The 2020 pandemic is often compared to the global pandemic of 1918. Trump claimed the 1918 pandemic ended World War II, but he obviously has a seriously limited grasp of history. I read somewhere that the 1918 pandemic was made more difficult to address because some citizens refused to wear masks. I know little of history, but I found this resistance interesting in the same way the present resistance seems illogical. Searching online resources is my remedy in such cases and I found a source focused on this issue.
Because the 1918 pandemic was complicated because of a world war which would seem to create a much more complicated situation, the frustration with folks who refused to wear masks was more intense. Those opposed to wearing masks were labeled “slackers” for not being willing to support the war effort. The danger to those in military service and the production of good relevant to the war effort was obvious. The label should now be applied to those actively resisting mask use and complaining about schools not opening. A special kind of self centered.