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Well here it goes. All I can say is thank goodness there is an editorial page.
This may be one of my more blunt editorials to date, but sometimes there becomes a point where enough is enough.
During the past few months, guidance has been given out about how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic. Practice social distancing, protect yourself and the list continues.
There is also the whole "wearing the mask," thing. This simple gesture unfortunately has become the most argued about.
I see social media posts everyday from people who claim that wearing a mask takes away their rights as American Citizens. I see on the news every night where another person starts a physical fight in a public setting because someone kindly asked them to wear a mask.
I've seen adults even stoop as low as namecalling someone younger than them (not always the case), just because they were adhering to guidelines given by public health officials.
I've also seen adults shaming others who don't wear masks due to circumstances where they cannot. Take the extra minute to lift someone up instead of bring them down.
We are already at over 150,000 cases, and the fact that we are allowing a piece of fabric to be turned into a political outcry, instead of considering how to protect our citizens, absolutely sickens me.
New York Times Editorial board member Jesse Wegman said it best. "The virus doesn't care whether you're a Republican or a Democrat. It ravaged blue states in the spring, and now it's plowing through red ones. All it cares about is finding open mouths and nostrils."
It was just a matter of time that the mask mandate would come to Wisconsin. I am grateful to Governor Tony Evers for stepping up and doing what it takes to protect those around us.
I also thank our local law enforcement and those working in healthcare leading by example in this.
We should be thinking about the people around us, and not allowing a small yet kind gesture, take control over the things that we can take control over.
So please take control, and just wear the damn mask. Or at least be kind to those who cannot.