Was talking about covid with some colleagues during lunch and a very funny moment happened.
New American colleague: I wear a mask, so you probably know what that means.
Me: no, I don't. What does it mean?
Her: it means I am a progressive democrat. Back in the US, I voted for the democratic party.
Me: I still don't get what being a "progressive" has to do with masking. Conservatives and rightwing types in Japan wear masks everywhere. Same, here in the Netherlands.
Her: *totally confused*
Me: okay, let me phrase it like this: what does your wearing a mask have to do with your politics?
Her: I just thought that it's obvious. You wear a mask and vaccinate if you're a democrat and you hate masks and vaccines if you're a republican.
At that point, other non American colleagues were just kinda confused.
One colleague from Hong Kong told her his parents are pretty conservative, but still wear masks everywhere. They also believe in vaccines. So he was also kinda lost by her statement.
I have always struggled to understand why white American progressives tie certain things to their progressiveness.
Well here in the US, masking is deeply political, and right wing folks have made masking a central platform to attack over the past few years. Like held rallies and have attacked ppl physically and everything. It's kind of a big deal here.
Yeah, it's not in the Netherlands. So I don't get the idea of an American in the Netherlands walking around identifying as a "progressive" democrat because they wear a mask. Hell, all of the far-right political parties and politicians here are socialists. They're just RACIST socialists.
