It feels shameful to me that wearing a protective mask during the pandemic has been politicized. The mask protects me from infection but primarily protects others from being inflected by me. Conservative Republicans and Trump supporters have labelled the wearing of a mask as a statement of opposition to Trump. They believe that being required to wear a mask to protect others from sickness and death is a violation of their constitutional rights.
What kind of craziness is this? Since when is it a constitutional right to endanger the health of others? Where in our constitution, laws, traditions, or rights is there a rule that puts free expression above public health?
The politicization of mask wearing during a pandemic is a new low for the U.S. Trump and the Republicans have led us here. It looks as though it will be up to Biden and the Democrats to restore both health and sanity to the U.S.
Tom Glenn, Writer 