The masks we wear, or not!

Every day there's something new that invites us to take a different perspective.

Today in Melbourne, it was "mask up." 

PERSPECTIVE One

I reckon that in 25 years this will look like maskup and will appear as a dictionary entry that'll look something like this:

to maskup  [mars-kup],  /mɑskɑp/   v.   

1. to cover most of the face with cloth in order to avoid being infected with a virus;

2. to change the expression on one's face in order to avoid being detected as a liar;

3. to use facial expressions to create character; as in acting

a maskup  [mars-kup],  /māskɑp/  n.

1. an event that has been created to act as a front for unlawful activities;

2. a party with a mask theme;

3. a gathering of many people all wearing cloth masks; usually in a park or at a demonstration;

Words have a unique way of reflecting what is changing in society and the pressure to change them comes from political or legal decisions. Just ask the French after 1066.

This is happening right now.

PERSPECTIVE Two

I've noticed that when we speak to each other these days, the fact that a mask covers most of our face forces us to look at our companion's eyes. Yep. Actually look into his eyes. 

And you know what? This can be quite confronting and revealing, both about the other person and,  probably uncomfortably, ourselves.

Try it. And when you do, you'll see I'm right. Or at least in the ball park.

I wonder why that is?

Have we spent most of our lives not really engaging with our friends and families, or our work colleagues?

PERSPECTIVE Three

The "maskup" rule has shed a bright light on who we are as humans. Our reactions and beliefs are being tested.

What will I do?

Do I care?

Will I look stupid?

Will it work?

Whom do I believe?

Even before this rule came into being, it's clear that these times of trouble have exposed a range of behaviours that we always knew existed deep in our guts but have been barricaded in there for years. They are beginning to leak out.

PERSPECTIVE Four

 

All you need to do to see how quickly profiteering and business opportunities have proliferated, is search for covid-19 masks on the web. Humans benefiting from misfortune. Again.

I don't mean the millions of surgical and basic cloth masks that have had to be manufactured. 

Oh no!

I mean the fashionable, accessorising variety. Try this on for size -

"Fashion Washable PM2.5 Mouth Mask Adjustable anti dust mask Activated carbon filter Windproof Mouth-muffle bacteria Face masks" (aliexpress.com)

I imagine that this particular mask will keep you safe from life and everything, and all for about AUD$11. 

Then there are the so-called "couture masks" which sell for about AUD$55-80. And they're even unisex. What a tremendous break-through that is! 

I can't but help think of the millions of people in the world who live in less then US$2/day who are battling the Coronavirus and have no masks at all.

PERSPECTIVE Five

 

Perhaps the greatest benefit of the compulsory mask-wearing in Melbourne and other parts, concerns the basic equality of all humans. Mask-wearers, we are all the same. We don't differentiate. We are comrades and partners. We are family.

At the most visceral and basic level, we are all in this together!