“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one most responsive to change,” Charles Robert Darwin, 1809.

That was 211 years ago, but Darwin (1809-1882) accurately summarized what would be happening in 2020 with the facemask controversy. It is obvious some people are not responsive to change, even at the possibility of their own peril. 

On Friday, if the number online was accurate, the U.S. has had 3.9 million cases and 143,755 deaths. I’ve heard some point to those numbers and say that’s not a bad ratio and compare it to the flu. I would never do that, because each of those people had loved ones that miss them dearly. Being so cold, so callous sounds heartless. 

After saying that, let me say that I am absolutely against mandating facemasks. If you don’t care about your health, then no one should force you to. If you don’t care about the health of your family and friends, then no one should force you to. 

If a business wants to require them and you don’t want to wear one, go somewhere else. If a mandate is passed and all businesses require them, plant a garden and hope it grows fast. If you can’t cook, learn. There are videos and recipes online.

I think we’ve entered survival of the fittest. We’ve seen that urging social distancing doesn’t work, because people didn’t. Now, it’s time to do what we should have done from day one – wear facemasks. 

No more shutting down businesses in an effort to protect people. That will cost some business owners their livelihood. Why should they suffer became some people don’t want to wear a mask. Let’s stop cancelling events in an effort to protect people who do not want to wear masks. Most of those are fundraisers for nonprofit and civic organizations. Why should they do without what could be their biggest fundraiser of the year in an effort to protect people who do not want to wear masks.  

Survival of the fittest is a term made famous in the fifth edition (published in 1869) of On the Origin of Species by British naturalist Charles Darwin, which suggested that organisms best adjusted to their environment are the most successful in surviving and reproducing.

Darwin also stated, “Intelligence is based on how efficient a species became at doing the things they need to survive.”

I will adapt to change. I have since March and that will continue. To make sure I’m on the right track, I got tested for COVID-19 on Friday morning. Now, I’m anxiously awaiting my test results. She asked me if I had been exposed. No, but maybe this test is just one more step in my response to change. It was uncomfortable, but bearable. 

Standard reporter Lisa Hobbs can be reached at 473-2191.