We’ve seen this on television.  Someone from a store trying to prevent a maskless person from entering.

We’ve seen this on television.  A maskless person in front of a bar pronouncing his or her right not to wear a mask.  Refusing to wear a mask is standing up to tyranny.

We’ve seen this on the internet.  A list of requirements people seem to accept with little or no complaint.

Stores have signs:  No shoes, No shirt, No service.  We don’t see this on television.  Someone from a store trying to prevent a shoeless person from entering the store.  A person pronouncing his right to enter a store not wearing a shirt.

States have laws requiring people to wear a seat belt.  Weak laws.  In many states traffic cops can’t stop you only for failing to wear a seat belt.  But if you are speeding and you aren’t wearing a seat belt, you get a ticket for both.  We don’t see stories about someone showing up at traffic court complaining that his or her rights have been infringed.  They should have a right to be in a car without a seat belt.

Airlines require seat belts, too.  Your seat needs to be straight up for take off and landing.  Your food tray has to be locked in place.  You don’t hear stories about someone insisting during takeoff on his or her right to do without a seat belt.

Speaking of airlines, the Transportation Security Administration can paw through your carryon suitcase, make you take your shoes and your belt off and empty your pockets.  They may take a kind of x-ray of you.  People grumble.  They don’t like it.  They can opt for a personal search instead of the x-ray.  But they don’t take a stand about their right to be left alone before they fly on an airplane.

Why is it only masks about which we have people making claims about their rights. The masks are at least as important a safety requirement as automobile or airplane seatbelts.  They are probably a lot more important for your safety than shoes you are required to wear into a store.

Why do so manhy people make a fuss about masks?  Because a major public official will not wear a mask — the President of the United States.  Donald Trump is perfectly willing to endanger us all by setting exactly the wrong example about wearing a mask.