It would probably be smart to ignore this topic, but I grew up at a time when it was bad to call people stupid or retarded. We no longer have a polite society, yet there are those of us who still hold to a higher standard of manners. And it's just as bad to imply that someone is an uncaring, irresponsible, grandma killing idiot as it is to come out and say it directly. In fact, I'd argue that the passive-aggressive approach rampant on social media is worse.
I'm reminded of Dr. Seuss's story of The Sneetches. Some sneetches had stars on their bellies, and some did not. The ones with the "stars on thars" thought themselves superior and ostracized the sneetches without. I suspect that Dr. Seuss was drawing an analogy to racism, but I'm applying it here to the virtue signalers, those who spread messages implying that they are the "smart" ones for following all the coronavirus "safety" protocols--face masks, social distancing, staying home, etc. They are too aware of political correctness to use words like stupid in reference to the sneetches without masks, but the superior attitude is transparently clear. And let it be known that their virtue is so great as to care nothing for themselves, but only for people around them that they valiantly protect. They are not scared! They are not scared! They are not scared! Please.
Let me state emphatically that I don't make fun of anyone who is scared. It's obvious if you look around you, if you leave your home and go to the grocery store and listen to the conversations on the street and the results of polls, that people are very fearful. The person driving in his car by himself with the windows rolled up, wearing a mask on his face, is terrified. You could argue that he's just uninformed, but that's an image of fear if ever there was one. I have compassion for those who are extremely anxious and wish to be a voice of light and reassurance in the prevalent darkness.
I'm sure there are some folks who are simply doing what they think is right by wearing a mask and all that jazz, and minding their own business in the process. I have no problem with that. Yet I doubt the complete absence of fear and singular altruism being insisted upon by the virtue signalers. If it were true, they wouldn't feel the need to keep shouting it so loudly.
Why has the mask issue become such a hill to die on? It seems to me that it's being used as a status symbol, a silent way of bragging about how smart, responsible, and caring one is, and how anyone who makes a different choice is not. Most of the news media, certain government leaders, and some doctors and scientists are encouraging the division amongst people, whether purposely or not.
I suppose it's our fallen human nature that causes such cattiness, and I believe this is rooted in insecurity and fear. People often double down on their narrative not out of conviction, but rather from lack of true confidence and the desire to control. If they are wrong, then they have been duped and mislead, and that is an even greater basis for fear. How about if we just live and let live?
Any and all of the coronavirus safety protocols, in my opinion, should be subject to context and taken on a case-by-case basis. I don't judge anyone for either wearing or not wearing a mask, or any of the other protocols. I do, however, discern that the shaming, on whatever side it might be, is objectively wrong. As Christians, and for others as well, it's important what we let into our lives, either on or offline. We have to screen the input so it doesn't divert us from our path and frog boil us into panic and inaction, leading us into error, stealing our energy and time. Steer clear of near occasions for sin and those things that shatter your serenity. I reject the ugliness that I'm seeing. As such, I am unfriending or unfollowing those on social media who are engaging in spreading the shame and prideful virtue signaling.
Humility asks us to consider the other point of view, if it isn't inherently in opposition to Christian faith and morals. And even then, it can behoove us to understand where the wrong thinking, or what we perceive to be the errors, of others are coming from. Are you so sure that the persons who disagree with the mask-wearing, home-sheltering, social-distancing narrative are wrong? Instead of shouting, "What's wrong with people?!"--a sentiment I often see accompanied by profanity--consider that maybe, just maybe, they aren't necessarily wrong. And if you have to drop an F-bomb, perhaps your argument isn't so strong after all.
Let it suffice for me to argue that for the majority of people, and in most situations, these COVID-19 protocols are likely doing more harm than good, and are counterproductive both to personal health and the goal of herd immunity necessary for the protection of everyone. As far as I'm concerned, science is decidedly not on the side of virtue signaling sneetches. Whatever you believe, let's all of us extend a little grace.
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