The topic of wearing masks has become very controversial in the United States. Personally, I believe that masks should be worn due to the overwhelming amount of undeniable scientific evidence supporting the fact that wearing a mask is beneficial to slowing the spread of COVID-19, which has already caused the death of 180,000 Americans. For example, after 15 states established mask mandates, there was a decrease in the growth of the virus. In addition to this, countries that favor mask wearing have lower death rates than the United States. The job of a mask is to provide a barrier for the droplets that come out of your mouth and nose when you sneeze, cough, or talk. This is called source control. A study found that when people with respiratory viruses wore masks, the amount of droplets and aerosols emitted were far less compared to them not wearing masks. Evidently, the evidence for the effectiveness of masks is there. So why do people refuse to wear them? I believe that one reason is because the wearing of masks has become heavily politicized. Typically, people on the left tend to be in support of wearing masks, and some people on the right resist masks. Trump has publicly mocked Biden for wearing a mask. Subsequently, Trump supporters are bound to adopt his rhetoric and opinions. For example, Herman Cain publicly opposed masks and attended the Tulsa Trump rally where no regulations were followed. Cain then contracted COVID-19, supposedly at the rally, and died a little over a month later. Recently, Trump has unexpectedly called the wearing of masks patriotic. Which I definitely agree with. Another reason why people oppose masks is because they call it their freedom to not wear it. To which I reply, “Is it really your freedom if you not wearing one could infect people with a virus that can potentially kill them, like it has 180,000 other Americans?” Ultimately one of the most common reasons people don’t wear masks is because it isn’t comfortable. To which I would say, “Neither is getting intubated after you find yourself in a hospital.”
Sources:considerations for wearing masks
Still Confused About Masks? Here’s the Science Behind How Face Masks Prevent Coronavirus
What are your opinions on masks? Do you think that we should wear them?
How do you feel about the politicization of masks?
Why do you think that people are so opposed to wearing masks in the United States compared to other countries?
Replies
Good, timely topic choice and well done overall Theresa!
The people that are opposed to wearing a mask almost always have the same excuse, " This is a free country." Yes, this is true to an extent, but the people who don't wear masks are putting in danger not only themselves but other around them. This country may be "free" but there are laws that limit us. To the people who don't wear masks let me ask you this. Here in Iowa it is a law to have your seat belt on. Right? The seatbelt is for your safety. If you take off your seatbelt there is a chance you may get injured. Same thing goes for not having a mask on .
My opinion is that masks are great because they can prevent more people from spreading the Rona. I think that people should wear masks indoors at all times because there could be a more possible chance you become infected. Meanwhile, shen you are outside if you are closer that 6 feet than you should have your masks on.
I think masks should be work when appropriate, I do not think we need to constantly wear them, but when going to the city or out of town or to the store where you do not know who around you has been, it is a good precaution to wear one if you are nervous about getting the virus.
I disagree that they should only be worn when out of town. Even if you are with people that you know, they can be asymptomatic, which means that they show no symptoms of the virus and can spread it silently. And even if you aren't nervous about getting the virus, you could be spreading it to people who are.
Tobe honest I don't like masks becaus if affects my asthma to much. I don't think we should wear them because it's very uncomfortable. I don't like it because they're trying to do it for show. I think that people oppose them because of the breathing issue more here than anywhere else.
I understand, but there have been countless videos where doctors and medical professionals have monitored their oxygen levels while wearing a mask and the machine shows that the intake remains at 100%. Also, they may be uncomfortable, but it's a neccesary precaution to make sure that not only you, but others don't get sick. It's a simple matter of caring about others.
Masks have been shown time and time again to be effective. A lot of other countries have slowed the spread of the virus down heavily due to a nationwide mask mandate- something the United States still has yet to implement. Wearing a mask has been so heavily politicized that people believe it's "taking away their freedom" which. logically, doesn't make any sense. Everytime get into a car we put on our seatbelt for the safety of ourselves and others, otherwise you could be fined for not abiding by the safety rules. You drive on the right side of the road and stop at the stop signs, otherwise you'll be fined. There are so many other examples of government regulated safety measures, which can be directly compared to the mask issue. The government regulates these rules, however this isn't considered an infringment on freedom, so why are masks? There is no valid reason not to wear a mask. The discomfort is a minor inconvience compared to the risk of potentially infecting and killing someone. I think Trump has played a big role in the politicization of masks, and he is a big reason a lot people refuse to wear them.
I heavily agree with you. I like your camparison to seatbelts and driving precautions. Just like wearing a seatbelt isn't that comfortable, it's a necesarry precaution in case you get into an accident, exactly like a mask, which might not be comfortable to you, but it protects you incase you come into contact with someone that has COVID-19, which is very like nowadays.
Masks should be a Nation wide mandate at this point. It is a shame that the US leads number one worldwide in reported cases of COVID. Wearing a mask is definitely not a hard thing, some people just have to understand that is change that they have to addapt to. Wearing a mask is not against your freedom or your rights is simple courtesy for the people around you. If you claim to have respiratory problems, etc. You should not be opposing to wearing masks because it's you who we are trying to protect. A healthy, young teen has a less chance of dying of COVID than a person with respiratory problems, or an elderly one. This should not be a political issue because like I mentioned before is simple courtesy. Americans just tend to oppose to wearing a mask because they think that the government is trying to control them. Which I personally think is a pretty un-logical argument given the circumstances of their every day lives.
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