By Erin K. Costello Let's first be honest, this has fuck all to do with “freedom.” Having a lack of freedoms means you do not have a choice or only have limited or tragic choices available. No. Instead, this is more of a human rights issue; the right to not fall victim to suffering or death at the hands of negligence or indifference. The writing of this blog post began with a Kate Tietje, or MAM, Facebook post.....
Using her explanation regarding about levels, whether we like it or not, our choices affect our comfort levels as well as the levels of those around us. But also, life affects our comfort levels. Everything we are dealing with today does not have a bad guy to blame. No one or group is causing these problems we face. The virus has caused this hardship for all of us. It wasn’t Trump or liberals or vaccine activists. The virus was and is the catalyst. The government can’t make the virus go away or beat it in a war. Our borders can’t keep it out and law can’t lock it up. The virus is here today with wearing masks and sheltering inside, and it will be here tomorrow when idiots take their masks off and go to the bar. The virus easily infects people when no one knows it is even there. This happens through surfaces and through the air when infected people breath, talk, cough, spit, sneeze and eat. Most people experience little or no symptoms when infected, however, this also means that without precautions this will spread and infect exponentially. This was the case before the lock-down and in the early days of staying at home. I hate having to still stay at home. I want to work, go out, see friends, sing karaoke, and go on vacation. I also want to make money, I need money. Here’s the thing though, you brought up comfort levels. Now, there’s no promise or guarantee that freedom will be comfortable, but it shouldn’t be painful, harmful, or deadly. An infected person exhibiting no symptoms will infect other people. Some of those people will be very uncomfortable for weeks. Some will be living in pain and agony. And some will even die. Many of those people will be healthy or even young. Not wearing a mask takes away the freedom to choose to live for some people, and the freedom to live somewhat comfortably, or at least not in pain. Those affected will not be able to demand their freedoms not be threatened since they can’t see who is going to take their freedoms away. They don’t know which people not in a mask are infectious or which ones are free from the disease. They just want to stop at the store and grab some milk. Every American should be free to buy milk without other Americans infringing on their right to live. Now, the alternative is for all of us to wear a mask in public, and not rush businesses to open and operate normally. Sure, these options are not ideal, and masks can be uncomfortable. But I can guarantee they feel better than a ventilator. Sure, it may be difficult to feel short of breath for the 5-30 minutes you wear one in public. But, laying in the ICU or even at home in bed feeling as though you are drowning for a couple weeks is MUCH more difficult to face. Sadly, life isn’t risk free. But wouldn’t it be awesome if it were! Reducing risk should never be avoided just because you can’t reduce ALL risk. We all live in a society. We all have a voice and should have an equal voice. We should all be considered, though sometimes some people are entitled to more consideration than others. Which is why everyone should want to be part of the mob that chooses to feel a bit uncomfortable breathing in warm air while grabbing groceries and refuse to be part of the mob that is happy to cause those around us to suffer for weeks with pain, illness, suffocation, or death. Your right to the comfort of breathing in cool crisp air for a few minutes, or of getting a pediure, pales in comparison to the rights of those around to just simply live and breathe. YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO CAUSE SOCIETY TO SUFFER AND BREAKDOWN BECAUSE YOU DON’T WANT TO WALK THROUGH COSTCO WITH A PIECE OF FABRIC ON YOUR FACE FOR A FEW MINUTES OR BECAUSE YOU HATE LOOKING AT YOUR GREY ROOTS. You don't have the right to your delicate sensibilities receiving more consideration than everyone else's right to breathe. If wearing a mask and preserving the lives of those around you is just too upsetting for you, then stay home and arrange for family to tend to your shopping needs. And remember, IT ISN’T PAUL OFFIT OR ANTHONY FAUCI THAT IS CAUSING US THE CHOICE OF A MASK SO WE CAN AVOID DIRE SUFFERING FOR ALL THOSE AROUND US…… IT IS THIS VIRUS. Protest the virus. Protest how the government is not providing Americans with adequate financial security. Stop trying to force those in office to stop caring about our lives, because, there aren’t enough elected officials who seem to care if any of us live or die.
6 Comments
Dorit Reiss
5/22/2020 05:47:35 pm
I think she's wrong on a more fundamental level. As you point out, in a society, what we do affect others.
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Erin Costello
5/23/2020 04:19:32 pm
Thank you so much for this information! Sadly I doubt Kate will learn anything if she reads this. Which is really sad because she'd be learning from one of the best law professors in the country! Hopefully other readers can appreciate your comment.
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Dorit Reiss
5/22/2020 05:49:48 pm
And I love the way you highlighted the this is the result of the virus, not something people did.
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Erin Costello
5/23/2020 04:26:28 pm
Thank you! It''s been driving me nuts how everyone arguing for opening back up our commerce has been blaming Fauci, Cuomo, Whitmer, DeWine, etc.. as if they are responsible for states shutting down. This all began with the virus. Not political ideology. So the virus should be what ends it rather than political ideology.
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Dan
11/10/2021 11:41:08 am
Well this isn't aging well at all.
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Erin Costello
6/7/2023 06:47:02 am
Much like those who are fully vaccinated, it is aging.
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