Mask Manipulation

A friend received this email, and asked me to consider posting it to the blog. It is somewhat of a strange topic to log back into blogger about after all this time. The last thing I posted was a timeline on Luther the Heritic. Back when I wrote that, I would not have believed such a topic would even be worth a discussion. I also see humor in being asked to post about it since my original online avatar used to be the mask pictured in this post. Admittedly, this subject has been on my mind and in my prayers. The subject also coincides somewhat with a recent sermon I have listened to on the subject of "Dialectics".

This email is posted with some redaction, and with full permission from the original sender. Emphasis and links are mine:

+JMJ+

Gentlemen,

I have had conversations with most of you on the subject topic. Most of you know my thoughts on the virus, and that I have never worn a face mask in response. Generally speaking the push to wear masks, and the information behind it seems to be driven as part of a propaganda effort. Use of social media, participation in echo chambers, and reliance on a daily dose of other forms of media seem to drive this propaganda. People willingly participate in the media they consume and are impacted by it.

It should go without saying, but to make sure it is clear... I do not fear the virus. I am not worried about how my personal consumeristic urges might be impacted. I have been willing to suffer the consequences of my actions for a while now.

People can come to similar conclusions, and perform similar actions for very different reasons. This is relevant because I have heard reasons for NOT wearing a mask that are unsound. I have also heard repetition of "pre-recorded sophistry" (internet memes and quick one liners) that leads me to wonder if NOT wearing masks has also become a propaganda effort.

It is not a surprise that opposing propaganda efforts would exist over a subject. I am worried however that if I am right, that the result will lead to division for the wrong reasons. Division over good reason is bound to happen, but division over wrong reasons is just wrong.

I also know that covering one's face with a mask is not objectively wrong. Chances are there are circumstances where most of us have performed this action at some point in our lives. Reasons for wearing a mask certainly exist that could make the act wrong, or at the very least undesirable.

I am sharing my thoughts to caution you all from getting sucked into false dichotomies, or getting sucked into divisive attitudes that are not likely required. At the very least I would be cautious of letting the subject take up to much mental thought. There is certainly a battle here taking place, but maybe this is the wrong "front" to spend all the energy on with those around us and those we interact with.

I welcome any of your thoughts, but please remember, this is not social media. I do not need to be convinced of the ridiculous circumstance we are in. Chances are high that I have read "the science", "statistics", and "politics" and seen all of the same things you all have seen. This is not about convincing anyone to wear/not wear a mask. I am keeping a more concerned eye on the strange divisiveness of this specific topic, and urge you to do the same.

Mary keep you,

Olympic Disenchantment

I no longer care about the Olympics. The Olympic events have never been a priority in my life, but now I hold an opinion approaching disdain.

While I did not expect (or desire) an opening ceremony like that of Beijing, what we were given was awkwardly embarrassing.  I shrugged the ceremony off hoping that the sporting events would make it a distant memory. However, instead of showing clips and replays from events not broadcast through the day, we get media pimps who lace their endless banter with political propaganda, inane interviews, and more clips from the opening ceremony!

The events being broadcast are not about the athletes as much as they are about which athletes are going to make the network the most money. Does anyone actually believe that America tunes in to women's sand volleyball because of interest in the sport? The camera angles and sportswear suggests the athletes and the network know exactly what many are tuning in to watch.

I can't even get online to watch events that were not broadcast, or to watch events that were broadcast at times when I could not watch. I find myself searching for "pirate Olympic streams" and "proxy connect to BBC". The fact that it is verboten for the USA to watch anything other than what NBC and the IOC want us to see is -- perplexing.

Maybe I am just miffed that I missed the Judo competitions again.

TV Christmas Specials

'Tis the season for numerous "Christmas Specials" that fill the prime time airwaves. While many of the Christmas specials have little to do with the Nativity of Christ, a number of them have a common theme. The theme consists of a group trying to celebrate (some version of) Christmas while a antagonist is trying to ruin said celebrations. The stories generally end up with the antagonist mending their "evil" ways or having a change of heart that allows them all to celebrate (some version of) Christmas.

During this Advent season the rest of the world has already started celebrating (some version of) Christmas that often has little to do with the Son of God. Every year the "secular Grinch" attempts to steal more and more of (the real) Christmas... a parallel concept to that which is addressed in the the TV specials.

Many of us watched these formulaic Christmas Specials with our children, or as we were growing up. The secular shows (often divorced from Christianity) urges its viewers to defend (some version of) Christmas and proclaim the need for conversion of those who are against the "season." Seems we should be prepared to do the same for the true reason for the season.

Ineffable Propaganda

Last year the swine flu was all the scare and populations everywhere were urged to get a new, experimental vaccine. I forget what was predicted for those who didn't get the shot, but the merchants of fear mainstream press parroted public health officials' pleas that everyone get the shot. Most people didn't get the shot, and pandemic didn't result.

So this year there's a new tactic in the information war: spread the lie word that the vaccine helps prevent heart attack.

You'll forgive me if I don't believe this latest round of propaganda or rush out to get the shot.