12/16/2023 0 Comments Human muzzle mask with chain![]() ![]() This would very foreseeably lead to an even higher death toll. So the mandate is necessary, as without it, most people probably wouldn’t choose to wear them. In the U.S., there isn’t a culture of mask-wearing. In fact, the almost universal mask-wearing in Japan is probably part of the reason behind the relatively low contraction rate and death toll in the country, even though the government has never imposed a strict lockdown. Masks, by catching droplets emitted by the wearer, prevent the virus from spreading. It has killed around 2.5 million people as of February 2021, and the U.S. I admit, I too would find it strange if woolly scarves were suddenly mandated by the government, but there is currently a pandemic ravaging the globe. take issue with is the mandating of the face masks. It seems that what the anti-maskers in the U.S. ![]() So naturally, when the world started getting worried about COVID-19 earlier this year, Japanese people turned to masks. In past years when I had a cold or a cough, I would go to school wearing a mask, to prevent spreading my germs to other students. During flu season every winter, masks are a common sight on trains, in schools, and workplaces. This is probably because in Japan, since the SARs epidemic in 2002, mask-wearing has been as commonplace as wearing a woolly scarf on a cold day. In my mind, mask-wearing and personal freedom are organized into two completely different realms, as two concepts that I never imagined had any overlap. The muzzle analogy puzzles me a muzzle’s rigid structure is intended to physically prevent a dog from biting, but a face mask is merely a flimsy piece of fabric that doesn’t hinder speaking ability nor movement whatsoever. The political debate around mask-wearing has spurred protests, where participants have held signs with slogans like “we will not be muzzle d.” Masks, it seems, have become yet another contributor to American political polarization. There seem to have been more unmasked people than masked at Trump rallies, and Trump himself often goes out in public bare-faced. On the other hand, many Donald Trump supporters have adamantly refused to cover up, claiming that the mandate restricts their personal freedom. For Americans who do wear them, their very actions are making a political statement, as the majority of Democrats support mask-wearing. On the contrary, in the United States, wearing masks has become a topic of political debate. The action is also entirely unquestioned-mask-wearing has never been mandated here, yet it has become the norm. An unmasked person sticks out, a rare bare mouth in a sea of cloth-covered faces. Here in Tokyo, it seems almost everybody, including wailing babies, have been wearing masks when outside the home (often the very same UNIQLO ones, in fact). This year, though, there’s one addition to the checklist-my reusable UNIQLO face mask. My typical routine heading out the front door has always been as follows: a pat on my left pocket to check for keys and a pat on the right for my phone. Featured image: Face masks (Source: The Connexion)Īccess the magazine spread of this piece here ![]()
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