Unmasked Ignorance
by Hank Silverberg
I am frustrated and angry at the misguided people who continue to show up in indoor public places without masks or gather in crowds anywhere.
You've seen the statistics. You've heard doctors, journalists and credible leaders (not 45) almost everywhere say masks help prevent the spread of Covid-19, and yet a small minority of people continue to defy logic, reason and facts.
The partial result--the continued pandemic and a death toll that continues to climb. (As of this writing, more than 137,000 Americans have died from Covid-19. If you are reading this blog late in the week, that number will be significantly higher.)
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| (This one is for sale on line) |
Wearing a mask is NOT a political statement, though some people seem to think it is. I pointed that out to a worker stocking the shelves at my local Giant food market the other day. He was wearing a mask around his chin. He came back with "You must be a Democrat." My county is in Trump country and he was one of only two people in the store who wasn't wearing a mask, so his logic was flawed. I said very clearly to him: "It's not politics, it's science," to which he started in on how he was a scientist since he used to install asbestos. At that point I walked away.
Since then, I have politely pointed out to several other people that they should be following the directives on the store entrance, to which I have received various foul words in response. I won't repeat them here. My other supermarket--Wegman's, used to ask people to wear masks, but now that the infection rate in Virginia has trended up a little bit that has changed. Here's the new sign:
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| (Note the word "required") |
I only saw one person without a mask on Sunday. Maybe some folks are just starting to catch on, or maybe just a few of them saw President Trump finally wearing a mask on his visit to Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday, and have begrudgingly gotten the message.
Now I know some people are still skeptical. But here's an article I found from a reputable source with reasons why that mask helps.
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| (Trump at Walter Reed Friday courtesy of Trump campaign) |
Note, the recommendations have changed a bit since April or May. With the pandemic growing in parts of the country, it is pretty dumb not to wear one. Many businesses are requiring their employees to do so, and some are refusing service to customers who don't. Take a look at this sign--posted outside one business.
That's my rant for this week. Please don't get me started on the irresponsible people who violated social distancing rules by partying on the 4th of July. It's not just young people, by the way. They jeopardized their own health and that of just about everyone they came in contact with after that. It's mostly out of ignorance, and we must educate them, even if that risks some small confrontations. Now on to other things.
News Briefs:
There has been a discussion in many places about mail-in voting because of the pandemic. I see some problems here and I am going to go to vote in person even if I have to put on a hazmat suit and crawl to the polls. A bigger issue might be a shortage of poll watchers because of the pandemic, and thereby a decrease in the number of polling places as we saw in the recent Georgia primary and elsewhere. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/11/election-officials-fear-changes-could-confuse-voters-in-november.htmlFor many people, mail-in ballots may be a solution. Some Republicans have complained that it opens things up to voter fraud, but of course we have had vote-by-mail for decades. It's called an Absentee Ballot and there has been only scattered minor incidents of fraud.
You can get an absentee ballot by applying at the link below, though the rules and deadlines vary state by state.
States control elections, so there is no way Trump can change current absentee balloting procedures. I do suggest that each state should increase the valid reasons you can vote absentee. For example, being quarantined because of Covid- 19, or having tested positive should be among the reasons for this election for safety purposes. It may require special legislative sessions across the country to do that, though that is unlikely in states controlled by the GOP.
One thing you can be sure of: if Donald Trump ends up behind after all the counting is done, he will challenge the results. It doesn't matter what the margin of his loss is. A landslide for Biden would make a challenge harder, but Trump will most likely do it anyway.
And then there is this:
Millions of parents are worried right now about their children's education. From kindergarten to universities across the country, it is still very questionable whether or not there will be any in-person classes come the fall. Some colleges have decided they are needed for things like science labs, where there is no alternative. The Ivy League universities are putting all classes on-line and have cancelled all intercollegiate sports.
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| (Social distancing in the classroom) |
I have taught half a semester in the Spring on-line when the pandemic began and I am currently teaching a summer course on Zoom. Instructors have adjusted as best they can, but nothing beats being in the classroom exchanging ideas and learning with students whether they be in kindergarten or doing post-graduate work.
But very few teachers, and I include myself in that group, want to expose themselves, their colleagues or their students to the Coronavirus. Most classes across the country in normal times, have 25 to 30 students. Some class lectures at large universities have hundreds of students.Young people may not get as sick from Covid-19 as their elders, but they can get the virus and spread it just as easily.
For parents this is a nightmare. They have watched their children struggle with distance learning last spring and have spent the summer trying to find things to keep the kids busy. In some communities where Wi-Fi and computers are not readily available, the children may be left behind. Some school districts have been trying to provide the necessary equipment, but that may not be financially possible.
I suspect we will hear all kinds of innovations to make things work because that's what many educators already do--innovate. The one thing local school districts don't need is intervention from Washington. There have been many suggestions:
The irony here is that Republicans have spent the last five decades screaming that education decisions should be left up to local communities when things like prayer in the schools, sex education and evolution were involved. Now they are trying to force federal mandates on those same local districts. No surprise from Trump, who thinks he has the power to do anything, but where are all those conservatives who didn't like Washington interference before?
You haven't heard the last word on this issue!
Finally, I have seen an uptick in comments from those who read this blog and that is a good thing. If you would like to comment, there is a section at the bottom of the page to do so. I love hearing from my readers. I would hope you will use your name, though it is not required.
(Copies of my novel "The Campaign" are still available. You can get one at a reduced price with a signature by emailing me directly at hsilverberg@gmail.com for directions. Or you can order at line at a retail price at the following links) :
(Your comments and suggestions are welcome. See below)
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CT has listed COVID-19 as a reason to get an absentee ballot. I hope more states do this as well. I fear voter suppression in many places will occur to try to prevent people from voting. I believe in one county in GA they only had one polling place open for the primary. School is going to be a problem if the country does not do better in reducing the number of people getting infected. Teaching "safely" will certainly be difficult. Cut class sizes so social distancing can be done? Going to be tough for the lower grades, and in towns where affordability to do so will put a strain on the budget. Forget about substitute teachers. Who's going to want to do that? My wife, who is in the education business, works at Kohl's part time during the summer. She has said some people are just rude with their attitude about masks. To me, it's simple. Wear a mask and help reduce the possibility of spreading the virus. But that's just my opinion.
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