Mask decision support

As Whitman County begins the now-expedited process of re-opening, I believe the next tension will exist between those who chose to wear a mask and those who don’t wear one. I am not extremely interested in debating whether or not you chose to; however, I believe people shouldn’t make a big deal about each other’s decision.

For some reason, the face mask is now a symbol. The COVID-19 pandemic has been enlightening for a number of reasons, and one thing I’ve noticed is that it has created binary positions. You either believe one way or you don’t. While some things may appear to be cut-and-dry on the surface (say, open vs. re-open Washington), there is a way to believe in re-opening while also believing in having proper safeguards. Likewise, you can be for contact-tracing but also be for putting the proper safeguards in place to ensure privacy.

We act like there is a simple solution to a complex problem.

Going back to the mask issue, there is a potential for it to represent fear. In Whitman County, we’ve been fortunate enough to encounter just a few cases of COVID-19. As someone with an immunocompromised family member, I chose to take this as good news and not frame it as meaning we’ve overreacted. Better safe than sorry is my motto.

I think we get stuck in this mentality that what is happening around us is happening everything. This limited view is a logical fallacy because there are parts of the world (not even that far away from us) that have encountered some grizzly circumstances.

The face mask should represent a safeguard. While the spread hasn’t been experienced here, what is the harm in protecting yourself and others? On the flip side, it is not accurate to say those who don’t wear a mask don’t care about others. It is far more nuanced than that.

What is clear and simple is that blatantly criticizing a choice (especially the one to wear a mask) is to laugh at science and reason. While I opened by saying I am not extremely interested in debating whether to wear a mask or not, I do believe that criticizing the decision to wear a mask is far worse than criticizing the choice not to.

If you see me at the grocery store, you’ll see me with a mask on. You also won’t see me criticizing those not wearing one.

Jordan Magrath,

Pullman