The Anderson County Review in Kansas became a viral sensation over the weekend, calling attention to itself well beyond its 2,900 circulation.
The newspaper’s publisher posted political cartoon on its Facebook page critical of the state’s governor, Democrat Laura Kelly, and a recent mandate she signed requiring residents to wear masks in public areas and in places where social distancing can’t be accomplished.
The cartoon features Kelly, wearing a mask with the Star of David printed on it, standing in front of people being loaded onto cattle cars. The cartoon’s caption reads “Lockdown Laura says: Put on your mask … and step onto the cattle car.”
Comparing the mask mandate with the actual Holocaust -- that escalated quickly.
After a firestorm of criticism during the weekend, the newspaper’s publisher has since apologized for the cartoon and removed it from the newspaper’s website. Beyond almost universally seen as being in poor taste, the cartoon highlights the growing politicizing of face masks and orders to wear them.
Admittedly, this issue isn’t nearly as heated in Sweetwater County as other places. Restaurants and other service-based businesses in other states have reclosed their lobbies because of abuse their employees received from those opposing the idea of wearing a mask in public. They are a very vocal minority, but seem intent on challenging the idea any chance they get.
The big question is this: why is wearing a mask such a polarizing act? Masks help slow the spread of most communicable diseases, not just COVID-19, and as we’re still living in a pandemic situation, are recommended by healthcare providers. We didn’t see this sort of opposition to recommendations made to frequently wash our hands. Yet, orders to wear masks in public, designed to help curb the spread of the coronavirus, are being seen by some as an infringement of their rights.
This pandemic is a temporary event. As such, wearing a mask in public in places with orders in place isn’t going to be a permanent mandate. The claim that such requirements infringe on individual liberties is also invalid. A person can’t have a 30-foot bonfire in their backyard and not expect a visit from police and firefighers because the risk to other residents’ property is too great. Likewise, people aren’t supposed to drive beyond posted speed limits for similar reasons -- the risk to both their safety and the safety of others becomes greater the further the speedometer climbs beyond that limit.
A mask isn’t a big deal and wearing one isn’t part of some grand conspiracy to control the population. It’s part of an effort to reduce infections from a disease the nation has had a very poor response to. The day will come where this will be all behind us, but for now, put the mask on.
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