UnMasked

 Remember Stanley Ipkiss played by Jim Carey in the film Mask.  The Nerdy banker turns into a superhero when he wears the magical mask. The way he says: “Somebody Stop me” while admiring his image in front of the mirror was an iconic movie scene remembered by many.   Here in the United States CDC has removed the public restriction to wear the mask. Are we consigning the superheroes that fought the ‘Wuhan originated Virus’ wearing masks to their normal lives? Or will they lose the magical protection offered by the mask is something only time will tell?

As per known references, the word "mask" appeared in English in the sixteen century, from French word masque "covering to hide or guard the face". This French word was itself derived in turn from Italian maschera based on from Latin masca. This word is of uncertain origin, perhaps from Arabic maskharah or buffoon from the verb sakhira "to ridicule. One German author claims the word "mask" is originally derived from the Spanish más que la cara (literally, "more than the face" or "added face"), which evolved to "máscara", while the Arabic "maskharat" – referring to the buffoonery which is possible only by disguising the face.  So ultimately it all boils down either to ridicule or disguise. And maybe destiny has compelled us to wear the masks as a disguise to ridicule us.

Masks have historical origins in rituals and entertainment the world over.  Masks were also used for protection during battles and in sports. Some ceremonial or decorative masks were not designed to be worn. Although the religious use of masks has waned, masks are used sometimes in drama therapy or psychotherapy.  We still remember we used to wear demon masks during Holi Campfire. That was the only day we could swear and curse under the disguise of those masks.  It was so therapeutic to lose all inhibitions under the protection of anonymity due to these Masks. We wore a medical version publicly for a brief period in 2009 during the Swine Flu mini pandemic.   

Covid Pandemic spread the world over in Mar 2020. When Covid infected individuals talk, cough, or sing, they generate large, wet droplets containing the virus that causes COVID-19. If you’re within 6 feet of someone who is infected, those droplets can land on your eyes, nose, or mouth and infect you, too  The main benefit of wearing a mask is preventing the spread of the virus  by blocking these droplets both for the infected and others non-infected wearing mask around them.

The way life has changed since Mar 2020 is nothing short of a dramatic transformation of Stanley Ipkiss played by Jim Carey. The global jet-setting, all-conquering, urban yuppies have been grounded hooked on the world-wide-web-like spider-men wearing their superhero masks.  All the branded designer wear and grooming accessories lie stored in unused travel luggage inside the unopened closets. Comfortable T-Shirt and Bermuda is the global uniform. The only fashion-ware that can be used is the Mask.    Just as people in this part of the world headed to normalcy, CDC order to allow unmasked vaccinated people indoors sounds premature as only 60% of the population is vaccinated as of now.

 Remember the days in Jan Feb when the people in India flooded their social media accounts with social gatherings, picnics, parties, events. Masks were used but with no 100% compliance. And things turned into a nightmare by April-May 21. I sincerely wish this relaxation of the mask rule turns out alright in the US.

 

When an indoor mask mandate was in place, employers were forced to protect their employees and customers. That protection has now gone. The CDC’s baffling decision has caused immense frustration among those on the frontline working on U.S. pandemic control. In theory, the CDC’s new guidance was aimed only at those who are fully vaccinated, who are highly unlikely to catch or transmit the virus. While it makes scientific sense for vaccinated people to stop masking indoors, the guidance gave states the green light to drop indoor mask mandates for everyone.

One also might agree that this provides the state an opportunity to provide an incentive to people to vaccinate themselves but on other hand, it creates few challenges for local businesses.  Few Local businesses I know here in my state will continue asking their customers to wear masks indoors. On the plus side, they prevent the businesses from needing to ask about vaccination history or worrying that customers might unmask without being vaccinated. Just because someone does not wear a mask does not mean they are vaccinated.  On the downside, they may lose business.  So the debate is on but with past experiences, it makes more sense to keep wearing them as we have mutants of the virus that defy vaccines, and still, we are not reached herd immunity. And what’s the harm?  Fashion sense or discomfort?

Let’s not think wearing masks to be too uncomfortable as figuratively each one of us permanently wears the mask. What we project our own image to others is completely different from our real persona. This pandemic also has unmasked many of us based on our reaction to the pandemic.  Take for example the rule of wearing masks. Many of us broke the rule of wearing masks and that unmasked the civil citizen image we wore all the time till then. Many of us tried profiteering from medicines, healthcare, transportation, basic supplies, and other essential goods. That unmasked the evil thieves that resided behind the façade of noble or legal businesses. Many of us in media resorted to vulture journalism creating sensation out of the pain and miseries of people for profit or political motives. That unmasked the human mask for this beast. Many of us tried singular agenda to malign us as a country of failures. That unmasked the nationalistic masks for the enemy agenda.

Let’s accept that masks are going to be part of our lives at least for the next two to three years.

Quotes to Fill in the Blanks

 

“Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise”, says Victor Hugo in Les Miserables’. I have seen the most optimistic people around me losing hope.   The fear created by this invisible enemy originating from China seems unending. Vaccines, medicines, Oxygen supply, hospital beds are our main weapons to fight this virus and are falling short due to our population and other logistical nightmares. But can we afford to lose Hope? Hope is our most important tool to survive.  Words have given strength to those who survive to carry on the fight.

Let’s first start with a simple historical fact that can instill hope.   The deadliest virus in 1918 saw three waves that could last only for two years till 1920. At that time we did not have the technology and know-how derived from science like we have today.  Now we have vaccines and advanced care to support us. Other parts of the world have the luxury of less population density but we Indians will have to endure a bit more. Maybe we will reach herd immunity faster? Or maybe we can better logistics thanks to our innovative mindset or our inherited resilience to survive external threats historically.

Even if we discount that two years of suffering is a very small price in a larger context, tell this to someone who has lost a near one. They will disagree. Pain is the only emotion that they can feel. So how can those who around help these friends to recover?   Mental health during a pandemic for those locked down has been discussed. But more important than that is the healing of the minds of friends who have lost someone close. Though experts or counselors can help them if required medically, for those who are stronger to find self-help or for those around, our books can be our main source of wisdom described in some words by the masters of the literature.

Words mean just plain bytes occupying digital memory when written or they can be some momentary sound created in space when said, but when heard or read with open mind space, they can fill in the voids created by losses caused by death.  Tell this to someone anguished and maybe he will answer: "Time doesn’t heal all wounds. We know that’s bullshit: it comes from people who have nothing comforting or original to say" as said by Adam Silvera.

So how to make them ease out their pain using words?

You will have to convince them about the inevitability of death. Shakespeare has said, "All that live must die passing through nature to eternity."  Humans through their ancient scriptures and documentation have accepted that death is the most peaceful thing for those who face it. But those who are left behind need to be pointed to this collective wisdom through these quotes. As Isaac Asimov had said, “Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It’s the transition that’s troublesome.” "Dying is a troublesome business: there is a pain to be suffered, and it wrings one's heart, but death is a splendid thing – a warfare accomplished, a beginning all over again, a triumph. You can always see that in their faces", said G B Shaw.

That’s where spirituality helps us to console the bereaved by making them believe that death is a transient part of the journey and a new beginning. Our ancient scriptures have told that across various religions.   Ravindranath Tagore has said;” In the dualism of death and life, there is a harmony. We know that the life of a soul, which is finite in its expression and infinite in its principle, must go through the portals of death in its journey to realize the infinite”   “What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly “says Richard Bach. Paul Coelho has said “When someone leaves, it’s because someone else is about to arrive”

The correlation between life and death is expressed by Yann Martel in The Life of Pi as “The reason death sticks so closely to life isn't biological necessity — it's envy. Life is so beautiful that death has fallen in love with it, a jealous, possessive love that grabs at what it can. But life leaps over oblivion lightly, losing only a thing or two of no importance, and gloom is but the passing shadow of a cloud

The most powerful protection mechanism we have to shield us from the sadness and emptiness created from death is memories of the love we shared with the departed.   There is an unknown proverb:  “When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.”  There is another anonymous saying: “Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day
unseen, unheard, but always near; still loved, still missed and very dear.”  J K Rowling has said, “To have been loved so deeply, even though the person who loved us is gone, will give us some protection forever.”   “What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” says Helen Keller.  George Elliot says “Our dead are never dead to us until we have forgotten them”

Then there are gems from the most practical of human beings teaching us not to be afraid of death and pandemic. “I do not fear death. I had been dead for billions and billions of years before I was born, and had not suffered the slightest inconvenience from it”, said Mark Twain. Paramhansa Yogananda said: “Fear of death is ridiculous because as long as you are not dead you are alive, and when you are dead there is nothing more to worry about!” Shakespeare himself has said, “"Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste of death but once."

The final quote here to all those who have lost near ones and feeling pain is written by CS Lewis:  “The pain I feel now is the happiness I had before. That’s the deal.”