The Wisconsin Supreme Court once again shut down the mask mandate for the state. Within moments jubilation was resounding in the streets, in the market, on social media and even in our little library.
Sitting quietly there, I heard this conversation from behind, “Oops, I can’t believe I forgot my mask. “ Then another, “You don’t need it. Do you have your shots?” The voice got closer and she coughed right behind my chair, “yeah, you don’t need masks now, no mandate.”
Yep. She’s right, there is no mandate for common sense and there never was a mandate for kindness.
To all who have received shots and believe you are impervious…clearly you have not read the fine print. Vaccinations may or may not stop you from contracting the virus. It may only decrease the severity. And your ability to carry the virus means you may still spread it to others.
Tuesday was Election Day. I was grateful to see our poll workers masked and distancing. But apparently other towns were intent on flaunting their “freedoms” and callously displayed the ignorance gripping our nation and refusing to let go.
It doesn’t matter if you believe that masks work or don’t. It doesn’t matter that leadership is more eager to battle than to help. It doesn’t matter if you’re a liberal anti-vaxer or a conservative science hater. The sideshows don’t matter.
What matters is your consideration of others. What matters is your willingness to recognize that in this moment of time we are all interconnected. What matters is your ability to care.
People are still dying. Mutations are still occurring. This worldwide crisis is separating living human beings from those who are merely pretending.
The only way to beat this pandemic is to become respectful human beings. Therein lies your freedom.
Photo courtesy: Dcpeopleandeventsof2017/wikimediacommons
let kindness win 