Arizona's Individualism Is Barrier to Mask Rule

For weeks, the coronavirus has been spreading out of control in the southwestern American state of Arizona.

Just last month, Arizona's cities began to require people to wear face masks in public. Not everyone agrees, however. Recently, a few hundred people gathered in the city of Scottsdale to make clear they did not want government officials telling them to cover their faces.

While speaking, city council member Guy Phillips tore off his black face mask, and declared, "I can't breathe!" He said later that his words were meant to show problems with the masks, and not to insult the dying words of George Floyd, killed by a Minnesota police officer.

Phillips' words were widely considered as racist¹.

The incident helps reinforce the image of Arizona, where many people have strongly opposed government rules since the days of the Wild West.

The message that "my mask protects you, your mask protects me" is not always accepted in a place with a mind-your-own-business mentality².

After all, Arizona was home to two outspoken³ U.S. senators who tried but failed to become president. Barry Goldwater, known for his small-government conservatism, was the Republican Party's candidate in 1964. Forty-four years later, the Republicans chose John McCain, known for his idealism, as their presidential candidate.

"Historically, Arizona has been something of a loner state, and many Arizonans seem to still like that image," notes David Berma.

"It's...'we're out here, we're individuals, we don't need the government, keep it small, let us do our thing,'" he explained.

Berma is retired⁴, but once served as a professor at Arizona State University. He has written extensively on the state's history and political culture.

Many Arizonans simply do not believe that coronavirus is dangerous or that masks are effective.

"One of our very first things we fought for in the Revolutionary War was the idea you can't have a king over you making laws, we have a democratic process," said Sherry Wootan. She identified herself as a Republican Party supporter.

Wootan said she wears a mask only when required, and she does not cover her nose.

Arizona's government reaction to the coronavirus health crisis was slow and ineffective, even as cases began to increase in June. Many believe, however, that Arizona's anti-government attitude caused many people to ignore public health experts.

In many ways, the state still ignores customs long accepted in the rest of the country. Arizona was the last state to accept Martin Luther King Junior Day as a holiday. It still does not change to daylight saving time in the spring. Arizona's social welfare programs are relatively⁵ small.

Since the virus arrived in Arizona, the state's Republican governor, Doug Ducey, has said he will fight the virus "the Arizona way." Ducey resisted pressure to slow the economic reopening of the state or order people to wear masks in public. He later gave city mayors and county leaders the power to order masks. He urges people to wear them but has not made it a state requirement.

Ducey has given nearly all businesses, including restaurants, permission to stay open. The restrictions⁶ in place now are less restrictive than those in place in the spring.

This month Arizona has reported among the highest coronavirus rates per person among all U.S. states. About 90 percent of the state's intensive-care hospital beds are in use. Arizona has set records for the number of hospital beds and ventilators being used by patients with COVID-19.

Billie Orr is vice⁷ mayor of Prescott, a conservative city north of Phoenix⁸. Prescott's government has not required people to wear masks.

"We get... a lot of emails — ‘You need to mandate⁹ masks. You need to close everything up.' At the same time, you have to balance your economy," Orr said.

When asked many Arizona citizens used words such as "kings," "dictators" or "tyrants¹¹" to describe government leaders who demand masks be worn.

Some blame one man: Governor Doug Ducey.

"Yes, Arizonans are independent and tend to take their own path," said Terry Goddard, a former mayor of Phoenix. But, he added, it is "more about leadership and confusion at the top than resistance to government overreach."

I'm Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

mask – n. a facial covering

king – n. a royal ruler

attitude – n. a point of view

ventilator – n. a machine that helps a person breathe

mandate – n. to demand, or pass a law

tyrant¹⁰ – n. a cruel, undemocratic ruler

tend – v. to take care of

confusion – n. uncertainty

1 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

2 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。

3 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 phoenix   

n.凤凰，长生(不死)鸟；引申为重生

参考例句：

• The airline rose like a phoenix from the ashes.这家航空公司又起死回生了。
• The phoenix worship of China is fetish worship not totem adoration.中国凤崇拜是灵物崇拜而非图腾崇拜。

9 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

10 tyrant   

n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a despotic tyrant.该国处在一个专制暴君的统治之下。
• The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves.暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。

11 tyrants   

专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物

参考例句：

• The country was ruled by a succession of tyrants. 这个国家接连遭受暴君的统治。
• The people suffered under foreign tyrants. 人民在异族暴君的统治下受苦受难。