I went to Mexico and got a front row opportunity to compare the everyday responses to vaccination and mask wearing to protect against the contraction of COVID. In the U.S., at home the wearing of a mask is hit and miss depending on federal and state rules and those set by businesses.
People tend to wear a mask properly only when they have to, unless they are persuaded not to wear one as a political statement. There are necessary extreme requirements such as going to a Denver Nuggets game where you have to provide proof of vaccination in addition to taking your temperature, to being outdoors without a mask requirement.
To be sure, Mexico identifies a set of situations caused by COVID that triggers business responses. They use a “streetlight” system made up of four colors: red that signals for only essential services, orange that adds some non-essential businesses, yellow that allows all type of businesses to operate but some at a reduced fashion and green that signals all clear.
I expected to see everybody masked up at the airport in Mexico but did not expect to see everyone wearing a mask everywhere. I thought about the confusion back home caused by changing guidelines and most of all by those that feel that taking the vaccine and that wearing a mask amounts to a loss of freedom as Americans.
There is a feeling among a significant number of people in the U.S. that facing COVID without taking the vaccine nor wearing a mask is the way of a patriot. The overwhelming majority of these types are the ones filling the hospital beds and dying.
This grasping at straws is part of a bigger picture that goes far back to the Declaration of Independence and its language about the grievances against the British crown as the reasons for wanting to separate. Not taking the vaccine and not wearing a mask amounts to a statement of separation. It goes hand in hand with the attacks on constitutional government and the Constitution itself. Patriotism is the stuff of heroes that fight for something bigger than themselves and thus come to represent the very land from where they came. They are there to turn the page to the next segment of the national experience, not to turn back the clock.
I was intrigued by the Mexican response to COVID and decided that instead of taking a flight to Mexico City from where I was, I would drive. I spent time in the beautiful Mayan city of Merida, the countrysides of the States of Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz before coming to Puebla and Mexico City.
Everywhere I went, the fight against COVID was a special theme that brought people together and wearing a mask was its expression. You could even see people driving by in cars with their masks on.
Just like the United States, Mexico is a land of contrasting ideas and ideals about running a government and managing a society. Just like we do, they have major problems of their own. Yet, like 9/11 in our country, Mexico’s response to COVID is a unifying symbol of national character. There is no political right, center or left when it comes to combating the virus.
Both countries look to accommodate mandates with business, medical and educational needs. However, it is the response of its people where the differences become pronounced.
I did see a few people without masks. They were part of the tourist crowds.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of la Voz bilingüe. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.
