by Robert M. Traxler
In this age of COVID-19 there seems to be a debate raging between those who say we should ban attendance at places of worship, and those who say the United States Constitution guarantees our right to have freedom of religion.
We also have those who say freedom of assembly is also a Constitutional right, and of course it is. It all boils down to the question of whether the Constitution is a doctrine that is changeable and malleable at the whim of the elected government (or in some cases appointed officials), or is indeed the law of the land. The problem with the government going extraconstitutional in times of a national emergency is that it tends to not go back to where it was before the emergency.
One of the main problems with COVID is that the folks in the government, the public health services, initially told us all we need to do was to “bend the curve.” Just take 14 days, maybe even as much as a month of isolation, shut down and we could bend the curve and it would give the hospitals a chance to gear up and get ready for what is to come.
A reasonable person would think that the Doctor Anthony Faucis of this world would be intelligent and honest enough to tell us that this is not a short-term virus; even with a vaccine, which is still many months away from making a difference in the pandemic, this virus will be with us for generations, even more so than N1H1.
I firmly realize that saying we’re going to have to mask up and open up will be offensive to some, so be it; this virus will not go away this winter and will still be a factor in our society for many years to come. Having had the honor to serve my country and be stationed in Asia for a number of years, I realize that wearing a mask during what was the traditional flu season is not undoable.
When asking good folks in the Republic of Korea why they voluntarily wore masks during the flu season, they would tell you they did it to show consideration for others; is that such a bad thing? Unfortunately, wearing a mask has become a political hot potato.
It is puzzling exactly why those in power, the political and media elite, did not initially spend time convincing the general public that wearing a mask to protect themselves and others is a necessary precaution. They indeed told us masking up was unpatriotic and dangerous, a completely asinine statement. The American left now wants wearing a mask to be a law, one that expands the power of government into individual rights and indeed controlling individual rights.
Conservative Americans have reeled at this expansion of government and object to being forced to mask up. Very few people would deny that the way that the pandemic has been handled by the individual states is indeed ham-handed and illogical; rules have been made that had more to do with political correctness than fighting the virus, none more controversial than closing churches and denying people the right to gather in their own home, but allowing them to gather in the thousands to protest, burn, loot and destroy.
We can lock up or lock down American society completely and utterly, shuttered, closed, and jail the American economy and American society under the guise of controlling COVID-19. For the short run it would work extremely well. The problem with a virus like COVID-19 is that it can be transmitted easily, and it is as mobile as society is in today’s interconnected world.
It is time we stop kidding ourselves and face the reality that we are going to have to live with COVID-19 for many years, if not for many generations, like N1H1. COVID-19 is in every country in the world. Given the facts that the incubation period is so long and there’s no practical way of testing if someone is infected during the first few days after being infected and may have the virus but no symptoms, if COVID-19 is eliminated in one country, it will cross borders into another country and back again.
Ask yourself: if masking up does not work, why has it been done for centuries during pandemics? Why do medical professionals mask up? Masking up is not perfect, nothing is, but it will help us get on with our lives. Let’s mask up and open up.
Your theory is sound. The chance of it happing is slim. I wear a mask every were I go I need to my wife had a stroke and I need to be very careful not to bring something home. If masking would have been encouraged by the White House long ago I believe things would be better now. The people I see not wearing a mask you can tell who they support just look at the stickers on their cars and trucks. If you think making it a law is a left thing think about seat belts not everyone wore them till it cost you money not to I think it saved lives. Have a merry Christmas
So you wear your mask while outside and driving alone? Every store I go into in and around Wayland and Grand Rapids I have yet to see unmasked people. However, some don’t wear it correctly (over both mouth AND nose) and some people can’t wear them because of breathing restrictions (COPD, asthma, etc.).
This is still America with a Bill of Rights and Constitution, and the face mask wearing is not a law, as the Governor is well aware. I wear one not because I think it is effective (the virus can pass through most masks), I wear it frankly because of public shaming and want others I mean them no harm.
Where is the research and scientific studies displaying the effectivity of mask wearing against the Chinese COVID-19 virus?
There are none.
It’s because they don’t exist unless someone just published them.
Mr. Longstreet,
Sir,
Sorry to hear of your wife’s stroke, hope she is well.
I mask up and am a hard right Republican, a friend who was anti masking up got to be a believer after he came down with COVID-19, he went on Facebook telling all to always mask up. A friend of my wife had the virus and now is an unstoppable advocate for masking up.
Thanks for the comment, Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Best wishes to you and yours.
I agree with Mr Longstreet, it probably will not happen.
I also am not sure where DTOM shops, but I’ve only been in one (in Wayland) that does an excellent job of requiring a mask. Only ever see one person who failed human anatomy, they don’t know the nose does lead to your lungs. Everywhere else there are unmasked people, if you don’t completely cover your nose and mouth, if you wear a bandana, gaiter, or that silly strip of plexiglas that barely reaches your upper lip. You might as well not wear those things, you are not masked up..
Believe it or not you do present a danger to those around you.
I keep hearing about only less than 1% do not recover. Do you really want to be in that 1% ?? Of course, I’ve heard of those that recovered, only had mild symptoms and no after effects. I also know friends that were in such horrible pain they hoped to die to end their suffering. Some have side effects that may or my not get better over time.
These things only happen to others not me. I could be a rich man if I had a dollar everytime someone said that to me.
People seem to think when an unknown disease ( Covid-19) strikes. In a matter of months there should be factual data published. Folks it just doesn’t work that way.
The current vaccines have been developed and approved at “warp speed”. Yes, things are confusing but it seems a logical person would use PPE no matter what the percentage of effectiveness is as opposed to wearing none.
Your Constitutional rights and the Bill of rights is really stretching it as defense for not wearing or being required to wear a form of PPE.
The only way to save your rights and the Constitution is if you can remain alive to do so. Ignorance to the value of PPE will be the downfall.
Mr. Smit,
I think you and many others have a false sense of security by wearing a mask.
Nobody has answered the most important question pertaining to Covid-19, where is the research and scientific evidence wearing a mask stops the virus or what percentage does it help to wear a mask? Hear the crickets chirping?
This virus was a human engineered virus made in a lab in Wuhan with Communist Chinese support. It is a biological weapon unleashed on the world and nobody has condemned those responsible. This was an outright biological attack.
If you believe the lying media about this virus originating from a “wet market” bullsjt story and don’t believe what I’ve found, get off your haunches and research it yourself. There is credible evidence out there plus a defector from the Wuhan Lab where it was created saying how it was done. The media doesn’t want to blame China because of political and monetary ramifications. WAKE UP AMERICA!
https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/infection-prevention/masks-and-face-coverings-for-the-public/
Dave do not waste your time on DTOM he only listens to Trump. I think he should drink some bleach and feel free to go anywhere. He wont here the crickets but the worms will be there.
DTOM
I have no false security. I understand they are not 100%. I have also read if both parties are wearing them and social distance they could possibly be 70% effective.
I’ve always said Communist China was responsible…..but what can be done about it. Having the media and world proclaim the fact does what good.
Sure nuclear bombs dropped on China may have been an excellent idea. ( it’s to late now )
The President did what he could without starting WW III . I personally see no use in repeating the fact China is responsible, when nothing can be done to reprimand them.
So mask up, take the vaccine. Wait for the virus to mutate or another round of escaped virus to come ashore.
If you want satification encourage your fellow Americans to push for WW III….that will show the Communist Chinese.
DTOM
Often (more often than not} wrong, never in doubt.
Everyone is missing the point. The media hammers Trump daily about this virus. He didn’t create it, he closed the flights to and from China all the while being called a racist, xenophobe, and all other vile names by Biden and Harris. Trump then started the virus vaccine research which has resulted in the record time development of the vaccines we now have. His administration has hammered China with unfair trade resulting in tariffs, attacking them for human rights violations, accusing them for stealing via espionage by foreign students in our colleges, business, and weapons development.
Now we have a future president and vice president elect that not only encourages everything with China, they are benefitting with private deals as do others in Congress (both Democrat and Republican). You think our president elect’s son Hunter is getting huge amounts of money from China and the Ukraine for his expertise? His expertise is smoking and snorting cocaine and hiring prostitutes. He is the direct line to Daddy Biden, he’s peddling influence and access. And Joey is knee deep into it.
The media called it Russian disinformation before the election and ignored it. Now they are acting as rabid dogs on the Hunter scent. Joe and his crime family, our soon to be president.
What a joke.
I think you missed the point. Trump stopped some flights from China not all. Trump did not start vaccine research. Trump did start tariffs that we in america all pay. For three months Trump called virus a HOAX . Lost time that could have saved lives. He did nothing early does nothing now but play golf. Virus a Democratic Hoax. Good bye Trump!!!