There’s a lot of talk about personal freedoms bouncing around right now in regards to mask and whether or not you choose to wear one. I have a mom with heart issues she got from the flu, so I’m not going to pretend to be unbiased about this. I’m definitely pro-mask. But I have extended family members who aren’t, and I’ve learned a lot from seeing both sides.

You have the right not to wear a mask. It’s your body and bodily autonomy is important. But your choice not to wear one could seriously harm someone else, and other people have the right to be safe. So what happens when people have conflicting rights?

My uncle has refused to wear a mask this whole time. He simply does not go into stores that require one. He doesn’t try to argue with employees. He just goes where he and the shop owners are comfortable. I think if you’re going to use your personal right not to wear a mask, it’s best to go to places that agree with you.

I saw a tweet about this today that said something about how you have the right to wear pants, but you can’t go into a restaurant or onto a plane without them. It’s your right to choose not to wear a mask. It’s someone else’s right to choose not to be around you. It’s all a little messy, and hopefully we can be patient with each other’s opinions and worries until the pandemic is totally over.