COVID-19 marches on in SC, but don’t expect the ‘I ain’t wearing a mask’ cult to care
907.
These are some of the numbers of daily COVID-19 cases that have been recorded in South Carolina lately.
Yes, you’re very observant: the numbers are progressively higher, aren’t they?
OK, here are some more numbers:
6.
10.
14.
These numbers represent how many South Carolinians have died from COVID-19 during various recent one-day periods.
Yes, you’re very observant again: these numbers also seem to be spiking, don’t they?
Why do I give you all of these numbers?
Because they all lead to one pressing question:
How many more COVID-19 cases and deaths do we still have to rack up in South Carolina to finally stir the “I ain’t wearing no face mask and giving up my cherished freedoms” crowd out of its proud state of ignorant defiance — and to convince it to help stop the spread of this modern-day plague?
I mean, we’re at 27,000-plus total cases (and counting) right now.
And we’re at 600-plus total deaths (and counting), too.
So are we getting close?
Are we at least getting near the numbers that we obviously need to hit to get the “I ain’t gonna do it” mob to stop freeloading on the goodwill of the rest of us South Carolinians? You know, the South Carolinians who do care enough about ourselves and our fellow citizens to wear face masks these days?
Can some of the folks in the “I ain’t gonna do it” cult just give us some clues, already?
Seriously.
I’d really like to know.
It’s scary
Because here is what’s scary:
It’s scary realizing that right now the members of the “I ain’t gonna do it” horde are the most powerful people in South Carolina when it comes to the determining the fate of COVID-19 in our state.
They sure have more power than State Epidemiologist Linda Bell, whose pleas and appeals for South Carolinians to wear face masks continue to be ignored — even as she sounds more and more exasperated with every plea and appeal.
They sure have more power than Gov. Henry McMaster, whose soothing words about South Carolinians “doing the right thing” continue to be thrown right back in his face on a daily basis — dismissed, laughed off and brushed away.
And what’s equally scary is that while members of the “I ain’t gonna do it” rabble aren’t immune to contracting COVID-19 — regardless of the dubious delusions they may hold suggesting otherwise — they are clearly immune to possessing any sense of self-awareness about the virus itself.
Do you think they feel embarrassed about how bad our state looked when numerous golfers at a recent tournament in Hilton Head expressed shock and horror at how few people in the area were wearing face masks — a mind-blowing act of stupidity that probably played a role in one golfer testing positive for COVID-19?
Nope, they’re immune to shame.
Do you think they feel any sense of responsibility when they see all the billboards and signs around the state with the upbeat hashtags imploring every South Carolinian to contribute to halting COVID-19’s spread?
Nope, they’re immune to #inspiration.
Just tell us
So let’s give it a rest.
Let’s stop all the attempts to sweet talk, placate and pander to the “I ain’t gonna wear no face mask” herd.
Instead let’s just start asking them for cold hard numbers.
Let’s ask them to move their uncovered lips.
Let’s ask them open their exposed mouths.
Let’s ask them to tell us just how many more COVID-19 cases and deaths they still need to see in South Carolina before they, too, will shield their uncovered lips and exposed mouths.
Let’s ask them what numbers need to add up for them to finally care.
The State Opinion Editor Roger Brown can be reached at (803) 771-8464 or at rjbrown@thestate.com. Follow him on Twitter @RBrown_SCOpin.
This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 2:17 PM.