People send me masks now, and some really beautiful masks. Some are personalized. This one says “Governor Cuomo” It was made for me. Some say “New York Tough.” Beautiful colors. Masks sent to me from sports teams. I have a Buffalo Bills mask. I have a Giants, Jets, Mets, Yankees mask. This one sent to me says “E pluribus unum,” which I love — “Out of many one.” But any mask even if it says nothing, it does say something.
It doesn’t have words on it but it makes a statement. When you wear a mask you say, “I respect you.” That’s what the mask says to everyone you walk past. “I respect you. I respect you. I respect your health. I respect your privacy. I respect your space.”
I can do anything I want with myself. This is America. But I respect you, and out of respect for you, I wear this mask. This mask says I respect the nurses and the doctors who killed themselves through this virus to save other people, and I respect the nurses and the doctors so I’m not going to infect anyone or allow anyone else to be infected unnecessarily so I don’t cause more stress on the nurses and the doctors. This mask says I respect the essential workers who get up every day and drive the bus, drive the train, or deliver the food, or keep the lights on so I can stay home and I can stay safe. It says I respect others and I respect you, and that is a statement that we should all be willing to make any day, but especially in the middle of this.