The whole world is laughing at us. They cant understand why wearing a mask in public has become a political culture issue and not a medical necessity. It could be the fact that many otherwise intelligent Americans have been indoctrinated by Faux News and right-wing radio to only believe what they tell them and to distrust all other Main Stream Media, including science and health experts. So now, many people equate wearing a mask as anti-Trump and not wearing a mask as being pro-Trump instead of caring about the health and well-being of our fellow citizens.

This has brought out Karens, lots of angry Karens. We saw Target Karen (AKA Melissa Rein Lively of Scottsdale, Arizona) who actually filmed herself destroying a mask display: Im not playing any more fing games. This is over. This is over. This is over, she said again and again as she threw all the masks on the ground before being approached by stunned Target store employees. Why cant I do this? Because Im a blonde white woman? Im wearing a $40,000 Rolex and I dont have the right to do this? Then we saw Costco Karen, a 77-year old woman who wouldnt wear her mask as she said, I am a United States citizen. I have Constitutional rights, before sitting down in protest on the Costco cement floor like a 3-year old having a temper tantrum.

We witnessed Trader Joes Karen (AKA Sandrella Zadikian) losing it while being kicked out of the North Hollywood store during the grand opening for not wearing a mask. Youre fing pigs. Youre all fing Democratic pigs. All of you. That man is harassing me for not wearing a mask. I have a breathing problem. Sure didnt seem like she had any breathing problems when Karen was screaming at everyone. Then there was Home Depot Karen (AKA Teri Hill) who said while shopping maskless, Yes, I am entitled. Im white. Im a woman I believe in white power.

Now we have Starbucks Karen (AKA Amber Lynn Gilles) who posted a pic of barista Lenin Gutierrez on Facebook after she was kicked out of Starbucks for not wearing a mask. Someone started a GoFundMe for tip money for Gutierrez and raised over $100,000. Now Gilles claims she was discriminated against and wants half of that money.

My personal favorite was during public comments of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting where Deborah Baber wearing her Trump 2020 T-shirt, red MAGA cap and holding up a Trump 2020 sign said. I protest face coverings I used to be free. I am not a terrorist. I am not antifa. I am not a sex slave who wears masks. I am not into sadomasochism and bondage, equating wearing a face mask to sex hoods. I am a proud Trump Republican yearning to be free again. Did someone kidnap this woman, transport her across an ocean and put her in chains to be sold as a slave that I missed? Scott Phillips, a Scottsdale, Arizona city councilmember said during a mask protest, I cant breathe. I cant breathe. I cant breathe, while taking off his mask. You can search all these on Google or YouTube and laugh for yourself. What do all these people have in common? 99.9% are Republican, white and ignorant.

Communicable diseases have been with us throughout history. Weve survived malaria, polio, tuberculosis, leprosy, smallpox and influenza. Pandemics happen every so often. 102 years ago the Spanish flu (which didnt start in Spain) ravaged the world. Some idiot posted on Twitter, There was no vaccine for the Spanish flu! Yes, thats correct. It burned out after killing an estimated 50 million people worldwide. We will defeat COVID-19 if we all work together by avoiding crowds, wearing masks in public, social distancing at least six feet and washing our hands often.

If you choose to not wear a mask, then you also have to choose to get sick and die at your home and not clog up our hospitals.

Matthew Owen resides in Eureka, and believes the First Amendment allows for free speech, even when married to a Humboldt County supervisor.

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Matthew in the Middle: Mask it or casket - Eureka Times-Standard