“The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.”

Hannah Arendt

It's also easy for us employed people. I wear a mask to work. Inconvenient and sweaty, yes. Unbearable, no.

For those of you who are STILL science deniers, I say "Just go for it". This is Darwin's theory in action. Clearly it's a wonderful way to thin the herd! You were giving us rednecks a bad name.

All of Barrets children were shown not wearing masks too. Maybe her judgement is not up to par?

The flu doesn't put you on a respirator for a month either.

This isn't ANY flu. It's not a flu. It isn't a flu. It is not an influenza virus. It is a coronavirus. Obviously it's not a seasonal anything, since it started in the winter, and lasted through spring, through summer, and is still around in the autumn.

That judge used poor judgment. Even though she already had CV-19 in the summer, she should have erred on the side of caution (not paranoia) and said "oh, no thanks, I'll just keep wearing my mask." She should have SET a good example, contrary to those who wanted her to remove it and provide better photo ops.

When you side with someone who is more concerned with how things LOOK, than someone who is more concerned with how things ARE, then you are presenting a poor example, and poor judgment. She is clearly not fit to judge anything at all.

What does it teach us?

The triumph of Science, Reason, Self-Control, and Common Sense over Wishful Thinking, Hope, Prayer, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Television News.

The photos I’ve seen of the “get together” at the White House shocked me. They might as well have been having an orgy, they were so close together.

You've made really good points. We had started to eat at restaurants, outside only, however, when the numbers in Florida started increasing we stopped. I hope people learn a lesson from this. Do you think we'll see masks on everyone and social distancing on the squares, at the eating (okay mostly drinking) establishments around the squares? Or are our fellow Villagers still in the ICBM mentality?

I agree, listen to the Scientists - not the politicians.

One of Dorothy Parker’s quips, “What fresh hell can this be? — was what she supposedly said when her doorbell or her phone rang. I quote Dorothy every morning when I flip on the news.

2020 is telling us who we are — and 2020 is definitely telling us who other people are, as in:

“Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.” — ? . . .
:ohdear: (No, no can’t use that one. I like dogs a lot and respect the joy and help they so often bring to people’s lives. )

“Birds of a feather flock together.” — ? . . .
:ohdear: (Nope. Can’t use that one either. Birds constantly amaze me with the wonder and beauty they bring to our world..)

“We are judged by the company we keep.” — ?. . .
(Yes. That’s it.) What do we defend, excuse, admire, support, want to be a part of? That’s what I see as the company we keep. That’s what’s telling us who we are — and who other people are — really are.

And, oh yeah, I have learned something else from this latest “fresh hell.”

I have learned that the Secret Service needs a union.

Boomer

Labor Day. By the time people started showing symptoms and getting tested it would have reflected a spike around this timeframe.

So, the way I read these hysterical posts, ALL of you wear your masks at home around your spouse? If not, why not? After all, you should be considerate of them, right? I am glad that you all agree to wear a mask out in public. That means that it is not necessary for me to wear one, right? Because you say one should wear a mask to be considerate of others and it is our obligation to wear one to protect others. Well, I see it another way. If you are considerate of me, then you should stay home if you fear catching the virus. Stay away from me and we will all be happy. Don't put guilt trips on others if they do not wish to wear a mask. That is like telling someone that they do not care about others if they do not wear a seat belt or a motorcycle helmet. Worry about yourselves and leave everyone else alone.
Also, get your facts straight. Yes, there is still those getting infected in the Villages. BUT, how many have died lately of the virus? Very few compared to when it first started, right? Why don't you compare the stats of how many have died of natural causes to how many have died since the virus. Bet you will find that there is very little difference if any.
Now, quit pushing the panic button like it's your horn while stuck in traffic. You cannot mandate that anyone wear their mask in public. A store can mandate a mask wearing, but once the customer leaves the store they can take it off. Like I said, do you wear one when you are within six feet of your family? If not, you are putting them in jeopardy.
That said, I do wear my mask when shopping. But, I also have always taken advantage of the hand wipes at the entrances, washed my hands when using the bathroom, attempt to always keep my hands away from my face. Common stuff that shouldn't be abnormal for the average person. I wear my mask, but don't assume that I am doing it for you. Your premise is that everyone should be concerned for your welfare. Surprise, many don't give a hoot about your welfare.
Wear your mask if it gives you that placebo effect. I lost someone in my family that wore their mask EVERYWHERE they went and even wore disposable gloves. Some folks die and some folks can fall down the stairs stone drunk without harming themselves.
Do what you gotta do, but don't presume to demand others to cater to your whims.

Are you aware that over 210,000 people have died from Covid 19 so far this year? I believe that the worst year for common flu deaths was 60,000 for the entire year. All experts agree that masks do provide protection; maybe not 100% but significant and they protect others if you are infectious.

Really excellent post !!!!!

Numbers don't matter unless you have something to compare them with. Most likely, most of those folks would have died anyway. No one lives forever. Ask any tree hugger, this world is over populated anyway. Environmental folks should be dancing in the streets.

So many words, so LITTLE truth, so confused

They were reckless and did not adhere to any CDC protocols after a few more go down it will be Melania in the White House alone

So, tree huggers are bad. It is good to degrade the environment and, I guess, breathing clean air does NOT matter? And the Polar Bear can just go extinct - who cares? The oceans will rise and The Villages will become 1st a swamp - who cares? Then, alligators will be swimming through your house - but it does NOT matter because by then, you will be in "DENIER HEAVEN" sitting at the feet of your special "DENIER GOD" I hope that you can take your polluting gas engines with you.

Do you think whoever you are talking about will now wear a mask, keep a safe distance and avoid crowds?

Question: Where is this story about Judge Barrett being asked to remove her mask coming from?

I saw a speculative comment on page 1 of this topic that read this way:

Is that what we're using as "the facts" here? Later in the topic, others chimed in, such as feeling sorry for Barrett that she was asked to remove the mask. Another person lambasted her as "weak" for doing so and for not standing up for her right/desire to wear a mask. And more recently in this thread, someone said "she's clearly not fit to judge anything" for this decision.

OK, from the start - is there an actual news link that states she was asked by someone to remove her mask? I'm not saying there isn't one, but that's not how the topic is being presented here (unless I missed it). Instead, it seems like someone saw something on a video clip, and then assumed that she was asked to remove her mask. The rest of the comments in the thread seem to follow from that original comment.

So she removes a mask when up on the podium. She was going to speak at the podium. So the thought is that she should have kept a mask on while making her comments?

I watched what I'll charitably call a debate this past week. You probably did, too. And what did we see? We saw the president, the former vice-president and the moderator, all mask-free. Why was that ok? Rank has its privileges? Are you going to say that "it was so the audience could hear / understand them better!"? So, that's different when someone - someone who had already contracted Covid-19 this past summer - is at a podium to speak in the Rose Garden?

"https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/notre-dame-president-apologizes-for-not-wearing-mask-at-amy-coney-barrett-nomination/2346035/


"Jenkins explained that when he arrived at the White House, he and others underwent a rapid COVID-19 test, and once they had all tested negative, they were told it was safe to remove their masks.
__________________________________________________ _-

This is the NOVEL CV, which means that it is NEW and LITTLE is known about it. Japanese scientists have seen SOME evidence that a person can be RE-INFECTED by CV. They are testing for that further.

Also, there is a picture of Mike Lee, while inside, talking to Judge Barrett with his face OVERLY close to hers. It looks like he is about to kiss her. He was in a lot of GOP faces while outside in the Rose Garden.

Seems like there's some real concerns over what constitutes a safe distance - particularly when Covid-19 is carried by the much, much smaller "aerosol" format (vs. larger droplets).

From ScientificAmerica a few days ago:

Protecting against COVID's Aerosol Threat - Scientific American

Who do you respectfully disagree with? When you do not quote someone, I have no idea who you directed your comment to.

What does Covid-19 in the White House teach us? It provides a very teachable moment:

If you know you may have been exposed to COVID-19, give yourself the benefit of the doubt and don't let it interfere with your life. If there is a large gathering that you must go to, go to it - don't wear a mask there, shake hands, press the flesh. If other people get it, that's their tough luck.

And if you are certain that you have COVID-19, and desperately need to go somewhere -- like from one car entrance to a hospital to another car entrance of the same hospital, find someone to drive you, preferably someone who has no choice in the matter.

That goes without saying.....I also want to protect me and my family too. Having said that, I want to also protect our way of life here in America. Following the CDC guidelines will allow us to have some semblance of normalcy, getting the economy back to pre-Covid levels, getting people back to work and get the cruise lines sailing again among other things.

Good post! Kudos!

He’s back! So far it looks like the President is winning his personal fight against the virus, but it looks like quite a fight. I bet everyone in the WH wears N95 masks though.