Hyperreal Film Club
Must We Mask?
RECEIVED Fri., Aug. 13, 2021
An open letter to the mayor and to mask mandators:
I am a fully vaccinated autistic adult and city employee. I signed up to get vaccinated at the moment of eligibility, both as my civic, public health duty and because my disability makes it difficult to tolerate masks for long periods. Given that there is a chance, however infinitesimal, that a vaccinated person could transmit the virus, I understand that a business may still ask me to mask, and I am happy to comply for the 20 minutes it takes to buy groceries and such. I also voluntarily wear a mask when indoors and unable to maintain six feet from others. These precautions make sense. However, I do not believe that it is right for the city of Austin to violate Executive Order GA-38 by requiring everyone, including city staff, to wear masks at all times on city property. I always have masks with me and am willing to put one on whenever I am within six feet of other people, but I can’t manage it for 40 hours per week and ask for the mercy to unmask at my desk or when otherwise by myself. I understand that some people feel that for them, masks are “not uncomfortable” or “no big deal” or that they do not interfere with breathing, and it’s wonderful that they are so able to accommodate masks, but for one person who doesn’t find it difficult to wear a mask to extrapolate to others that they shouldn’t find it difficult either is ableist, the apex of hubris, and the nadir of compassion. Please don’t judge other people for either wearing or not wearing masks, and please allow fully vaccinated individuals a mask exemption when they are more than six feet from others.
I am a fully vaccinated autistic adult and city employee. I signed up to get vaccinated at the moment of eligibility, both as my civic, public health duty and because my disability makes it difficult to tolerate masks for long periods. Given that there is a chance, however infinitesimal, that a vaccinated person could transmit the virus, I understand that a business may still ask me to mask, and I am happy to comply for the 20 minutes it takes to buy groceries and such. I also voluntarily wear a mask when indoors and unable to maintain six feet from others. These precautions make sense. However, I do not believe that it is right for the city of Austin to violate Executive Order GA-38 by requiring everyone, including city staff, to wear masks at all times on city property. I always have masks with me and am willing to put one on whenever I am within six feet of other people, but I can’t manage it for 40 hours per week and ask for the mercy to unmask at my desk or when otherwise by myself. I understand that some people feel that for them, masks are “not uncomfortable” or “no big deal” or that they do not interfere with breathing, and it’s wonderful that they are so able to accommodate masks, but for one person who doesn’t find it difficult to wear a mask to extrapolate to others that they shouldn’t find it difficult either is ableist, the apex of hubris, and the nadir of compassion. Please don’t judge other people for either wearing or not wearing masks, and please allow fully vaccinated individuals a mask exemption when they are more than six feet from others.
Katrin Abel