CHaz/Chop & The Divisiveness of Face Masks

I’m sure, by now, most people who follow some stream of news are familiar with CHAZ: the Capital Hill Autonomous Zone in Seattle, Washington; six blocks in the northern heart of Seattle that have been declared a “police free zone,” until certain demands are met (there have been 30 posted on Medium’s website). Declaring yourself independent of the laws of the United States and forcibly occupying American soil is, essentially, an act of war (by U.N. Generally Assembly 3314) and in doing so you’re surrendering your rights as a United States citizen; to some that may seem rash, obviously I disagree. I know that many would argue “intent” as well as degrees of “aggression” in the consideration of what is defined by “act of war,” however taking into consideration the blockades, and the five shootings within the autonomous zone in two weeks that have left two teenage boys dead, and the irrationality of their demands--We Demand: “abolishing,” the SPD (Seattle Police Department) as well as the “attached court system,” the release of marijuana related offense prisoners, the “De-gentrification” of Seattle, free college for the people in the state of Washington, “...the people of Seattle seek out and proudly support Black-owned business,” there are others, although these few stood out for me as being especially ridiculous, this has been a declaration of war, and the fact that the United States government left it in the hands of the state government is pretty, um, prudent. To say the least. 

Within the last 48 hours CHAZ has renamed itself to CHOP the Capital Hill Occupied Protest, so they’ve effectively declared themselves U.S. citizens again and removed barricades to a three block radius. I do very much want to support causes, and movements that encourage justice where injustice exists, however, simply supporting an idea in the form of a movement that lacks leadership and cause is meaningless. CHAZ was irrational and meaningless and CHOP cannot support itself if they don’t reevaluate their demands and establish some form of leadership that can approach and address the city of Seattle and the State of Washington and the federal government, if necessary otherwise, much like many directionless groups within the BLM movement cannot gain traction or lead to real change.

What do you want!?

I did originally want to dedicate this column entirely to CHAZ, it was an interesting happenstance that was effectively being ignored by a media that was clearly in support of the 'movement', although also recognizing the questionable legality of CHAZ/CHOP.
​     And, the Seattle Police Department cleared CHOP out yesterday morning.


Our world is changing too quickly for us to keep up, and our divide continues to grow while party lines are being manipulated and reforged.


So, I’m going to spend the next few minutes discussing Face Masks; because most of us, I’m sure, are loving both talking about, and listening to the respective opinions regarding the matter.

There is this semi-general consensus that the use of Face Masks as well as social distancing will slow the infection rate of the virus, and generally if something has even the possibility of providing some comfort and or support then, why not? Right?

...and, we do need to flatten the curve; the rate of the virus needs to slow so that our hospitals are able to adequately maintain the level of infected.

So, why is this an issue?

...especially when most are suggesting that the wearing of Face Masks should not be politicized, that it’s a health concern and, therefore, should not be regarded with a political agenda; although the argument developed by means of a political agenda, and people all over social platforms are posting contradictory statements from various health professionals on either side declaring the support of, or cautioning against the wearing of Face Masks.

​Either Face Masks work or they don’t and, in either case, it’s become one of the most politically divisive issues in our country today, and unfortunately, no ones’ stepping back from the argument far enough and for long enough to recognize that, and to ask themselves why that is.

If it’s not a political issue then why is it a political issue? (And, of course, both the Liberals and Conservatives will have their own responses to that question, which I find incredibly amusing).

Personally, and I know it’s a moot point for many of you, but OSHA’s website clearly states that Face Masks:

“Will Not Protect the Wearer Against Airborne Transmissible Infectious Agents Due to Loose Fit, Lack of Seal, or Inadequate Filtration.” This is clearly stated on the site, multiple times in regards to multiple types of masks.

The worldwide death rate of the virus is 4.92%, this is exponentially low, the likelihood that you will recover from the virus is a good one, and yes there are arguments to be made about long-term health conditions and expenses and what an “acceptable” death rate is (although I would strongly argue that the way that we relate to death is irrational, especially considering that each and every one of us is going to die, that might seem heartless to you, if it does than you’re one of the people that I’m referring to that desperately needs to reevaluate your perspective of death—and the correlation of death and nature, and the rationality of the comparisons that you’re making and those that you’re ignoring—more than others), and I think the argument in comparison to other viruses is absolutely plausible, and I know that many of you will make arguments in contradiction of-, but, frankly, most of the arguments that I’ve mentioned (and that I haven’t) are rooted in a politicized agenda to further condition our place in society, and it’s not one party more so than another it’s our government and it is us, and most of us are ignoring the basic fundamental reality that this is a virus, it’s not a plague, it’s not war, it’s not personal.

The problem is not with Face Masks, let me say that again; the problem is not whether we’re wearing Face Masks or not.

The problem lies with a large percentage of the population being more concerned about what others are doing than what I can do to regulate the course of things.

​The choice to not wear a Face Mask has nothing to do with you, or your health, and although your  arguments suggest that my decision not to is somehow a lack of interest in your well-being is an invalid, albeit seemingly rational one, and I say "seemingly" only because your promotion of the general concern and well-being of others sounds more appealing than policing one another but, effectively, your "interest in my well-being," especially to the degree of contentious care that you're providing is encouragingly unwelcome. 

Those that might be more susceptible to contracting it should, likely, self-quarantine, if you can, and if you want to wear a mask then by all bloody means wear a mask, maintain a social distance (stay the fuck away from people), stop going in to places that you don’t have to, and I really don’t understand why those of you so desperately arguing the necessity of wearing the mask are doing anything other than working and/or grocery shopping, anyway? What right do you have to sit at a bar or a restaurant and bitch about what other people are doing?
​     If you’re an employee of almost any establishment anywhere you’re required to wear a mask anyway, stay away from people who aren’t wearing them. This is something that I vehemently do not understand! Why, if you have the means to regulate yourself are you so desperately pissed off at others, and are these not the same people that you’re supposed to be respecting by wearing your mask? Regulate yourselves and we’ll be fine, in the meantime maintain your immune system.

Regulate yourself. It’s not a plague. It’s not war. It’s not personal.