Do as I Say, Not as I Do

It is no secret that many Americans have failed to follow Covid-19 precautions, including social distancing and mask wearing. Even some people in positions of power who encourage others to take precautions have not been practicing what they preach. 

Despite urging Californians to wear masks and social distance, the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, attended a birthday party on Nov. 6 with more people than allowed, where he was photographed without a mask. In doing so, Newsom violated his own guidelines. Like Newsom, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was caught on video not wearing a mask at a hair salon that should have been closed, despite urging the use of masks. 

Shouldn’t such important people as the governor of California and the Speaker of the House be more careful about following their own rules?

Additionally, President Donald Trump has notoriously refused to wear masks and denied their importance. He has attended large gatherings while not wearing a mask, so it did not come as a shock when Trump contracted the virus on Oct. 2. This recklessness has allowed the virus to spread throughout the White House staff. At least 48 people in the White House have gotten the virus. 

Even the president of our country is not above the rules–they still apply. Americans copy what their role models do, and Trump’s example  gives everyone permission to ignore the mask guidelines. When leading, simply saying, “Do as I say not as I do” is not good enough because human lives are at stake.                   

The refusal to follow protocol is derived mainly from selfishness and arrogance. While the virus may not harm us teenagers significantly, we should care about those around us. Wearing masks saves other peoples’ lives. 

The virus doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care whether you are the President of the United States or living below the poverty line. Anyone can get this virus. Sometimes very important people, such as Trump, forget that, and they end up paying the price. 

If everyone thinks the rules don’t apply to them, then no one follows them. At this rate, we won’t be returning to normality for a very long time. Denying that we are in a pandemic and refusal to comply with basic rules has led to the U.S. having one of the worst records of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the world. 

Wearing a mask is not in any way a political statement; it is just basic empathy for others. It is foolish to resist Covid-19 guidelines, because the longer it takes for us to get it together, the longer we will be stuck in lockdown. 

The only way to end this cycle is for everyone to adhere to the rules around social distancing and masks, however hard they may be, and that begins with our leaders and role models setting a good example.