2020 has been a very interesting year. Right now we are in the middle of a pandemic. This pandemic has struck a lot of controversy and turned political. In this article, I am going to discuss all the things that I have heard people say both in-person and online about wearing a mask, and what my thoughts are on these statements. 

“The masks don’t even work.”

Yes, they do. Scientists have proven that the masks help stop the spread of Covid-19. I choose to believe science over fiction. When you talk, breath, cough, or sneeze, the masks can stop some of the particles that leave your body. This will stop the spread of Covid-19. Doctors have been using masks even before Covid-19 because they help stop the spread of germs. 

“I don’t have to wear a mask, I have the right to breathe O2 not CO2.”

Seriously!? This is a perfect example of being uneducated. In order for O2 to become CO2 it takes more than just a piece of cloth in front of your face. You learn in 6th grade science how O2 becomes CO2. This argument has nothing backing it up and is simply invalid. This argument is an example of people reaching for excuses on why not to wear a mask. Medical professionals wore masks all day long without issues even before Covid-19, so why is wearing one for 5 minutes an issue? 

“It’s my right to not wear a mask.”

Unfortunately, that’s not how it works. The government has every right to put reasonable restrictions on every constitutional right that exists in the name of public health and safety. Some examples include mandates to wear a seatbelt and regulations against smoking in public areas. Along with the rule that we have grown up with, “no shoes, no shirt, no service”. These are all reasonable restrictions that prove that your rights are never absolute. 

“I don’t really care that people are dying from this.”

This leaves me speechless. The fact that someone would be okay with others dying is a horrible thing. No matter what your beliefs are, the thought of someone losing their life should make anyone upset. If it doesn’t disturb you to hear that someone has died, there is a problem with you. 

2020 has been challenging for everyone, wearing a mask is a simple way to help stop the spread of Covid-19, and frankly, it should not be a dispute on the scale that it is. Wearing a mask is not about you, it is about respecting others health and wellbeing.  With everyone’s willingness to help, Covid-19 could be gone sooner than currently expected. If everyone cared about each other and the wellbeing of society as a whole, we could unite to stop the pandemic. As a nation that is becoming more and more divided, we can come together for the greater good. Maybe this is the first step in healing some of the divisions created in the US and throughout the world.