Chapter 1: A New Community

When I relocated from Colorado to Nebraska in 2017, I was instantly charmed by the welcoming nature of the community. The residents were warm and friendly, albeit occasionally a bit too eager to share their religious views, which I mostly brushed aside. It felt like a quaint, uncomplicated town.

However, the events of 2020 unveiled a different side of the local populace. Their true beliefs surfaced, and the reality was quite startling. It was as if a light had been switched on, revealing a less appealing aspect of their character.

I work part-time at a local grocery store—not my primary job, but a way to stay engaged outside my home. Customer service can be quite revealing; it exposes the genuine demeanor of people, which isn’t always flattering. Nebraska, like Texas and Florida, has a strong Republican presence, albeit on a smaller scale. I find myself surrounded by a sea of red hats, with many supporters of Trump in the vicinity.

As the pandemic unfolded, my workplace instituted a mask mandate for all employees. This was not an issue for me; I managed to wear a mask throughout my shift without any trouble. Anticipating the long-term nature of this requirement, my husband and I sought out fun masks to wear at work. He chose a humorous Spaceballs mask that read, “SPACEBALLS THE FACE MASK,” while I opted for one that proclaimed, “Science: It’s Like Magic But Real.” I found it to be witty and clever.

Chapter 2: The Reaction

My admiration for science has always been strong; I’ve enjoyed learning about it my entire life. I earned an A+ in high school biology, although chemistry was a different story. Nonetheless, I trust in science because it makes logical sense.

Sadly, it appears that many in Nebraska do not share my enthusiasm for scientific understanding. Given the numerous churches scattered around my town—four of which I can see from my own home—I should have anticipated the response to my mask.

When my mask arrived, I was eager to wear it to work, thinking it would add a bit of fun to the experience. However, the reception was far from positive. Normally, I have a good rapport with customers; my customer service skills tend to shine through. Yet, on that particular day, I noticed a dramatic shift in their demeanor.

I kept wondering, “What’s going on with people today? Why is everyone acting so unfriendly?” It was perplexing. My usual greeting of, “Hello! Did you find everything you needed today?” went largely unanswered. Most customers either ignored me or responded with a grunt or a nod, but words were scarce.

Typically, the locals are quite talkative, eager to share their stories. On that day, however, my attempts at conversation fell flat. Only one customer complimented my mask, saying, “I like your mask!” That was the moment I realized—the mask was the source of the animosity.

Fortunately, the mask allowed me to silently express my frustration to those who showed me disdain. It was a small comfort amidst the unwelcoming atmosphere.

From that experience, I learned a valuable lesson: expressing a belief in science in Nebraska might not be well received. While no one was overtly rude—after all, that would go against their “Christian” values—I could feel their disapproval.

It’s unfortunate that science is often viewed with fear or as contradictory to certain beliefs. I’m merely a cashier, not a science educator, and I can’t be held accountable for anyone’s lack of knowledge from their own high school classes.

The past two years in this Trump-supporting town have shown me what it feels like to be an outsider, especially when I value facts over fictional narratives. Moving forward, I think I’ll keep my scientific beliefs to myself.

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