mask : east vs. west

3rd week into the mandatory requirement of wearing masks outdoor here in hk. most people comply despite very very hot.

even when we take down mask for eating (which is legally allowed), others often stared with dis agreement, even anger / hatred.

when a rare sensible and brave alien who takes down mask while running comes across another, there is usually an exchange of a smile from the heart 🙂

after all the culture of the East is one of collective override individual. most people r deeply conditioned to be obedient. “good” children / students “respect” and never challenge parents/ teachers to earn love / rewards in all forms.

people so accustomed to conforming to rules that they seldom understand the logic behind nor exercise common sense.

e.g. even when a great social distance can be maintained / when there is no one at all within a long distance outdoor, people still put on mask, and expect others to do the same or else will give the “criminal stare”!

interestingly the reverse is true in US.

no one is required to wear mask and those who do will be seen as alien!

how amazing such a small item revealed such great fundamental difference across cultures.

the West certainly have greater respect for individual choice / freedom in general and probably has an underlying assumption that all is well / people in general not sick / it is up to each individual to strengthen their own immune system as the virus is everywhere like many others types…thus someone who is not sick and wear a mask might actually be seen as dis respectful as he/ she is assuming others carry germs / show that he / she very fearful..

while in the East, majority very controlling and fear based and assume that everyone might carry virus . therefore test carry out massive scale to find out carrier with no symptom and those who do not wear mask considered very impolite / inconsiderate / even criminal…everything need to be under surveillance and full control….despite great costs / efforts / sacrificing quality of life, physical/ emotional well being, privacy, personal freedom…

it’s yet to see how the big difference can be reconciled globally / maybe there will be some new policies/ tool / methods that can curb spreading of virus while maintaining personal freedom / privacy / well being…

humans have forced requirements on others for a long time. we just so accustomed to them that we take them for granted :

schooling, vaccination, dress code, gender roles, laws (which now become very obvious that it can be used as a tool to punish dissidents and control the mass by those in power)…

i believe a time will come when our wisdom , love and power so developed that each individual is sensible, disciplined, loving, caring, …so that despite different cultures/ background / personal choice all can live in harmony without much rules.

as i change my beliefs, so will the reflections.

so is it . so is it. so it is.

Sat Nam Deep I

Namaskar