To my mind, the best way to regard the “filthy face diaper” (and they are in fact filthy, if worn for any extended period) is as a religious garment, which is as necessary to the faithful as it is superfluous to non-adherents to the sects which require it.
I grew up with the idea of religious freedom and religious tolerance. I am myself not religious, but I do support the right of others to practice their religion, so long as that practice does not intrude on my life, liberty, or pursuit of happiness.
Two possibilities void the deal:
1. Their religious practices impinge on my well being, or that of others who are not members of their sect. Example: the sect requires human sacrifice. No problem, provided you select the “consecrated ones” from among your own kind.
2. They wish to force me to become one of them, and observe their sacraments. Not happening here.
So, if a Muslim woman wears the hijab, that is her privilege, and I respect her right to do so. A Jewish man sports a kippah? No problem. He can pray as many times a day as he likes, just don’t do it (out loud!) on company time. The Amish? More muscle power to them. Perhaps some day their descendants will decide that electricity is not so evil after all.
But. forced conversions, including partaking of their sacraments, and observing all outward customs, including but not limited to, diet and wardrobe, is not acceptable. This is where I draw the line.
So, no, as a non-Covidian, I will not take the Covidian sacrament of “vaccination,” nor will I observe the Covidian custom of face effacement. I am not a “converso,” so I am not entitled to receive Holy Covid Communion, a.k.a, the Holy Needle. nor will I pretend to be, for the incidental and transient “benefit’ of personal convenience, which can be revoked any any time by those who can, and will, demand ever more draconian demonstrations of “belief.”
Call me Dhimmi. My name is Legion, for we are many.
