Just the other day, I noted that more and more people share memes and videos about how restrictions because of Covid make our lives unbearable. The face mask is presented as a symbol of suppression which as a result of mainstream media is worn by brainwashed hordes. Interestingly enough, the accusers present their accusations in prepared memes, so not in their own words. That’s really weird considering that they want to imply that the others are brainwashed by the media. Why don’t they present THEIR thoughts in THEIR words? Something genuine as my own thoughts is so precious that I want to present it in my own words. I can understand that it is tempting to agree with some memes instantly and the reflex is it to share it immediately with the world. But what about me? Doesn’t that mean that I give up something that is really me? I let other speak for myself. I use a language, maybe even a voice which is not me. It might present something I agree with but it isn’t me. As a consequence, I give up my voice and perhaps am trapped into believing that other voices are my own.
Apart from that, I’m scared when it comes to the ‘arguments’ used to justify civil disobedience, as they call it. One of the main arguments used is that the flu is even more dangerous than Covid ever was. However, what is the consequence of this thought? That would mean since we accept the deaths of the flu (and we haven’t acted then) we should accept the deaths of Covid. Even more so, because there are fewer people dying. What a strange thought. If we start to outweigh one disaster against another where do we end up? Should we stop using seat belts since they take away my personal freedom (and they are quite tight around certain areas), because I have never needed it really in my whole life and I believe I’m a great driver, by the way.
I saw different memes with pictures of great minds and the text was always the same: Do you think …great mind… would have worn a face mask? The great minds here are usually people who fought for freedom. Quite impressive, but why should I think about what Mandela, Che, Schiller, or Locke would have done today? I can think for myself and decide what is right and wrong. And I sincerely believe that most of these great minds would agree here that I should not just follow them blindly. The only thing I would suggest here is Hannah Arendt’s quote, “Nobody has the right to obey.”
Why do people think that others are not capable of deciding for themselves? And I’m asking that rather neutrally because I believe both sides (there always seem to be two of them) suggest that the others are either too stupid or unintelligent in order to see the real ‘truth’. I would love to see more openness and tolerance on all sides. Or even better, stop taking sides at all. Think for yourself and make the most of it. Think before you act. Read Aristotle or Hannah Arendt. But these are just my two pennies.
Dirk Wittmann 