Unmasking the Truth: Twelfth Question

(skip to “The Twelfth Question” below if you read prior questions already)

Having broached the topic of masks, I want to encourage dialogue between the polarities of the debate. This is challenging given the political climate of uncivil discord rather than civil discourse.  With a vision of communities coming together to collectively determine truth and decide on policy, I offer a series of questions.  I don’t want to give answers, but questions that re-teach all of us to engage in discourse which will lead us to that vision.  Somewhere between the polar extremes, we will find the truth that we all need.

Therefore, let’s unmask the truth whether it leads to “masks or no masks”, “mandates or no mandates”, and more.

The Twelfth Question… Are you doing other things to protect yourself?

       Imagine yourself confronted by someone who expresses an opinion contrary to yours.  It could be on social media, in line at the grocery store, in a town hall meeting, a family gathering, or anywhere.  Your first impulse is to blast away.  Throw your best at them. Pound them into submission.  This happens from both sides of the debate.

       Any parent out there knows that during a Tennessee summer, you have to keep the back door closed or you will end up with all kinds of bugs in the house.  They know this because their kids often leave that back door open.  Not once will any self-respecting and sane parent accept an answer from their child like “But mom, I closed the front door!”

       My point is this.  With this COVID episode, we have many demanding that others protect them from this virus by wearing masks and locking down.  Yes, we want to protect those who are higher risk like the elderly.  BUT, should we not expect others to protect themselves by addressing all the doors that might increase COVID risk.

      As more and more lifestyle or nutrition factors come out as important, like vitamin D, zinc, and probiotic foods, should we not expect those demanding masks to close the back door to COVID for themselves.  Although there is much debate over the efficacy of masks, the question about vitamin D seems cut and dry.

   So if you find yourself in a debate on either side of the mask issue, ask yourself and the person before you whether  or not each of you are are doing everything to protect yourself.  Don’t expect someone to close your front door if you are leaving your back door open with an unhealthy lifestyle.