Masks

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)

 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. (Galatians 5:13)

          Recently, I repeated my statement that I’m not convinced that wearing a mask really protects me from COVID-19. I suspect a much greater protection is afforded in the facts that there aren’t that many people around here who have it. You can’t catch something from someone if they don’t have it. From what I’ve heard, you also aren’t like to catch it passing someone in a grocery store, even if both of you are unmasked, unless you stop to listen to them shout or sing, or unless they are coughing or sneezing. Sneezing isn’t a symptom of the virus, but if you have the virus and allergies, and sneeze because of the allergies, you’re still spreading water droplets that carry the virus wider than you would even by coughing.
         No, I don’t believe the masks do all that much for us in terms of the virus, but they do make those around me feel less anxious that I am going to give them the virus, or that they are going to give me the virus. In other words, I wear the mask out of compassion for their fears. There are two sides to this idea, of course. The first is that I’m wearing the mask because I think they’re cowards and I’m superior because I’m not afraid. That does figure in whenever I encounter someone who is over-reacting. More often, I genuinely don’t want people to be afraid. I think this is a valid reason to wear a mask.
          So, here’s the question that I’m facing. To what extent should compassion for the feelings of others guide our behavior? We were called to be free, but our freedom isn’t meant to serve us. It’s meant to enable us to serve others. Let me bring up another recent case in point. There are those who are calling us to apologize for the behavior of others – many of whom died a long time ago. Some folks have told me that we must acknowledge the fears of minority groups and treat the reason for their fears as real because those fears feel real to them. The situations are parallel in terms of fear. So, should we wear “masks” with regard to the second? Should we apologize for events – as if we guilty of them – when the events in which we had no role? Is that really such a big thing to ask? Should I not even suffer being offended rather than giving offense? 
          There are some who would likely say, “Yes! She’s finally gotten it.” But I don’t think it’s as easy as that. I wear a mask because someone is afraid I might have a disease, or might catch a disease, that it is possible for me to have or to catch. I don’t wear a mask because they think I am COVID-19. On the other hand, my wearing a mask of guilt  – apologizing for something that I didn’t do and over which I had and have no control means that I not only validating theirs, but accepting the identity they choose to place on me and the identity they choose to accept for themselves. The goal of the COVID-19 mask it to prevent someone who is not a victim from becoming a victim. The goal of the identity mask is to spread the illness, to perpetuate it, to affirm it, and to tighten its grip on the person who had it to begin with.
          Superficially, I think these things look alike, but I don’t think they are alike because the mask we’re being asked to wear as white folks controls our relationships with others. The mask we’re being asked to wear because of COVID-19 does nothing to us as people. The mask of guilt is all about who the people are and how they see themselves. One can wear a mask against COVID-19 without becoming a slave, but the mask of guilt enslaves everyone who wears it.