Arnold Schwarzenegger Tells Anti-Maskers "Screw Your Freedom"

[left-of-center2012]

The number of Republicans preaching common sense COVID-19 safety measures (vaccines, masking) is horrifically few .... But one prominent Republican, former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, has repeatedly advocated for a return to sanity. He has modeled and encouraged wearing masks on his social media, and posted a video of himself getting vaccinated. He also called out the rising tide of fascism and totalitarianism in an eloquent and stirring video where he compared the January 6 Capitol riots to the Nazi’s Kristallnacht.

Schwarzenegger recently appeared in a YouTube discussion with CNN’s Bianna Golodryga and retired Lt. Col Alexander Vindman ... During the interview, Schwarzenegger was asked about anti-maskers and COVID-19 misinformation. Schwarzenegger responded

“There is a virus here — it kills people … and the only way we prevent it is get vaccinated, get masks, do social distancing, washing your hands all the time, and not just to think about ‘Well, my freedom is being kind of disturbed here.’
No, screw your freedom.”

“Because with freedom comes obligations and responsibilities … We cannot just say, ‘I have the right to do X, Y and Z.’ When you affect other people, that is when it gets serious.” Schwarzenegger compared masking to following traffic rules, saying “You cannot say, ‘No one is going to tell me that I’m going to stop here, that I have to stop at this traffic light here. I’m going to go right through it.’ Then you kill someone else, and then it is your doing, this is the same thing with the virus, …

You cannot not put the mask on because when you breathe, you can infect someone else. And you can infect someone that then gets sick and may die.”
“We have to come together rather than fighting and always just saying, ‘According to my principles this is a free country and I have the freedom to wear no mask.’ Yeah, you have the freedom to wear no mask, but you know something?
You’re a schmuck for not wearing a mask. Because you’re supposed to protect your fellow members around you, it’s just that simple.”

https://www.themarysue.com/arnold-schwarzenegger-calls-out-anti-maskers/

[captain queeg]

1. That video he did awhile back talking about nazis was excellent, from the heart.

[crickets]

2. "Because with freedom comes obligations and responsibilities"

Thank you, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Who knew he was going to be such a voice of reason in these times? I've had my issues with Arnie over the years, but his voice and his example recently have been a welcome breath of fresh air. Good for you, Arnold.

[Skittles]

3. I'm giving him points

well done, Arnold

[jeffreyi]

4. Yup.

[CatWoman]

5. K; R

[2naSalit]

6. K&R

[bucolic_frolic]

7. Arnold, they do run red lights with impunity

I've almost been a victim twice. Looks like college kids accustomed to small town traffic patterns. But it's out there.

[Hiawatha Pete]

8. K&R

[FormerRepukeR]

9. I know that someday I'm going to regret saying this but

I love that guy. You know, in a guy kind of way.

I laugh when I hear that phrase in some sitcoms, but I really don't know what it means?

[Beartracks]

10. Should have been "Screw your 'freedom'," with "freedom" in quotes...

... because the kind of freedom they are claiming is being violated, the selfish freedom to "do whatever I want to do" is not the freedom, the liberty, that the founding fathers enshrined in the Constitution and the freedoms which our soldiers have fought and died to establish and defend. Are you indeed free to be a selfish prick? Certainly, but that's not Freedom-with-a-capital-F. That's just "freedom."

========

[Crunchy Frog]

11. I've gotten to really like him over the past few years.

Never thought I'd feel that way.

[lunatica]

13. Me too

I’ve seen a couple of his recent movies and liked his work. I also like his grizzled look too. And him saying this now is worthy of respect.

[MustLoveBeagles]

12. K&R