So, You Won’t Wear a Mask?
No Me Digas. Op-Ed: Keith Price
Kakistocracy is a system of government that is run by the worst, least qualified, and/or most unscrupulous citizens. Sound familiar? Our federal government is changing the focus of its daily CORONAVIRUS briefings, and a large sector of the country is willing to protest for the right to contract and spread a deadly virus for the sake of a haircut, dye jobs, and tanning. Some of them have gone to extremes to make their point, like bringing firearms to the halls of state governments. I do notice that there are not many people of color protesting, and I notice that the ones who are, do not carry firearms. Anyone want to guess why? We all do have the right to bear arms, but like many rights in this country, not all of us get to partake in them so freely.
As these states begin to lift their Stay At Home orders, assuming they have them in place, and as the number of COVID-19 cases increases, many people are thumbing their noses at personal safety, especially in my hometown of Galveston. I cannot believe that with the amount of ACTUAL information that is truly available, people are still taking incredible chances with not only their lives, but with the lives of their families, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.
In this Kakistocracy under which we are living, it seems that this administration is blocking any new guidelines from the CDC to be helpful during this “open up the state” phenomenon. Which is crazier? Opening without any parameters at all, or open with a thoughtful guide put together with the help of the Centers for Disease Control, aka the CDC?
Because you can be infected and show signs that range from asymptomatic to death, and everywhere in between, the viral effects of COVID19 vary. However, if more people could stay home, practice social distancing, wear masks, wash hands, and get tested, then we might be able to flatten the curve. Now with just that little piece of knowledge that is available, can someone please explain these protesters or even this extreme sense of compliance?
I understand that people need and want to work. It is our survival mechanism. One thing for certain, many jobs that once were seen as menial in most strata of our society have all of the sudden become essential. Guess what? When you look at a majority of those “noble” employees, they are mostly immigrants and folks of every hue, especially black and brown folks. As this pandemic continues, the losses that we are seeing within these “essential” jobs are rising. However, I must say that when someone like Shelly Luther tries to buck the system, I get extremely annoyed.
Ms. Luther was ordered to spend a week in jail after she continued to operate her business despite being issued a citation last month for keeping open her Dallas salon due to restrictions put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. Chile, she was videotaped tearing up her cease and desist order — with gusto. She’s screaming that she and her employees have to feed their children. When she was in court and asked to simply apologize for her inconvenient defiance, she said “NO”, and the judge put her defiant behind in jail for a week. Please note that the judge is also African-American. Now Ms. Luther is playing the martyr in the storm. Since her ordeal, the ban has been lifted on the salons in Texas. Someone needs to tell this selfish Norma Rae wannabee that unnecessary taxpayer money was spent to deal with her civil disobedience during a pandemic. Instead of people praising her, they should boycott her, especially if she or any of her staff succumbs to this illness.
Perhaps she can dip into her newfound GO FUND ME money of $500K, feed her family, and pay her staff until this pandemic is over? Somehow I doubt it. However, in these fifteen minutes of fame that everyone is seeking, even Senator Ted Cruz, cannot resist a photo op with her.
As we continue to navigate this madness, I hope that everyone takes precautions to keep themselves safe. Since you can be asymptomatic and spread the virus, wash your hands, wear a mask until there is some sort of vaccine, and please stop complaining.
This is temporary.
