I’ll be blunt: when it comes to the greater health, safety and well-being of others, I couldn’t care less about your “right” to not wear a mask. Luckily, a lot more people are expressing this same sentiment, so I know I’m not alone in this opinion.
A great many people talk a good game. They brag and boast about how good and decent they are, how intelligent and capable they are. But as the saying goes, “the proof is in the pudding” and what that old adage means is you have to taste the food to know how good it is. The same can be said for these people — when it comes right down to it, they’re all talk.
Have a look at this cartoon making its way around social media:
Nails it, right? We had, and shockingly, still do have, these people who are all talk and filled with false bravado. Last spring, barely into lockdown because of the pandemic, the world looked on in horror as heavily armed “militia’s” stormed Michigan’s capitol to protest having to stay home and being asked to wear a mask. They claimed it was because they felt these orders violated their rights, but that’s just a cover. The truth is, these types of people are the “me!” people of the world. The truth is, once we all heard their grievances, it was really all just about their being inconvenienced. They couldn’t get a haircut, go to the local bar…really important things like that.
Me vs. We
We all know the “me’s” of our world because they’ve become emboldened. These are the folks that bluster with swagger how they’re “good Americans,” or “good Christians.” They’re the first to tell you how great they are and how everyone else is an “idiot” who doesn’t know what they’re doing. These “me’s” however, always let their true colors show when they need to actually put those boasts into action. The “me’s” of our world, will always fold and run. They won’t have your back, because their whole persona was a facade — deep down, they’re scared and selfish.
The “we’s” of our world however, are entirely different. We may not think we know a lot of “we’s” because people who look at the worlds as “ours” and “us” and “we,” rarely brag. They’re the quiet friend that thinks of the safety and security of others. The “we’s” of our world see their role as being to help others and they see that when one puts the greater good ahead of selfish needs, we all benefit.
The pandemic is basically out of control in the U.S. It didn’t have to be this way. What many of the “me’s” fail to realize is that this isn’t a political issue…its one of science and medicine. During a national crisis, they couldn’t even make the small sacrifices of putting on a mask and keeping their distance from others. Ironically, other countries did follow our guidelines and they didn’t have nearly the drastic impact we’re witnessing here. So these “good Americans” can brag and bluster all they want, but at the end of the day, they failed their country and their fellow Americans. I shudder to think what would have happened had they been alive back in WWII — we’d have been creamed.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Nothing worthwhile is easy. Your ability to overcome unfavorable situations will provide you with time to demonstrate your true strength and determination for success. Always set your standards high, your greatest achievements lie within the infinite feats you achieve in your life. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Me, We and Positivity
So what does this have to do with positivity? Everything. If you want to know the true measure of a person, watch how they behave when they’re truly needed. Some will step up to the plate, make a small, temporary sacrifice and know that its the right thing to do. These are the “we’s.” Others however, will turn tail and run, or, they’ll have a meltdown and take up arms, as we saw in Michigan and other cities. Sure, they’ll lie and say they’re just looking out for their rights, but its a lie. They’re only looking out for their own selfish needs and sadly, their reaction exposes them for the cowards they are. I said I was being blunt and I am — the “me’s” of the world will always dwell in negativity, while those who can see things from the “we” perspective will live in the light of positivity.
The true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. No, the true measure of a man is this: how quickly can he respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give. – Philip K. Dick
Read more:
Heavily Armed Protesters Gather Again At Michigan Capitol To Decry Stay-At-Home Order
The Great Irony of America’s Armed Anti-Lockdown Protesters
