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— Tim Steller

When people think about putting on a mask to go out, many think about themselves.

Will I look stupid?

Will I look weak or afraid?

Does this dumb thing even protect me?

The key thing to remember is that it’s not about yourself — it’s about helping other people.

Especially, it’s about protecting people like Cecilia Nichols, age 11. She lives in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and has cystic fibrosis, a serious disease that makes her lungs vulnerable to COVID-19 and other respiratory illness. Her sister, Jolene, died of it in December 2017.

The spread of respiratory viruses can be a life-or-death issue for vulnerable people. They are mostly staying inside, sure, but they can’t be perfectly insulated. Why wouldn’t we help to protect them as the pandemic seeps through society?

“It’s such a simple way for people to contain their potential infection,� Cecilia’s mother, Anna, said. “It’s just a considerate thing for everyone to do.�

And yet, as you undoubtedly know by now, the wearing of masks has become a flashpoint along our usual cultural divide.

Read the full column here.