{"id":111307,"date":"2020-09-21T16:14:30","date_gmt":"2020-09-21T21:14:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/?p=111307"},"modified":"2020-11-03T14:35:54","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T20:35:54","slug":"the-shunning-of-the-mask","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thechicagoschool.edu\/insight\/for-our-wellness\/the-shunning-of-the-mask\/","title":{"rendered":"The shunning of the mask"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Life has changed.\u00a0 Concerns that seemed monumental a few short months ago have faded in the face of worries we never saw coming. We are in the eye of the COVID storm, pummeled from every direction. Swirling around us are apprehensions about our safety, our finances and our kids\u2019 education. Too much of it can seem beyond our control. So we focus on the things we can control, the little actions we can take to protect ourselves and those we love: we wash our hands, avoid crowds, observe social distancing recommendations and wear our masks.<\/p>\n

Well, at least most of us do.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a question that mystifies many: what keeps people from taking this simple step to curb the spread of a pandemic that kills thousands of people every single day? The science is clear on the need for face coverings and the consequences of going unmasked have found a permanent place in the daily news reports.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to think of those who shirk this responsibility\u2014and I do believe it is a responsibility that we all share\u2014as selfish, lazy or stubborn.<\/p>\n

But what is it really? What causes people to ignore a moral mandate as critical as this one, putting everyone with whom they come in contact\u2014family, friends, passersby\u2014at risk of contracting a deadly disease?<\/p>\n

We are a country that prides itself on individualism and independence\u2014on doing what we want to do and doing it our way. It is this spirit that has spawned the entrepreneurial culture that has made us great. But the exercise of personal choice is a privilege\u2014a privilege that assumes others are not harmed by the decisions you make.\u00a0 In the case of the coronavirus, refusing to wear a mask risks the lives of others.<\/p>\n

While personal freedom may top the list of reasons to shun masks, these claims have become hopelessly entangled in other factors that feed into this phenomenon: skepticism about the authenticity or severity of the virus, and a distrust of the scientific explanations and predictions we are hearing from experts. What is happening, however, is less about science than it is about an overarching breakdown in trust and civility that is ravaging our society. The polarization that has infiltrated our political discourse in recent years has taken its toll on reason and mutual respect. It doesn\u2019t help that our leaders are not speaking in a single voice, that we are put in the position of siding with one elected official over another. Sometimes it just comes down to red versus blue\u2014not an effective way to fight a colorblind virus<\/p>\n

And then there is the anxiety and fear that runs through our daily lives and disrupts our plans, our patterns and sense of control. The fight or flight response kicks in and for some it\u2019s easier to flee the danger than to face up to it. Refusing to wear a mask is paradoxically part of avoiding the fear of the pandemic.<\/p>\n

Much needs to change if we are to pound this insidious virus into submission.\u00a0 For starters, we need to find the balance between individual liberty and social responsibility. Yes, it\u2019s a free country, but exercising our rights cannot come at the expense of others. Each of us needs to step beyond what is our individual right and extend ourselves to the care of others.<\/p>\n

There also needs to be partnering at the top. Leaders need to work together to develop a consistent message and a shared strategy. They need to make certain that the \u201cwhats\u201d are supported by the \u201cwhys.\u201d As adults , we don\u2019t like to be told what to do without a clear understanding of why our actions are important.<\/p>\n

We need to rethink the issue of control.\u00a0 Yes, we are demonstrating our control by not wearing a mask, but we\u2019re also taking control by wearing one. Which type of control will keep us all alive?<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve all come together at difficult times in our nation\u2019s history\u2014during World War II and after 9\/11. Then, as now, so much was at stake that we knew that together we could be stronger. This pandemic has brought with it new challenges. We have to remember that we\u2019re all in this together, that every single one of us has a role to play, and that we won\u2019t get out of it unless we come together. I hope we can get it right before it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n

\n

Learn more about The Chicago School<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chicago School is dedicated to providing you with an exceptional education rooted in innovation, service, and community.\u00a0Enroll in one of our more than 30 academic programs<\/a> today. Request more information by filling out the form below!<\/p>\n

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