A promising step in the right direction. But the New York Times and other lockdown supporters have a very long way to go if they ever wish to fully atone for what they supported during COVID.
You pretty much said this in your excellent post: The damage has already been done. As someone who has worn masks for the *right reasons* my entire working life, was educated about mask use yearly, and was properly trained and fitted for masks, I knew that the whole mask thing was insanity from day one. I'll never forget being the only person (that I could see) brave enough to walk through the Denver airport maskless in a see of frightened and paranoid faceless eyes in 2020. Mask mandates and the fear mongering behind them have left a scar on the psyche of civilization that may never disappear. To this day, I still don't like going anywhere anymore because if I see someone wearing their face diaper I about come uncorked. The policy should have always been, "if you are sick, stay home and if you feel the need to go out when you are sick with symptoms, please consider wearing a mask in case you cough in someone's immediate space." I never have, and *never* will, inhibit my supply of oxygen just to make some feel better.
Feb 22, 2023·edited Feb 22, 2023Liked by Michael P Senger
The masks were used to take away our humanity and muzzle us. Have a friend who has 3 kids - 2 age 1 and 1 age 2 1/2. They were flying to visit grandma. The 2 year old refused to wear a mask, so family of 5 with 3 kids under age 2 1/2 were thrown off the plane. One of tens of thousands of insane stories. Hey mask nuts, I will never forget and I am glad I made you uncomfortable when I didn’t wear one.
It is a pity we have lost the will and the ability to make an example of people like Fauci and Wallensky...IMHO a public tar and feathering would serve as a deterrent to future idiocies....
Feb 22, 2023·edited Feb 22, 2023Liked by Michael P Senger
Re the commenters to Bret's column: You can bet that many of them virtuous outraged denizens could be seen wearing a mask while driving by themselves with closed windows, or while outdoors with no one around them.
Good analysis, Michael. Thanks for this! Love the bullet points of what the NYT needs to do to make amends. I agree that the NYT has a long way to go before they can begin to make up for the constant propaganda they dispensed during the pandemic. Stephens' opinion piece is a step in the right direction, but is sadly lacking in sincere belief that masks didn't work, as evidenced by lines such as this one: "No study — or study of studies — is ever perfect. Science is never absolutely settled. What’s more, the [Cochrane] analysis does not prove that proper masks, properly worn, had no benefit at an individual level. People may have good personal reasons to wear masks, and they may have the discipline to wear them consistently. Their choices are their own." So...mandates are bad, but if we all had just "properly worn" masks, and had "the discipline to wear them," we might have had a different outcome? This kind of caveat in a "mea culpa" article reinforces the people who scapegoated the unmasked and unvaccinated as the reason for the continuing pandemic, and who have no qualms throwing out human rights and democratic principles in their pursuit of "safety" and the "greater good."
"Globally, these policies led to millions of deaths, pushed hundreds of millions into extreme poverty, wrecked the mental health of billions, and transferred trillions of dollars in wealth from the world’s poorest to the very richest, all for virtually no benefit."
The crimes are almost too vast to comprehend. The number of perpetrators involved also boggles the mind. This is why my own mental health might be teetering.
When grocery stores in my state of New Mexico started denying entry to customers not wearing a mask, my family and I wore paper bags over our heads (holes cut out for eyes). This is how we bought food for over a year and kept hoping people would see the obvious, that we saw from the beginning. Our bags were great information boards, and invited conversation, support, and ridicule. Many people would say, "You are brave." We always said, "You can be brave too. Just get a bag, scissors and a marking pen." We thought it would catch on, but instead people started double and triple masking. Anyone with any kind of observational skills could see how diabolical the masks were and are, especially for children.
I still believe in good hand washing. With soap and water! Not that sanitizer rubbish. But otherwise, the masks and social distancing drive me crazy. I was instructed very recently to step away from the fabric cutting table in a store, while the (masked) staff member cut my yard of fabric. I wrote a review on Google and complained about this 'store policy'. The reply floored me. It's not a store policy, but individual members of staff who might be vulnerable, or have a vulnerable family member can request customers keep away six feet!!! How does that make sense?? And nice Canadian shoppers go along with it.
I think I wore a mask maybe 5 times during this shit show. And only when it was shoved in my hand in a medical environment. I hid under a blanket on a Southwest flight. I was thrown out of REI for refusal, uninvited to a family birthday party, and screamed at in Wegmans. The cashier in Target refused to check out my purchase. What a rebel……
My mom was in a nursing home, and they let us take her out for doc appointments. The staff was glad to have us transport her, but would chase me down the hall, flapping a mask, and yelling. I ended up on their “Do Not Fly” list.
My covidiot friends/family have dumped their masks, but will never, ever apologize. I will never ever forgive nor forget.
Your 6 bulleted items at the end of your article are spot on! I won’t hold my breath waiting for them. But your book is on my birthday list. Looking forward to reading it.
Walensky is such a snake and dumber than a box of rocks. What master is she serving? Saying “Our masking guidance doesn’t really change with time.” is just absurd given the fact that the CDC had no recommended masking guidance before April 2020. This silly statement runs a close second to Fauci claiming he’s the science.
Nurse "CM" needs to see a couple videos, say of a 2 year old being forcibly masked. And of course our fearless Prez pedoJoe pulling his mask down, coughing into his hand, & then putting the mask back on with his goopy hand. And then moments later reaching out with that same goopy hand to shake hands with some unfortunate staffer or whoever. And yes, that video does exist 😆
My city's medical system still requires masking. I've made it a point to wear bright yellow bandanas, when I've had to be seen, that cover practically my whole face to show how ridiculous masking is. As everyone stares at me as they walk past me, I hope they reconsider their stance on masking.
Several billion masks are now shedding microplastics into the ocean for centuries. Millions of kids are developmentally delayed. Where's Greta?
You pretty much said this in your excellent post: The damage has already been done. As someone who has worn masks for the *right reasons* my entire working life, was educated about mask use yearly, and was properly trained and fitted for masks, I knew that the whole mask thing was insanity from day one. I'll never forget being the only person (that I could see) brave enough to walk through the Denver airport maskless in a see of frightened and paranoid faceless eyes in 2020. Mask mandates and the fear mongering behind them have left a scar on the psyche of civilization that may never disappear. To this day, I still don't like going anywhere anymore because if I see someone wearing their face diaper I about come uncorked. The policy should have always been, "if you are sick, stay home and if you feel the need to go out when you are sick with symptoms, please consider wearing a mask in case you cough in someone's immediate space." I never have, and *never* will, inhibit my supply of oxygen just to make some feel better.
The masks were used to take away our humanity and muzzle us. Have a friend who has 3 kids - 2 age 1 and 1 age 2 1/2. They were flying to visit grandma. The 2 year old refused to wear a mask, so family of 5 with 3 kids under age 2 1/2 were thrown off the plane. One of tens of thousands of insane stories. Hey mask nuts, I will never forget and I am glad I made you uncomfortable when I didn’t wear one.
It is a pity we have lost the will and the ability to make an example of people like Fauci and Wallensky...IMHO a public tar and feathering would serve as a deterrent to future idiocies....
When did we become sheep?
Re the commenters to Bret's column: You can bet that many of them virtuous outraged denizens could be seen wearing a mask while driving by themselves with closed windows, or while outdoors with no one around them.
Good analysis, Michael. Thanks for this! Love the bullet points of what the NYT needs to do to make amends. I agree that the NYT has a long way to go before they can begin to make up for the constant propaganda they dispensed during the pandemic. Stephens' opinion piece is a step in the right direction, but is sadly lacking in sincere belief that masks didn't work, as evidenced by lines such as this one: "No study — or study of studies — is ever perfect. Science is never absolutely settled. What’s more, the [Cochrane] analysis does not prove that proper masks, properly worn, had no benefit at an individual level. People may have good personal reasons to wear masks, and they may have the discipline to wear them consistently. Their choices are their own." So...mandates are bad, but if we all had just "properly worn" masks, and had "the discipline to wear them," we might have had a different outcome? This kind of caveat in a "mea culpa" article reinforces the people who scapegoated the unmasked and unvaccinated as the reason for the continuing pandemic, and who have no qualms throwing out human rights and democratic principles in their pursuit of "safety" and the "greater good."
Great summary of the results:
"Globally, these policies led to millions of deaths, pushed hundreds of millions into extreme poverty, wrecked the mental health of billions, and transferred trillions of dollars in wealth from the world’s poorest to the very richest, all for virtually no benefit."
The crimes are almost too vast to comprehend. The number of perpetrators involved also boggles the mind. This is why my own mental health might be teetering.
When grocery stores in my state of New Mexico started denying entry to customers not wearing a mask, my family and I wore paper bags over our heads (holes cut out for eyes). This is how we bought food for over a year and kept hoping people would see the obvious, that we saw from the beginning. Our bags were great information boards, and invited conversation, support, and ridicule. Many people would say, "You are brave." We always said, "You can be brave too. Just get a bag, scissors and a marking pen." We thought it would catch on, but instead people started double and triple masking. Anyone with any kind of observational skills could see how diabolical the masks were and are, especially for children.
I still believe in good hand washing. With soap and water! Not that sanitizer rubbish. But otherwise, the masks and social distancing drive me crazy. I was instructed very recently to step away from the fabric cutting table in a store, while the (masked) staff member cut my yard of fabric. I wrote a review on Google and complained about this 'store policy'. The reply floored me. It's not a store policy, but individual members of staff who might be vulnerable, or have a vulnerable family member can request customers keep away six feet!!! How does that make sense?? And nice Canadian shoppers go along with it.
I think I wore a mask maybe 5 times during this shit show. And only when it was shoved in my hand in a medical environment. I hid under a blanket on a Southwest flight. I was thrown out of REI for refusal, uninvited to a family birthday party, and screamed at in Wegmans. The cashier in Target refused to check out my purchase. What a rebel……
My mom was in a nursing home, and they let us take her out for doc appointments. The staff was glad to have us transport her, but would chase me down the hall, flapping a mask, and yelling. I ended up on their “Do Not Fly” list.
My covidiot friends/family have dumped their masks, but will never, ever apologize. I will never ever forgive nor forget.
Your 6 bulleted items at the end of your article are spot on! I won’t hold my breath waiting for them. But your book is on my birthday list. Looking forward to reading it.
The Branch Covidians will never give up their precious masks, not even if St Fauci tells them to (which will never happen).
Walensky is such a snake and dumber than a box of rocks. What master is she serving? Saying “Our masking guidance doesn’t really change with time.” is just absurd given the fact that the CDC had no recommended masking guidance before April 2020. This silly statement runs a close second to Fauci claiming he’s the science.
I wear sandals, never got COVID. Therefore sandals are safe and effective in protecting you from The Varus™. NYT-sectarian logic!
Nurse "CM" needs to see a couple videos, say of a 2 year old being forcibly masked. And of course our fearless Prez pedoJoe pulling his mask down, coughing into his hand, & then putting the mask back on with his goopy hand. And then moments later reaching out with that same goopy hand to shake hands with some unfortunate staffer or whoever. And yes, that video does exist 😆
My city's medical system still requires masking. I've made it a point to wear bright yellow bandanas, when I've had to be seen, that cover practically my whole face to show how ridiculous masking is. As everyone stares at me as they walk past me, I hope they reconsider their stance on masking.
When the CDC/FDA ceases to exist, we’re moving in the right direction.