To those that continue to bitch about having to wearing a face mask — and I know you’re out there — really, just get over it. Your “freedom” is not being impinged or impeded by it. At worst, as a physical apparatus, it is a mild inconvenience. As someone else sagely said, if you really think wearing a mask is uncomfortable, wait `till you try a ventilator.
More to the point, though, if you’re genuinely concerned that wearing a face mask makes you look “weak” or “scared” or “soft” or “uncool,” you need to fucking grow up. If anything, wearing one makes you look cognizant, compassionate, considerate and aware. To put it in language you may more easily relate to, if you really think wearing a mask equates with “living in fear,” maybe consider the safety-catch on your semi-automatic rifle. It’s designed to prevent an unwanted discharge that could potentially harm or kill someone. The mask literally follows that exact same model. It’s not primarily about you getting infected. It’s ideally to prevent you from infecting others.
There was a sobering account by a first responder I read last week that really drove the point home for me. Regardless of all the rhetoric, all the conspiracy theories, all the "mask-shaming," this medic cut through that clutter with the frank assertion that if people saw the damage Covid-19 can wreak in its full fruition first-hand, they would waste NO TIME putting that fucking mask on.
Wearing a mask is not ironclad or foolproof in its functionality, and there was a lot of mixed messaging at the beginning of all this about them, but if wearing masks have demonstrably slowed or stymied the spread of Covid-19 infection, then they’re worth the hassle.
So, yeah, wear the damn mask and quite whining. Your grandparents dealt with World War II. You can handle wearing a fucking fabric mask.
But, of course, many people will continue to be slow to accept that.
My only issue with wearing the masks, meanwhile, is that while I am wholly onboard, understand the necessity and do not begrudge wearing them, I am reticent to resign myself to the fact that they are, going forward, probably going to be a constant part of our daily existence. I just find that depressing. As such, I’m not really interested in employing masks as a means of self-expression.
In recent weeks, face masks have been seized upon as a viable new stream of revenue. You can now buy face masks emblazoned with your favorite sports-team colors or smiley faces or marijuana leaves and well beyond. It did not shock me in the slightest when I saw Kiss and Iron Maiden start selling official, customized masks festooned with their signature iconography. I've seen some inventive ones -- like the mouth from the cover of King Crimson’s In the Court of the Crimson King. My beloved DEVO, of course, just released some, let alone a new model of their classic energy dome affixed with a protective face screen. I shrugged.
This week, I was genuinely shocked to find that another favorite band of mine, SWANS, are now on the bandwagon, so to speak. It would never have occurred to me that this band would entertain such a venture, as their merchandising has always been fairly select. But in a climate so completely hostile to the livelihoods of songwriters and touring musicians, who can blame them for trying to capitalize on a new source of potential income? Also, given the cover art of the band’s iconic Filth album — the teeth — it is kind of a no-brainer (see image at top of this post). Their other option features the grimly fitting song title, “You Fucking People Make Me Sick.”
Yeah, that’s funny and all, but I can’t summon the enthusiasm to use face masks as a platform to express my musical affinities. It just feels kinda crass and inappropriate to me. And this is coming from a guy who has spent a ridiculously inordinate amount of time and money on band t-shirts over the decades.
But maybe I’m overthinking it. Hey, if wearing a mask with a Night Ranger or Kanye West logo makes you more inclined to adhere to public health guidelines, SO BE IT!!
Treat yourselves. Stay safe. Be smart. Get through this.
Recent Comments