Viruses and racism

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Abstract

tandards, they couldn’t afford to fly him home that often. Hence the homesickness.Trying to reason with her was futile. She was driven by emotion.That experience troubled me, and seeing some of the reactions to the latest coronavirus trouble me as well.On the one hand, I think it’s perfectly justifiable to call out the Chinese government for their initial suppression of information.Li Wenliang was a brave doctor who first warned about the outbreak and was punished by the government because of that. Local authorities did later apologize to him. Unfortunately, he caught the virus and is now dead. You can read more about him <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51403795">here</a>.The government of mainland China has long been known for these types of authoritarian tactics. Their record with the “three Ts” — Tibet, Taiwan and Tianaman Square — and their recent treatment of Hong Kong make them fully deserving of criticism.However, the government of China is not equivalent to every Chinese person.Random Chinese people that you encounter on the street are not evil, and they are unlikely to be disease carriers.You don’t have to stop eating at Chinese restaurants. You don’t h

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ave to avoid your Chinese friends or co-workers. You should not condemn an ancient culture that is rich and complex due to the excesses of the current government. You certainly should NOT target individual Chinese with bigotry or xenophobia.Look, I get it. It’s easy to let our emotions get the best of us when we face a potentially deadly threat. But we need to get a grip.First of all, while the latest coronavirus is contagious, it’s not particularly deadly unless you already have a compromised immune system.While the Chinese government initially tried to suppress information, it’s since come around and instituted travel bans. Our government and others have also imposed flight restrictions.Most governments have shut down non-essential businesses and asked people to practice social distancing and to quarantine if they are sick. You should comply with these rules even if you are in a low-risk category to help keep others safe.In terms of what you can do personally — wash your hands. Stay home as much as you can. Take immune boosters like vitamin C and eat healthy foods. Keep your distance from other shoppers at the grocery store. And don’t be afraid of the Asian cashier. Be vigilant, but leave your racism behind.</article></body>

Panic and Scapegoats

Remember the Ebola scare? I do. I had a co-worker who was freaked out and sure she was going to get it. We worked in a small town in South Carolina. The likelihood of someone in our circle getting it was pretty small. That didn’t stop her from washing her hands 20 times a day and taking her temperature every hour.

At the time I had an African friend. I can’t remember what country he came from but it had mountains. We’d hike together in the Appalachians because that reminded him of home.

My co-worker found out about this during her Ebola-driven frenzy of fear and decided to confront me.

Didn’t I realize I was putting myself and everyone else in danger by consorting with — gasp! — an AFRICAN???

Never mind that he hadn’t actually been to Africa in 2 years. He was a graduate student. While his family was well off by African standards, they couldn’t afford to fly him home that often. Hence the homesickness.

Trying to reason with her was futile. She was driven by emotion.

That experience troubled me, and seeing some of the reactions to the latest coronavirus trouble me as well.

On the one hand, I think it’s perfectly justifiable to call out the Chinese government for their initial suppression of information.

Li Wenliang was a brave doctor who first warned about the outbreak and was punished by the government because of that. Local authorities did later apologize to him. Unfortunately, he caught the virus and is now dead. You can read more about him here.

The government of mainland China has long been known for these types of authoritarian tactics. Their record with the “three Ts” — Tibet, Taiwan and Tianaman Square — and their recent treatment of Hong Kong make them fully deserving of criticism.

However, the government of China is not equivalent to every Chinese person.

Random Chinese people that you encounter on the street are not evil, and they are unlikely to be disease carriers.

You don’t have to stop eating at Chinese restaurants. You don’t have to avoid your Chinese friends or co-workers. You should not condemn an ancient culture that is rich and complex due to the excesses of the current government. You certainly should NOT target individual Chinese with bigotry or xenophobia.

Look, I get it. It’s easy to let our emotions get the best of us when we face a potentially deadly threat. But we need to get a grip.

First of all, while the latest coronavirus is contagious, it’s not particularly deadly unless you already have a compromised immune system.

While the Chinese government initially tried to suppress information, it’s since come around and instituted travel bans. Our government and others have also imposed flight restrictions.

Most governments have shut down non-essential businesses and asked people to practice social distancing and to quarantine if they are sick. You should comply with these rules even if you are in a low-risk category to help keep others safe.

In terms of what you can do personally — wash your hands. Stay home as much as you can. Take immune boosters like vitamin C and eat healthy foods. Keep your distance from other shoppers at the grocery store. And don’t be afraid of the Asian cashier. Be vigilant, but leave your racism behind.