Mika Tabanera

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

At the start of the year of our Lord, 2020, a pandemic quickly swept the world and we
were all forced to isolate ourselves and socially distance from our friends and family. We all
followed these enforced guidelines, trusting our health officials until the quarantine was over. At
this moment, the United States has the most deaths out of any country in the world. After more
than six months, we have a better understanding of our enemy.
Virologists and doctors like Anthony Fauci are sure that the threat of coronavirus is still
present in our everyday lives. They all encourage us to regularly wash our hands, don’t touch our
faces, and stay at home if we feel sick. However, there’s one method that’s become a
controversial and partisan debate. The federal mandate of face masks inside stores, schools, and
any social gathering. On one hand, experts and many followers wear masks since it prevents a
sick person from spreading germs into the air, most especially coronavirus’ transmission.
However, on the other hand, there are the anti-maskers, as they claim masks are suffocating them
as they wear them. The main reason this has become a partisan argument is because of the
cult-like reasoning these anti-maskers sides with. The United States’ President has reiterated the
saying: “your body, your choice” and it has done more harm than good. As a result, more than
200,000 people have died from coronavirus in the United States alone, meanwhile worldwide
about “290,000 to 650,000 people die from coronavirus worldwide” (Maragakis). If we don’t
take the proper precautions, many more will die until a vaccine is created.
Governor Cuomo has been tirelessly trying to get New York back to normal, the MTA is
a petri dish for germs and an easy way to contract coronavirus. About 5.5 million people use the
subway and bus routes every day, giving riders many chances to contract the virus (MTA). As a
result, the MTA has mandated a mask required policy, with the website explaining further. They
strain that refusing to wear a mask is unlawful and in doing so, will result in a fine. “Wearing a
mask is the law, and it’s the right thing to do. Enforcement officers will issue a fine as a last
resort. They’ll first offer you a free mask and if you refuse, you could be issued a fine. If you
don’t have a mask, we’ll give you a free one” (MTA). The premise of masks on public transport
is as a precaution against spreading germs on the subways, as masks have a 95% prevention rate,
even when the sick person has a mask, the chances are slim he can get anyone else infected, with
or without a mask.
There are many public service announcements that bring all New Yorkers together. In the
March of 2020, a huge wave of Covid 19 cases hit New York and took many lives, at the time it
had the most cases and deaths of any state in America, and the MTA and NYC governed signs
tried to lift the spirits of New Yorkers by bringing us together in public service announcements.
A sign you’ve probably seen driving into Manhattan is “We are NY Tough.” This was first
lobbied by Governor Cuomo, as he said “We went up the mountain, we curved the mountain, we
came down the other side and these are little telltale signs that, to me, represent what was going
on” (NYS). Implicitly saying that we all survived through Coronavirus by working together:
socially distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands. Powerful words to bring the state
together through its harshest times.
So far, this has been working in practice ever since the pandemic hit New York in winter,
however, some have gone back to riding without a mask, and I’ve seen it firsthand at times. The
MTA is going in the right direction and hopefully will continue this agenda beyond the
pandemic.

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