I think, if anything, the world lately has taught us that even the most minor of inconveniences to our daily lives (on a consistent basis) is enough to compromise the human condition. I think that we’re learning more about how advanced of a civilization we are (in terms of scientific solutions to problems) and also just how primitive we still are as a culture based on how we’ve been treating each other.
But, on the other hand, perhaps we’re finally saying what we’ve been meaning to tell ourselves all along: nothing really matters and only look out for yourself. Typically the first barrier level that we put up when leaving the house is the understood, unspoken, rules of common courtesy and public manners. Anyone’s recent observations can confirm that we’re already seeing that start to break down. Every day people are being more and more cavalier with their public social behavior. With the requirement of having to now wear a mask to shop in a store, I see people doing the bare minimum as an act of rebellion—using shotty masks as the new act of defiance. (Know how I know you’re not punk rock?) Stores are also implementing the six-foot social distancing requirements to shoppers so as to avoid coming in contact with people and potentially spreading germs. Yet still a portion of our population feel the need to ignore that suggestion by casting aside their common courtesy and public manners in favor of a ‘Me first! Me over anyone! Me over everyone!’ mentality. They don’t wait patiently for anyone to browse while shopping (to find what it is we’re looking for) but instead they carelessly violate that space to grab what they want. And for what—to ensure that we have leftover Hamburger Helper for lunch the next day at our crummy jobs? Or are you too impatient to wait for someone to pick which peanut butter they want? (Yes, that should be a simple decision, but people are out here trying to budget. Relax.)
I can understand that feeling that you’re compromising your freedoms. I can even relate to it. As Americans, we’re the only citizens in the world with a contracted guarantee to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Also as Americans, we are all descendants of people who tried; people who came together to conquer problems for the greater good of the world. Remember: this is the last plot of land where people are free. If you feel like having to wear a mask in public is an assault on your freedom, then just imagine how you’ll feel when actual authority has to get involved because we can’t stop treating each other like little shits in public; creating the atmosphere of tension and potential violence—or, God forbid, actual violence.
Be polite. We truly don’t know what the person next to us is going through. Americans are jobless with no income and empty promises of “Reopen” dates. I can only imagine the amount of people dealing with depression as a result of all of this. So, pump your brakes in the grocery aisles and let’s all be a couple of Fonzies out here. (And what’s Fonzie? “Cool,” that’s right.)
