The Moral Imperative to Return to Normal
Can reasonable people disagree? Yes. It’s a question worth revisiting, as our society has lost sight of the fact that most disagreements are not the result of a malignant worldview, but a different prioritization of values.
It has been two years since COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic. Case counts have hit new record highs, deaths have again spiked, and the public is still engaging in the now-familiar contours of public debate: masks and vaccine mandates.
As the debate continues to rage, it is tempting to engage in crude stereotypes. From one perspective, you have the COVID fanatics, moral busybodies who are too keen to rule over others while being afraid of their own shadow, unable to leave their houses with three layers of masks and three, now four, vaccine shots. From another, you have reckless and ignorant anti-science crusaders, who have continually thwarted attempts to contain and eradicate a now endemic virus.
If we apply some charity to our opponents, we can see these positions in a new light. Those concerned over COVID may be particularly vulnerable to infections or have close family members who are. As such, what may seem as zealotry to some is, in their perspective, concern for their fellow citizens and a prioritization of safety. Those pushing back at the various COVID restrictions have valid concerns over the normalization of ever-invasive restrictions, the implementation of a bio-security state, and legitimate fears over the ongoing harm to children.
No side looks ready to claim victory, but may I raise a proposal? We must aggressively pursue a truce in an attempt to claw back some normalcy, regardless of where the virus goes. The reason for this truce is simple: We are irrevocably harming our children.
As the father of three small children, I cringe whenever I read stories that show the ongoing costs a masked society has on children, particularly developing children: entire years of missed schooling, speech development delays, and soaring rates of youth depression, anxiety and self-harm. The kids are not alright, and it is a hypocritical society that has largely returned to normal for adults (observe the packed maskless restaurants) while it insists on mandated masking of children.
The scientific evidence is clear. COVID is not a risk to children at the same level as it is two groups: the obese and the elderly. Instead, the risk to the young is on par with influenza.
It is time to unmask our children and roll back the various mask mandates in local schools. Adults can continue to have their ongoing COVID debate, but as for our children, the time is long past due to return to them some portion of a normal childhood.
