' WHO WAS THAT MASKED MAN ? . . .

"Who was that masked man?"  became a familiar question to those of us who thrilled to the adventures of the Lone Ranger.  "Why did he wear it?" received occasional explanation.  Something to do with not being recognized by a bunch of 'bad guys' who had

almost 'done him in'.

Well, there is a 'bad guy' out and about now and wearing a mask is constantly touted as among the best ways of avoiding the menace.

And, yet, warnings by medical persons and elected officials seem often to provoke an attitude of "I'll do whatever I wanna do 'cause nothin' is gonna infringe on my freedom".  Mask wearing in the current pandemic ranks as one of the most divisive questions in an already fractured society.

What makes opposition to this common sense inhibitor of virus spread become  such a divider?

The logic and science of masks has been cited as among major factors in reducing infection .

Somewhere in my training as a therapist I came across this truth: "You cannot replace by reason and logic something that was not put there by reason and logic in the first place." 

  Various emotional hot-button topics offered for not wearing include;  i) variations on 'real men' don't need that sissy protection; ii) masks aren't comfortable; iii) they limit my individual 'freedom' to do whatever I want; iv) facial coverings have become a way for many to indicate their political posture; v) a feeling of special-ness, of being somehow invincible and exempt from this killer.

Are there likewise emotional supports for wearing ?

Just asking the question in that way indicates that I believe so.  One comes from the religious mandate to love (be concerned for, if you prefer) one's neighbor as oneself.  The other is a nearly forgotten socio-political notion of the 'community', defined by one on-line dictionary as "a feeling of fellowship with others , as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests and goals." We are

in this thing together or as one old-timer insisted, "Your freedom to swing your fist ends where my nose begins."

"WEAR  IT !"

Or as one contemporary politician often rhetorically asks, "What do you have to lose?"  In this matter, a better question seems to be "What is there to lose if you do not wear a mask?"  The answer could very well be "YOUR LIFE"  and also MINE !

Satchel