Suzanne Harrington: Are our rights really muzzled by masks?

Is a bit of cloth fogging up your glasses on the bus really on the same spectrum as, say, being in an Iranian jail without trial?

Here is a metaphor, wrapped in a news story. At Lake Travis — near Austin, Texas — hundreds of boats gathered for a pro-Trump flag-waving event, as part of the election build-up. The lake was calm and still until the boats began whizzing up and down too fast and too close to each other. Big waves ensued. As did distress calls to the sheriff’s office — boats were being swamped and began to sink. So far, so stupid.

But here’s the punchline. Those causing the waves refused to stop — refused to stop — ploughing their boats up and down, as rescue vessels struggled to reach those in difficulty. Five boats sank, dozens more flooded and capsized. Someone ended up in the hospital with a broken back.