A small contingent of anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers in Defiance County, Ohio, are trying to force local school districts to make mask-wearing voluntary. These anti-science Trump supporters think the word tyranny means being required to wear masks during school board meetings. As you shall hear in the video below, “tyranny” is not being able to do whatever you want to do. Of course, these “patriots” don’t really believe this. I suspect that if I went to their homes, stripped naked, and stood on the sidewalks in front of their houses, they would call the police. What happened to FREEDOM? Shouldn’t all of us be free to do whatever we want? Of course not. This is nothing more than libertarianism gone wild.
As an Ohioan and a Defiance County resident, I am more than embarrassed by the behavior and ignorance displayed in the following video. Kudos to the Defiance County Sherriff’s deputy and Ayersville school district employees for standing their ground. Fortunately, the mob quietly retreated after being refused entrance to the meeting.
This video is shot in the wrong orientation, but I hope you will watch it anyway. Pay close attention to the anti-science questions and statements made by some of these anti-maskers, including a “medical professional.”
Sadly, there’s nothing anyone can say or do that will change their minds. The only thing that might work is a COVID-19 infection and a stay in the ICU on a respirator. Reason, science, and common sense are unable to make a difference with these folks. I know some of them personally, having crossed swords with them over Donald Trump, socialism, and militarism. No amount of “words” will change their minds, as the sheriff’s deputy and others learned.
Bruce Gerencser, 67, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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I think it is just an education and folk down South just aren’t gettin it. They’re a 3rd world country continually clashing with a 1st world country up North.
I’m embarrassed that this happened nearby. As far as I know people here in Williams county are just living like there’s no covid.
Yep, no COVID to see around here. Downright depressing. 🤬🤬
I bet these same folks who don’t want to wear a mask support that damn Texas anti-abortion law. As Sage mentioned, these folks only care to mention Jews when trying to label political enemies as Nazis. The idiocy and selfishness in the USA is utterly appalling and embarrassing.
These people really are in a death cult. Willing to die because “muh freedumbs.”
I’m presently on a month long motorcycle tour of Spain, which I visit several times a year (I live in the UK) though the pandemic and a health issue has limited it of late. Masks are mandatory indoors, unless eating or drinking, and advised in crowded places outside. I haven’t seen a single breach of the rule, and indeed people are wearing them much of the time when they need not. I met up with a Spanish friend and her two children a couple of times and my friend wore her mask the whole time, other than actually to sip coffee. Her three year old daughter also wore a mask and to her it is now natural.
It’s clear that masks do have their place, but nobody claims that they are a panacea. I get the impression that here they are, in part, a statement of social conformity, a statement to the world that we’re all in this together. Behaviour of the type shown in that video would be regarded as nothing more than selfish hysteria. If those people don’t want to wear masks then fine, stay at home.
Here in rural northwest Ohio, we are in the middle of a war over (all) vaccines, face masks, critical race theory, and the “stolen” 2020 presidential election. I fear this will end in violence. Republican legislators want to ban ALL vaccine requirements for school children and college students. I feel as if I live in an alternate universe, one where science, facts, and evidence doesn’t exist.
Enjoy your motorcycle trip, Geoff. ❤️💗
Sadly the right has politicized this, then as usual, blames everyone else for their actions.
It’s interesting that they have no desire to support marginalized people, then quickly use examples of marginalized people being discriminated against, or killed, but are no where to be found when these atrocities happen. They refer to Jews.in Nazi Berlin. Where was the same passion when 11 people were murdered in Pittsburgh at the Tree of Life synagogue? They want to exist and be accepted as their extremism defines them. Where was the same passion when Jason Fox was tortured and murdered in Newport, WA, simple for being gay? No where…crickets, they did not care. They do not care. You only count if you are a gay person that knows your place.
They will use any means, any person, any group, any words just to get their way. They speak of freedom, but actually want control. Freedom to them is being able to do whatever they want, whenever they want, and do it to anyone they desire. They want the freedom to make you behave as they desire, and the freedom to force you to do what they want, and, failing that, the freedom to force you back into your closet.
I have no use and no respect for people like this, and I refuse to entertain their conversations or give them opportunity to speak They disgust me. And these ideas are infiltrating churches, and now being preached as words from god.
If I had the means to leave this country I would do it without regret.
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The right has descended into a pit of meaningless soundbites and empty chest-thumping gestures. If it doesn’t fit their narrow definition of acceptable (Christian hetrosexual white men) they do not want to know.
Were you there? They didn’t disrupt anything, they were scheduled to be there. Stop with the fear mongering already. Are you a resident of Ayersville? Do a little more digging and see just how much our school is getting from the State to do the mandates. Seems funny, they always need more money from us, the taxpayers. We said no, so they just figured out another way to get the money. So please, keep your comments about my school out of your mouth.
I saw the video. They may have been “scheduled” to speak, but their deliberate refusal to wear masks was disruptive.
I’m a Defiance County resident, an Ohio taxpayer. My tax money goes to every school district. Besides, the anti-science, anti-public health, anti-safety, anti-social responsibility mentality displayed at the meeting affects all of us. Thus, I shall continue to spreak out about these things.
Thanks for commenting.
Bruce
So Stephanie, you come on to Bruce’s blog, where it is his blog and he is allowed to say anything anyway, and want to stop him from speaking? Funny how you all are happy to demonstrate and criticize others, while wanting others to shut up. If you don’t like what he is saying, you are free to not read his blog again.
With Trump the marriage between right wing politics and religion was consummated. Just as you can’t question god or the Bible you now are not allowed to question right wing dogma. They have become a new religion and good luck moving the needle on this
Honestly? I think that the American empire is falling. How fast? Don’t know. Will it descend into authoritarianism and complete factionalism before I die? I guess it depends on how hard Americans fight. I think fighting will slow the fall, but with stupidity and anti-science held up as idols to worship, I think it’s only a matter of time. I’m actually an optimistic person but after the Trump presidency and the near complete capitulation of right wingers into Trump lovers? I have no more optimism about our country. These idiots follow Youtubers and Facebookers and TikTok stars who rant against the vaccine…and I have close loved ones who fall in that group. It’s just a matter of time.