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While the media focuses on Trump, because you know, it always has to be about Trump, we still have that COVID-19 thing out there. And it's not going away even after the election, and even after Biden gets inaugurated.
So why is this picture meaningful?
It tells me a LOT of things.
Mask-wearing for thee, not for me
We all have to be diligent in wearing our masks while in public, especially indoor areas outside of our own homes, right?
But no, she's special. The rules don't apply to her.
Maybe she found the mask too constricting. Maybe she has a physical condition that prevents her from wearing a mask for long periods of time.
You know who else claims that? Every single anti-masker out there. Every. Single. One.
Or this guy, who attacked a store owner because of the mask mandate:
The Water Droplet Myth
I've noticed that many people think masks prevent the spread of coronavirus because its primary means of transmission are water droplets. Meaning that the only way you can catch COVID-19 is if you're within six feet of someone breathing the same air, or if an infected person actually coughs or sneezes onto you.
Not many people know that COVID-19 can also be transmitted via aerosols.
In other words, the virus is AIRBORNE. There's no other way to put it.
In any case, people seem to think that, if no one else is around them, that they don't have to wear masks. Just like this election worker who decided to take a "mask break" since no one is within six feet of her.
But that's not how it works, sister.
Masks can slow the transmission, but MASKS DO NOT PREVENT TRANSMISSION.
If you're going to be sitting in an indoor space for hours at a time, which is most definitely what you're going to be doing when you're counting thousands and thousands of votes, you're already at high risk of catching the coronavirus.
Wearing a mask is meant to reduce that risk, but it does not eliminate it. You also need good ventilation in that building.
And for goodness sake, if you're gonna wear a mask anyway, keep your mouth and nose covered. Don't just wear it around your neck. You're not working out, you're not doing anything physically strenuous, and you're not going to be short on breath by counting votes.
The Liberal Double-Standard
We see the news stories all the time. Blacks and Latinos (or as white libtards like to say, "Latinx") are much more susceptible to COVID-19 than any other race:
Asians like myself are less likely to catch the coronavirus despite this being the "Wuhan virus" or the "China virus" or even "Kung Flu." Yet we are much more paranoid about this than other races. Why? I believe it's a cultural thing. Though most of us know the value of individual rights, we also feel a sense of responsibility to do the right thing for the community and society at large. If someone isn't wearing a mask or is otherwise acting like an individualistic asshole, that person is generally shamed in Asian cultures, as they should be.
In any case, a Black lady like the one in the photo above should be much more paranoid about COVID-19 than an Asian guy like me. Yet here she is, just keeping the mask below her own chin.
Is anyone going to point that out besides an obscure Internet troll named Tenchu? Nope.
Maybe anti-maskers will point that out, but only to accuse the other side of hypocrisy. Left-wingers, who believe in mask mandates, will give her a pass, just like they gave Nancy Pelosi and Gavin Newsom passes.
Just like they gave the people who attended the funeral of a civil rights leader a collective pass:
The Resurgence is Real, and It Doesn't GAF About "Red" or "Blue" States
Finally, there's a sense that the coronavirus is only spreading in "red" states these days. A lot of attention is being placed on Texas, North Dakota, and South Dakota. And that's fine. Especially given that South Dakota has such a low population density, they should NOT be seeing as many COVID-19 cases as they are now. That's all on them.
But look at Georgia. Once considered a deep "red" state in the heart of the Deep South, it just turned "blue."
And look at their numbers:
Cases per 1M pop: 40,851 (vs. national average of 36,091) Deaths per 1M pop: 851 (vs. national average of 777)
Meanwhile, we Californians, living in the bluest of blue states, are also experiencing a resurgence. Though our numbers are lower than the national averages, we too have many people dying, and we too have to watch the number of ICU beds available.
Only The Paranoid Survive
I know I probably spent much more time than I should have in overthinking this one photo.
But I think if more people actually did what I did, we could get a more consistent and more accurate message out there, which can help reduce this COVID-19 thing.
Because everyone is sick and tired of having to quarantine, socially distance, and generally limit their own freedom to live life to its fullest.
Maybe the incoming Biden administration can do that. No doubt the media will be in full compliance, because you know, he's a Democrat, despite his lack of mental awareness. Trump certainly tried his very best to confuse the message about COVID-19, and I believe we're all seeing the results of that.
But that just means we have to take responsibility for our own well-being and that of our respective communities. We can't just rely on the federal government to get its act together. (Why should we, when poll after poll shows confidence in the federal government is down to the low teens?)
And that means keeping your masks on, especially in public indoor spaces.
No more "but but masks don't work!"
No more "but but only right-wingers don't wear masks!"
We need to get over this ASAP, or else the free world is screwed, all thanks to a virus.
