Things are gradually re-opening here in Michigan and I am somewhat skeptical of its long-term success.
This comes despite a statewide mandate for people to wear face masks in stores, restaurants, bars and other places of business, as well as in crowded outdoor venues.
Wearing facemasks has, for some reason, become just as politically charged as the decision to put the state on lockdown to begin with. I would guess anywhere between 60-70 percent of people are wearing them, but it doesn’t take too many morons who refuse to wear them to put the rest of us in jeopardy.
Yes, I said morons. I’ll explain why later.
I was both encouraged and alarmed during a recent trip to Houghton Lake, Michigan. There were signs in front of businesses asking or requiting people to wear masks for entry. The signs varied in tone: “Please wear a mask indoors,” “Face masks required,” and so on. My favorite and, I think, the most effective, was the one on the Habitat for Humanity Resale shop: “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Mask, No Service.” Each article of clothing was underlined twice. Still, the one restaurant I visited had no masks visible — not among the staff and not among the patrons sitting inside.
The reasons I’ve heard for not wearing a face mask are weak, at best:
“You wear a mask so I don’t have to.”
“Coronavirus only affects older or sicker people — I’ve got nothing to worry about.”
“It’s an assault on my civil liberties.”
These excuses are based on bad science and a misunderstanding of the Constitution and seasoned with a lack of empathy or common sense.
I want to talk about those who think they don’t need to wear a mask because they’re not at risk. You don’t wear protective equipment because of what you think will happen, you wear it because of what could. When you get into your car, are you expecting to get into an accident?
I have a similar disdain for people who don’t wear helmets while riding bikes or motorcycles. I first started to wear one when I lived in Eugene, OR, attending the University of Oregon, after I heard about an accident involving two cyclists who collided head-on at night on one of the paths along the river. One of them died. It wasn’t too long after that the my helmet saved my life — or at least my brain function.
I have ridden on all types of terrain and in all types of weather. I’ve navigated thin, curving trails up and down hills, rode through snow and down icy street gutters, but the worst spill I ever took was not on any of those rides. It was on a straight, flat bit of asphalt in the middle of a sunny summer afternoon.
I was on my way to work when it happened. One moment I was cruising along, cursing the wind (it was in a section of path not protected by forest or buildings, a half-mile wind tunnel next to the river) and the next thing I knew I was looking up at the sky. I don’t know how long I laid like that. I just lay there, blinking, until the face of a homeless guy appeared, looking down at me.
“Are you okay, man?” he asked.
I sat up and slowly figured out what had happened. Something got entangled in my front tire and was then kicked up against the brake and fork. It must have stopped instantly and thrown me ass over elbows. I cleared the handlebars. I stood up, a bit shaky, took off my helmet and inspected it — and saw a nickel-sized depression that I could stick my thumb in. A rock had penetrated the helmet.
“That would’ve been my skull,” I said, in a sort of dazed wonder. I’ve worn one ever since, no matter how fast, slow, technical or boring the ride is.
I get that people think something like that won’t happen to them. I get that they believe they are careful, confident and have reflexes quick enough to save them. I was in my prime then; I had legs of steel, the balance of Spider-Man and all of my mental faculties — you wouldn’t even recognize me now. None of that mattered.
People who won’t wear masks, despite the mandate, are even more foolish. They’re gambling not only with their own safety and livelihood, but that of others. The ones who verbally or physically assault those who ask them to follow this policy are the worst of the lot. How selfish do you have to be to attack someone who’s merely trying to protect him or herself, their colleagues and family? What level of assholery do they aspire to?
For that matter, what level of cowardice exists on a national level to force these confrontations on front-line workers?
Fortunately, more and more people are masking up. There are still too many people out there that will not do it, however, and far, far too many that would assault and berate those who ask them to and throw tantrums when they don’t get their way.
Mask up!
Scott Spielman 