Are masks the next front in the coronavirus culture war?

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Debates over masks and other face coverings have been at the center of discussion since the early days of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S. For much of that time, the conversation focused largely on practical matters, like how effective masks are at stemming the spread of the virus and questions about shortages for health care workers.

The debate has shifted in recent weeks. There are no longer questions about whether masks prevent infection. Experts agree that even homemade ones help. The current conversation is more contentious. Those who refuse to wear masks have been accused of ignorance or selfishness while the mandates that they be worn outside or in shops have been painted as violations of civil liberties.

The discontent over masks has been strong enough to force some politicians to change their policies. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who has been praised for his early and aggressive response to the virus, has lifted the state’s order requiring masks be worn inside stores, saying, “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.” The city of Stillwater, Okla., rescinded its mask policy after employees at some stores faced threats of violence.

The disagreements over masks have even turned violent. In Michigan a security guard was killed after reportedly demanding a patron wear a mask.

https://news.yahoo.com/are-masks-the-next-front-in-the-coronavirus-culture-war-182414248.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9sb2dpbi55YWhvby5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMHta4fJW3jzkmWiMfv4OumW7VMQiJkQuHK10EYDlGdtljIGfRRJirM5KJ2VFD1X_Xw9enpBG5ssQMoPVykOvIuWK-DDAhzLRI29tglmaiHXXwZoWMHQ3L54Xpb-i3_hFcK-ovbmZtMQRzcsHMyrPEhFk2FpPIRijkSrxoGeWi-h

[Buckeye_Democrat]

1. Absolutely.

I've witnessed it around here.

I'm not asking the non-wearers their political affiliation, but they match enough of the other right-wing stereotypes that I'm confident about it.

[kairos12]

2. ...and haircuts.

[Celerity]

3. add vaccines when they start to dribble in

[catrose]

4. I've been making masks since the beginning, mostly from my own supplies.

In recent weeks I've run out of everything but fabric (and I've donated boxes of fabric to other mask makers) and had to replace elastic (when I can find it), metal nose pieces, needles, cutting blades. I started out making them for medical facilities, to cover their N95s, and I've made them for family, friends, essential workers, and now the Navajo Nation. I make the personal masks to the same standards the medical facilities required, and I include a nonwoven filter with each one.

It really hurts to see my symbol of community care and unity turned into a point of contention. I keep thinking the United States is better than what it keeps proving.

[iemitsu]

9. I've been making masks too.

When I ran out of elastic I switched to using shoe strings. They work just fine.
I was verbally accosted for wearing one, while mowing my front lawn. He drove by in a convertible and yelled that I was a stupid dupe.
Thanks for your efforts to supply others with these simple, life-saving items.

[catrose]

11. And you too!

I went from elastic to self-made ties, which I purely hate, and am now experimenting with velcro on grosgrain ribbon and mesh.

[iemitsu]

12. I tried the home-made ties too.

And it was too much. Then I stole all the shoe laces in the house. Got more from Safeway with my online food orders. The shoe strings loop around the back of the neck and through the bottom two sides of the mask and come out the tops. Then they can be tightened and tied on top.
I have lots of old ribbons too. Haven't had to use them yet.

[notinkansas]

14. I've been making masks, too.

What have you been using for the filter?

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Really - Yahoo is stretching here

Not falling for their culture war nonsense.

[DBoon]

6. "People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do."

So the government can't stop me from driving on the sidewalk?

[dlk]

7. What rock has DeWine been living under?

The government regulates behavior all of the time. What he’s doing is promoting anarchy in the name of political expediency. Apparently, he has no backbone.

[Chainfire]

8. The government tells us what we can and can't do every day of our lives

It is the cost of living in a civilization. If we find that the rules are out of line, we change the rules or change the politicians who make the rules. If a store owner, or even a home owners, say's "You can't come in my store/home without shoes or shirt" it is his privilege. The option for the shopper/visitor is to go somewhere else. It is the duty of the police to protect the private property rights of the owner.

If a person wants to live without rules, if they don't feel that they owe anything to those around them, they should find a deserted island and live "free." As soon as there is a second person on their island, both parties have to give up something, and they will be screaming about their rights.

Is it now the theory of the right wingers that we are to only enforce the laws that a minority of the population like? Do we give in because we fear the minority might get violent? Screw the hard right minority, the Constitutional Scholars with tenth grade educations. Lock 'em up, or if they demand it, shoot them down. The option is to accept the rule of the American Brown Shirts. This old man ain't ready to give in to the Fascist bastards.

[iemitsu]

10. The government tells us what to do

and how to act about everything but guns.

[Raine]

13. No culture war with me

the only reason I'm wearing a hot miserable mask is because in my area no place of business will let people in without a face covering. I'm really forward to the day when they aren't needed, I hope it's soon..

[judeling]

15. It will be interesting to see how this goes now that Trump is making the white house staff wear them

We will see how long it lasts but if it wasn't so serious it would be absolutely hilarious.