Wearing a mask amid coronavirus pandemic can’t hurt, and the ask isn’t worth a revolt
A previously precious item is now so common anyone can find 342 chests of masks, likely produced by the British East India Company out of Wuhan, China, and dump them in the Trinity River.
Almost 247 years after we protested rule by the British government with a tea party in Boston Harbor, a lot of us want to do the same against scientists and doctors.
The difference is unlike our protests over unfair taxation without proper representation, now the struggle is against The Man in the Iron Mask.
In 1773, the spunky colonists only had access to a sword, a knife, and maybe a single shot pistol to defend themselves against the red coats, and King George III.
In 2020, we all have access to military grade, semi-automatic weapons to defend ourselves against the white coats, and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Nearly 250 years after we threw down with the Brits, we’re still jonesin’ for a fight. About 100 years after the Spanish flu pandemic, little has changed.
To answer the question of whether we need masks, and if they do much good, I sought the advice not from my political leaders, or even Facebook, but my friends who work in the medical community, and researching American history.
Here is what I found: Wearing a mask in a crowded place with poor ventilation can’t hurt. We also have bigger issues than wearing a mask for 30 minutes in a store.
Tales of employees having to fight customers on the insistence of shoppers wearing masks, which included one California Target worker sustaining a broken arm.
A Family Dollar security guard in Michigan was shot after he refused to allow the daughter of a woman to enter the store because she did not have a mask. Allegedly, the woman went home, and returned to the store with her husband and son, and the guard was shot in the back of the head.
Premeditated murder over a mask.
This is not the first time in American history people have fought over staying home, or wearing a mask.
Last century’s flu pandemic killed at least 50 million people worldwide, including 675,000 in the United States, according to estimates provided by the CDC. Like today, people back then were sure a vaccine was imminent.
People were told to not spit on the ground, to cover their nose and mouth. They were told to stay home, and avoid crowds. A theater in Chicago said if you’re sick, go home.
In 1918 and 1919, some areas, famously San Francisco, made wearing a mask a law. This naturally gave birth to the Anti-Mask League.
Much like now, back then there was no universally agreed stance on masks. They don’t stop everything, but they hurt nothing.
This comes from a person who hates wearing them, not because I think it violates my rights as an American but rather I question how much they actually do against a virus. Bacteria? Yes. A virus? Not as much.
The answers I elicited from the six medical professionals were all reasonable, and nothing tainted by blue v red opinions. The consensus from my doctor friends — many of whom are Republican — is just be smart.
No one said wearing a mask is dumb, or to skip it.
If you are in close quarters where the ventilation is poor, wearing a mask is a good idea. A plane. A grocery store where you are going to be unintentionally close to people as you purchase what you cannot live without, such as low-fat chocolate covered celery.
If you are out walking your dog for the 97th time of the day, wearing a mask is excessive. Keep a reasonable distance from others, etc.
After two months of quarantine we are seeing many of us are going to get this thing, and likely won’t die from it. It does not mean I want it, or want someone I love, or even loathe, to get it.
(Actually, check that. I can think of a few people I wouldn’t mind seeing get it. I don’t want them to die, but being uncomfortable and unhappy would make my day.)
A most sensible answer is, “If someone doesn’t want to get sick and ride this out ‘til there’s a vaccine, they should wear a mask and prevent themselves a week or two of being ill.”
Sold. This is neither a violation of our unalienable rights, nor is it too much to ask.
If a store requires a patron to wear a mask, it’s the same civil rights violation as “No Shirt. No Shoes. No Service.”
This whole ordeal stinks like cow manure, but this is where we are for the time being. So if wearing a mask can’t hurt, and may actually get us across the finish line faster, I’ll mask up.
Like my doctor friends said, just be smart. And, it’s just a mask.
No need for another Tea Party.
This story was originally published May 15, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
