My take on masks.

[curio_city]

Honestly, it's my opinion that if you think masks are a sign of oppression, you're probably in the lucky minority that has never actually experienced medical/governmental/societal oppression. If wearing a mask makes you feel uncomfortable, then it's your prerogative the make the choice that brings you the most comfort. However, Ra gives us a simple metric to express the polarity of each use of catalyst:

64.16 Questioner: Let us assume that a bodily distortion occurs within a particular entity who then has a choice of seeking allopathic aid or experiencing the catalyst of the distortion and not seeking correction of the distortion. Can you comment on [the] two possibilities for this entity and his analysis of each path?

Ra: I am Ra. If the entity is polarized towards service to others, analysis properly proceeds along the lines of consideration of which path offers the most opportunity for service to others.

For the negatively polarized entity the antithesis is the case.

For the unpolarized entity the considerations are random and most likely in the direction of the distortion towards comfort.

Can you please elaborate on what constitutes medical/governmental/societal oppression, as well as give some detail on its occurrence today?

In my original post, I ponder whether mask-wearing is really what's the best for everyone and consider some ways it may be counter to best interests; I appreciate a Ra quote that so directly supports the viewpoint as a positive one.

If Jesus were alive today, do you think he would wear a mask?

Being asked to wear a mask into a public space is akin to being asked to wear shoes for public health reasons into a public space. Sure, it can be argued that going barefoot 100% of the time is "healthier" and "more natural". But nobody feels oppressed wearing shoes. How many people here who are against masks are actually being "forced" to wear them for more than an hour or two a week? To consider this oppression is absurd. You are being asked to wear a mask *when you enter a private business*, for the sake of the health of the employees who are often being forced, for low wages, to risk their health to serve you.

I understand that it's easy to justify "well if I project my awareness of my own health upon others by not wearing a mask, I'm helping them understand their own bodily autonomy" but in actuality you are just scaring people who are at risk. Many people have family members who have died. Many people have to go to work at grocery stores and restaurants and go home to elderly or otherwise at risk family members. Seeing people wear a mask gives them a peace of mind that, on some level, they are protected.

Masks, just like everything else, can be a placebo. This doesn't mean they are bad. But if you think that x item is what is keeping you safe, and someone takes away that item, you will stop feeling safe. I understand the justification that wearing a mask makes some people feel like they are reinforcing the idea of "being sick", but the truth is, we don't wear masks to protect ourselves, we wear masks to protect others. COVID can be spread by people who have 0 symptoms. Just because you are healthy doesn't mean you aren't spreading the virus.

The fact that you need me to explain examples of medical, governmental, and societal oppression is just proof that actual oppression is out of your realm of understanding. Medical oppression is how women and people of color are often treated poorly and not taken seriously by medical professionals - this is documented and proven, and I've certainly experienced it. Governmental oppression is, let's say, being redlined into a school district that gets no money because funding is determined by property taxes. Societal oppression is being a person of a lower class/different race/"weaker sex" and experiencing the continued lack of respect and autonomy because of these perceived "handicaps". These are just the first examples that come to mind but the expression of oppression is endless in our current reality. There are books written on this topic so I would suggest doing your own research if this concept is out of your grasp, it will help you develop more compassion for others. Being asked to wear a noninvasive medical device for a few hours a week is not oppression. Don't you find it odd that the USA is the only country that has a huge issue with this common courtesy, but also is the only country that has a death toll as high as ours? When will enough be enough? Nobody says only being able to carry 3oz of liquid on an airplane is "oppression", yet we gave up many of our freedoms for the sake of public safety after 9/11 happened, and that was only a few thousands deaths on one bad day. IMO "masks are bad" could potentially be a psy-op by the population reduction elites. It's interesting that people think that 5G is here to kill us but refuse to wear a piece of cloth over their face when they go to the grocery store to potentially reduce the death and damage of another potential, and proven deadly, weapon against humanity.

I see a lot of reference in your post to "feeling safe." It reminds me of Cancel Culture and the idea of "safe zones" on campuses that are really just freedom from challenge so long as members serve the reigning ideology. The concept of feeling safe is very different than actually being safe, and both are very different than being prepared. I do not feel an obligation to adhere to others' ideas of what makes them safe more than my own ideas of how best to prepare others. In fact, it is others' ideas of and drives toward perceived safety that can so often lead them astray.

All experiences are challenges just as all challenges are experiences. Keeping people safe from challenges must not be in their best interests, as it keeps them from the much needed experiences of life. I want others to be challenged so they can succeed, and I want others to succeed so that they can be prepared for whatever is to come. Safety is subjective and true safety should not be considered a given, so how much better it is to be prepared.

I believe in living the Law of One, so I also believe in the metaphor of this experience. I believe individuals synthesize their experiences, and our ultimate responsibility is to take full ownership of all our experiences through all our existence. I have experienced what I would call discrimination and harassment in my workplace; I have received such poor medical care that the cures prescribed caused lasting damage; I and my children have endured trauma in hospitals due to malpractice; I have had cops follow me and pull me over, seemingly ready to draw their weapons, due to some ambiguously perceived threat; I have navigated the hell that is crushing poverty; I have been rejected in employment and other efforts too many times to count. I take responsibility for it all, and I have a strong gratitude for how my experiences have prepared and continue to prepare me.

Maybe my exact experiences cannot be transferred to another; however, maybe they can promote in me an ability to discern effective ways to serve others.