Why Wearing A Mask Is NOT A Political Statement

2020 is truly wild. WILD WILD WILD.

But the most wild thing EVER to me is the fact that people are refusing to wear masks.

If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know I’m a huge advocate for masks (I buy A LOT of masks, I think they’re a super cute accessory to be honest). In New York, masks are mandated everywhere else. I’ve done a lot of research on masks, I’ve talked to friends who are nurses, and I listen to doctors who speak on the topic.

I know tensions are running high right now. There is a lot going on in the world. It’s an election year (ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE?). We’re dealing with a pandemic. We’re dealing with injustice. We’re dealing with global warming. So yeah, I understand that people are pissed off.

But I don’t understand how people could be so irrational when it comes to a mask. Here’s a few arguments/reasons/excuses I’ve seen, that happen to really bother me.

“But it’s my body, my choice”

“They don’t even work.”

“It’s hard to breath in them.”

I know this post might come off a bit harsh, but I don’t understand how a small piece of cloth can cause so much outrage. These reasons are just….ABSURD to me. The government is not trying to CONTROL US. They’re trying to CONTROL THE VIRUS. There’s a lot of other things the government does to us, and “forcing” people to wear masks should not be your concern. Like WHAT? No, I can’t even entertain the whole “it’s my right” argument.

When it comes to effectiveness, I mean sure, they don’t really prevent COVID. Sure, if you wear a mask, you can still get COVID. But if the experts and just science (I mean, if I cough or sneeze DIRECTLY on you, you probably will get whatever germs/sickness/bacteria/virus I have in my system). The CDC advises everyone to wear masks, and here is more information on that. So while I don’t think they prevent COVID, I certainly think they help. And if I can potentially save someone from getting COVID, then I’m sure as hell going to wear a mask whenever I’m out.

Are masks comfortable? No, not really. But I’m out for maybe an hour or two MAX. My face gets sweaty as hell. Sometimes the elastic bothers my ears. But do I complain? Not really. Some of my best friends are nurses, and they wear masks for 12+ hours a day. While trying to save lives. If they can do that, I can do it too. And so can you.

At the end of the day, I see wearing a mask as a sign of respect. Maybe it’s because I believe the leadership in New York has gone above and beyond to keep New Yorkers safe right from the beginning of the pandemic. And if they’re telling me I can’t go anywhere without a mask, then I won’t. I’m doing my part to continue to help New York progress and fight off COVID. It’s still very much a pandemic that we’re living in. I’m being a good human being. It’s that simple.

please, i’m begging you: wear a damn mask