these people have faded away. These were once vibrant people, mostly later in life, but still with plenty to give.
I recognize there are a handful out there who for some real (not imaginary or ridiculous) reason cannot wear a mask. The answer remains find a way to keep to yourself or get someone to do your shopping. Sorry, but no one knows where you have been and we might be justified in being reticent in being around you.
Bottom line, stop being so selfish. Put on the mask. Do what you can to control this disease, so that we might be able to someday go back to something that resembles real life before the pandemic.
And by the way, once we get an effective coronavirus vaccination, I am reserving a spot on the wheel of woe for the anti-vaxers.
The Link LonkAugust 22, 2020 at 08:25PM
https://www.washtimesherald.com/opinion/anti-maskers-take-top-spot-on-wheel-of-woe/article_d6267458-e3b1-11ea-84b2-c7a002401fa5.html
Anti-maskers take top spot on wheel of woe - Washington Times Herald
https://news.google.com/search?q=Wheel&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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