my small revolution

my teacher was handing out papers in class, and despite the fact that she was wearing a mask, told me i had to also put my mask on while she handed out papers. internally irritated with this lunacy, i pulled my mask from one ear to my opposite cheek, and held it there, waiting for her to give me my paper, and continue walking, so i could put my mask down, she frowned, and exclaimed, to the whole class, 'why do you have to make things so dang difficult?' the class laughed and made fun of me. 'mayas so dumb. she literally thinks this is a conspiracy theory!' (i absolutely dont.) later on that class, she asked us to write a journal response to the prompt 'betrayal'. i took advantage of this opportunity, to explain my retaliation against masks, and express my frustration over the way she acted, humiliating me in front of the class, and sitting back as they laughed. here it is.

Imagine living in a country that promises you your own freedom of expression.

Freedom of speech.

Freedom to your own bodily autonomy.

Imagine residing in a society that praises truth, and hungrily opens its mouth, like a newborn chick, for scientifically proven statistics.

Imagine living in a country that promises democracy. A chance to have a say in your leader, and the policies that are passed through your government.

Imagine being promised all that, and somewhere down the line, throughout all the craziness of our day to day lives already, a ‘GLOBAL PANDEMIC’ erupts.

A virus GRASPS society, in a CHOKEHOLD of FEAR and uncertainty, and causes the mass population to fall into the dangerous trap of giving up their freedoms and control, out of terror.

Society cries ‘TELL US WHAT TO DO! WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SACRIFICE?’ to the governmental authorities and leaders.

Our trust quickly turns from our own personal experiences and ideas, to the government, and its mandates and tyrannical ideas.

Science becomes subjective.

Scientific studies and articles that go against the agenda and ploy of the media and government are ridiculed and ‘fact’ checked. Scientists that reveal studies opposite of those that are deemed ‘acceptable’ are CANCELLED.

Societies freedom of speech is WRENCHED from their reticule of rights. Those that exclaim ‘We’re OKAY! Life CAN go on as normal! This isn’t as big a deal!’ are SHUT DOWN, and called ‘GRANDMA KILLERS!’

Inconsiderate.

Careless.

Our country is muzzled. Figuratively and literally.

Studies that once PROVED that masks are unhealthy, ineffective, and a mere feel-good tactic, are REVOKED.

Does SCIENCE change within WEEKS?

The ‘woke’, who reject this madness, are frowned upon. Why don’t they just SUBMIT? Why don’t they just follow the rules?

Alright. I’ll follow the rules.

Why do they have to make things

DIFFICULT.

Because no of us consented to this. We walk through hallways in which the multitude of whispers all murmur together to say the same thing.

‘I hate this.’

They should be asking me why I’m not making things MORE difficult.

Why I’m not in the streets, protesting for our rights to be returned, for the rest of the submissive population. Protesting against the surge of control we are forfeiting, for a virus that DOES NOT TRANSMIT through children. A virus that has a MINISCULE fatality rate, compared to ANY OTHER pandemic our country has faced.

No. I won’t go that far, yet. But I’ll make sure the people in my life, who PROUDLY bear the ‘authority’ to control what I do in school and in public, understand that I am not okay with that level of control.

I will not eagerly strap on an oxygen-depleting mask when I am asked to do so.

I WILL make it difficult.

Because those SMALL ACTIONS represent my SMALL RESISTANCE.

Imagine living in a country-

Going to a school-

That promises and promotes freedom of speech, but when you assert your own, defiant voice, they silence you.

Mock you.

Call you difficult.

Watch on the sidelines, smiling, as others laugh and taunt.

That is the greatest betrayal.

When the most noble rights and freedoms that exist, are promised, and then STRIPPED as soon as the world gets unsteady.

That is the greatest betrayal.