The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidelines for retail businesses and customers who refuse to wear a mask. The new guidelines include businesses enforcing social distancing and limiting the number of customers allowed in a business at one time. But the new CDC guideline that stands out says for employees of businesses, “Don’t argue with a customer if they make threats or become violent.”
Numerous stories in the news about customers becoming irate and even resorting to violence have proven that opposition to wearing masks is based on deep-rooted political passion.
A Pennsylvania man was charged with firing a gun at a store employee after he was asked to wear a mask at a cigar shop. Last month, The Home Depot, Walmart and CVS were among the businesses that announced they would serve customers who refused to wear masks.
Many businesses are showing signs of being afraid of the anti-maskers – aka – “maskholes,” and have agreed to serve those who ignore the mandate to wear a mask. The threat of violence against employees who attempt to enforce a rule for shopping in a store proves that violence works to manifest change.
How many of those who refuse to wear masks bemoan the tactic of groups that use violence in the aftermath of a shooting to make their point? Isn’t that blatantly hypocritical?
In a civilized society – the threat of violence should not reign supreme. Since the threat of violence appears to be an effective way to resist the rules of society – then it is fair to say that we do not live in a civilized society.
Across the country – including in the state of Louisiana – government mandates for wearing masks in certain public situations have been upheld by the judicial system. Mask mandates are legal under emergency declarations – but that has not stopped law-abiding citizens from threatening violence over legal rules.
From the beginning – we have been told that we are all in this together – and yet – many Americans continue to refuse to join the ranks of fellow citizens and wear masks.
The definition of patriotism is a devotion to one’s country – it is easy to argue that wearing a mask to slow the spread of the coronavirus is a way of showing devotion to America. Being a truly patriotic American is not only doing the things you agree with – a true patriotic America is willing to make sacrifices and follow the rules they disagree with.
The defiance of anti-maskers to the point where violence becomes an option contradicts the spirit of a civilized society.