Quite some time ago I had written a short piece about masks in various contexts including COVID19. I was then and am even more so now amazed at the irresponsibility of many people who argue against masks. This group of people, suffused through our societies have a similar if not identical demographic as those who choose to not socially distance appropriately. The attitude that one does not have social responsibility in the heat of a major modern health crisis is indefensible. Given that lives are being lost at a rapid pace, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are being stretched beyond the limit of functionality, healthcare workers are exhausted, resources in the form of protection, diagnostics, beds and medicines are stretched, local and regional governments are in extremis, and society is now in a state of anger and despair, it is not surprising that officials have fallen to fines and other forms of penalization for stupid behavior. This is NOT about free speech, freedom of any other right, or freedom of human beings in general. This is pure selfish, illiterate nonsense.
It is sadly interesting and perhaps to be expected that when one sees people without masks on their faces in public places as mandated, they are much more likely to be of the male subspecies than female. The strange association that males make with machoism, freedom and rendering themselves a societal blight is perhaps linked to testosterone levels and perennial brain malfunction. The bravado of saying ” I don’t need to or will not wear a mask or be told what I can do” really reflects the male insecurity. While it is associated with certain political parties, it is likely that “masklessness” has a constituent preponderance among male creatures in such parties. Not wearing a mask is akin to buying a big car with a big engine, making a big noise, or carrying a weapon in public in order to compensate for a weak self image and lack of character.
Looking out for our families, our friends, our neighbors, our infirm and vulnerable……this is the essence of being socially responsible. Not wearing a mask or distancing or respecting the orders or laws of this dire time is completely out of line with being a member on a civilized society. Being socially humane is not about “socialism” or some other ideology. It is about being truly human. People in some jurisdictions have confused being socially responsible with a political philosophy like socialism. They are distinct form one another.
Perhaps among the worst of behaviors, or stated beliefs, there are some people who promote the view that we must sacrifice people in order to save society’s economy, to “open up the economy”. They are even willing to sacrifice their own mother on that false premise. Political leaders of certain stripes have expressed this point of view. It is the doctrine of dough heads. Indeed, these political “leaders” are indefensibly immoral and indeed criminal in their confused and confusing approaches to crisis. All it takes for leaders in these situations is to acknowledge the limits of their actual expertise and only speak from facts drawn from those with real expertise in the complicate aspects of pandemics. Half facts, ideas, or opinions are extraordinarily damaging without expertise.
There are things important to teach our children by action, by voice, and especially by shared discussions about the pandemic. What people like Dr Bonnie Henry having been urging for months…..”~remember we are in it together for everyone’s wellbeing and benefit, to listen, listen, listen, to think about and act for the wellbeing of others, to do the basics that have been known since 1918 to save lives in the setting of viral pandemics, to respect the vulnerable, to be kind to others, to not be selfish…..these are the crucial maxims of our time.
Regrettably, my thoughts, which are not unique or special, are ones shared in several societies over the past months, are so simple and easy to act on, but have not been addressed with any consistency. This inconsistency has enabled, fostered, promoted, expanded, worsened the pandemic, especially in the USA, in certain provinces in Canada, and in several other countries and regions of the world. The proverbial horse is long out of the barn and down the lane. The virus has won this battle. The first wave of infections never really stopped in the USA, and was followed by a second pseudo-wave, that now has been followed by a massive third wave. The pandemic is running its course, augmented by the poor behavior of citizens and inspired by poor leadership of selfish politicians. Basically, we, as the so-called smartest species on the planet Earth, have shown how vastly different IQ and EQ really are. While vaccines are emerging and will temper the pain in healthcare settings and longterm care shortly, this will not be enough to save a million more victims soon to die, or to curtail the chronic ailments arising in the wake of acute COVID19 syndromes.
Finally, as Dr Sanjay Gupta has said recently, science cannot save us from ourselves. It can only help us if we are willing and able to learn and act.
Amen. 👏🏼