By Manuel L. Morato
I don’t think it’s proper for some public officials to wear their face masks in places considered safe. For example, I’d like to ask why and for what reason do they have to use the face mask when speaking on television? For show? I’d like to say that the face mask causes the sound of a nasal defect, not clearly understood.
The message must be delivered loud and clear and before the interview ends; the person may put the mask on again.
Let’s take the Senate hearing for example. Why wear the mask when each senator and guests are already enclosed in a glass or plastic shielded cubicles? Physical distancing is complied with. There is no need to put on the face mask when each of the senators and witnesses are already caged in.
Maybe the Senators and guests can temporarily remove their face masks under such conditions. With the mask on, they all look the same and difficult for the public to tell who the person is; nor be able to observe if the person is lying for that can only be detected through facial expression.
Facial expression and eye movement tell a lot in an investigation. We cannot tell from their faces if they are lying and/or telling the truth.
I can understand the U.S. Congress why the Congressmen and Senators wear face masks when in Session. It’s because they are closely seated without cubicles. Leave that to the Filipinos at hindi tayo nagpapahuli maski kanino. The problem is that they all look the same inside the cubicles. Honestly, mahirap sila kilalanin.
The Senate President does not wear a face mask nor face shield during Session. Tama lang for he is seated apart from the others. But the Speaker of the House wears one although he is seated apart from the others, on a podium. No need. Pero pagbaba sa podium, dapat isuot na ang face mask.
One important point to consider is that with the face covered, the tendency to lie is rather conducive.
Remember the face mask and the face shields are recommended to “scare” the COVID 19 away in crowded places.
Sa daming problema, let’s have some light moments for a change; or go crazy with all that’s happening around us.
Again, to use a face mask when on television or radio interview, the public cannot understand clearly enough what they are saying. The face mask hampers the sounds of their voices. There is already “social distancing” between you and the microphone. There is nobody close enough for you to get infected by a microphone; neither you to your audience and vice versa. Just have the microphone disinfected.
Honestly, it’s an exaggeration to talk on television with a face mask. What you can do if you wish to put across a message on television, make sure that no saliva will fly far enough to infect anyone.
Some have criticized President Trump for not putting on a face mask during press conferences in the White House. As usual, he has been criticized for that. But we have to pardon some stupid people who say silly things. The U.S. President speaks to his people and to the entire world and it is proper that President Trump does not wear a face mask on such occasions to be clearly understood. And he keeps a distance from the members of the press.
If we are really serious in curving or minimizing the number of victims of the COVID 19, which goes up and down like a seesaw, the Americans must use common sense and be disciplined enough. Wear the face mask and if possible, the face shield as well. The problem is many Americans are not disciplined by their parents because the sons and daughters want their “freedom” at such a young age. A pity to the parents. They can’t say anything anymore once a child reaches his/her teenage years. Amazing, it can happen only in America.
When their parents and elders tell them some words of wisdom or express their concern to be careful, that to many youths of today is a “violation of their freedom”; or an invasion of their human rights. Unbelievable! No wonder the Coronavirus/Covid 19 spreads in the U.S., not because of President Trump but due to the people who do not want to be told by anyone what is best to do for all.
Whoever conceptualized this law giving too much freedom for the young is not a human being for we all have to realize from the start that we owe our lives here on earth to our parents, and if there is anyone who’d be most concerned for our well-being is our mother and father. No one else could take care of us better than our parents.
The “spike” of the Coronavirus/COVID 19 in the U.S. has gone by leaps and bounds. President Trump is not to blame. It’s the absence of good breeding and discipline of the Americans who are so stubborn and imprudent not to take precautions. “Human rights” and “freedom” are stretched too far even at a young age. If only the young would listen to their parents. But then if they don’t want to listen, they are totally free to die. That too is part of the “total freedom” they seek for.
Imagine, even children in grade school or high school cannot be disciplined by their parents for that’s supposed to be a violation of the children’s “human rights.” The young should listen to their parents for at their young age, in their formative years, guidance from our elders is necessary. No one can dispute that the “old school” is still the best school for the young to grow up in.
To be “modern,” liberated and carefree is a lot of bull. Definitely not for the teenagers in their formative years. Why do you think the world is in trouble? Precisely, because of the lack of good breeding, discipline, and guidance from the parents and their elders.
For comments and suggestions email at mlmorato@yahoo.com