Is Saying China Virus Racist?

[lakeboy1]

Spanish Flu (not from Spain)
West Nile
Zeka
Ebola
South African Variant of Covid
UK Variant of Covid

All of the above were named after where the virus was first discovered. Im fine with calling it Covid-19, however, why is it not racist to say the UK Variant? Or the South Africa Variant about the exact same disease?

 

[y2kmark]

Is it just putting a name to something or is it finger pointing? For most people it's the former and for Trump it's the latter. From the beginning I have liked the term "WU FLU" because it's catchy, not because I wish to point the finger at people from Wuhan, China...

 

[Rorschach]

Spanish Flu (not from Spain)
West Nile
Zeka
Ebola

I think that given the timing, had any of the above come to pass today, they would not have be given these names.

As for the variants, at the moment, geography is what they are using to differentiate them. In time, I'm sure that will change as well.

But to your question...

Is it outright racist to call it the 'China Flu'? ... No. does it show ignorance and a lack of cultural awareness and sensitivity that it is offensive, yes. It's also buying it to a Trumpian political tactic, which is simply gross unto itself.

You call it what you like, just know, some people will think less of you depending on what you say. But that goes for everything.

 

[I'm Me]

No. China is a country not a race. SARS-cov-2 spread throughout the world from there.

The CCP didn't allow the people in Wuhan province to travel within China but anywhere else in the world was cool with them.

 

[Brolaf]

The term china virus in and of itself is not racist at all. Its just that a some people who happen to be racist are pushing the term, so its gotten some negative connotations by association.

Its like when someone says "Jew", its a neutral word but it also depends on who says it and in what context.

At this point I think "China virus" has morphed into more of a political term rather than a scientific/medical one. Or essentially its a proxy word to signal whether you are pro-Trump/MAGA or anti-Trump.

 

[massman]

If you have to ask.....

 

[uchual]

Since when stating a fact is considered racist?

 

[jcpro]

Since when stating a fact is considered racist?

When the fact becomes inconvenient truth.

 

[Uncharted]

It's not finger pointing. It is a virus, that originated in China. Simple as that.

But if you want to finger point at China, honestly what is the problem with that? It's not like they're innocent here.
The Chinese Government Lied to both the W.H.O and the world about the true extent of the virus. They lied about the number of infected. They lied about the rate of transmission.
And we know this. I mean they just sentenced the reporter who first reported on the virus in Wuhan to jail.
The Chinese government threatened economic sanctions against any country that wanted to close their boarders to travelers from China during the early stages of the Virus. A move that could have prevented it from becoming a Global Pandemic, while China was, hypocritically, restricting travel within their own country.
To this day they are still lying, and trying to convince the world that it originated from somewhere else. Every couple months they claim a different place of origin. First they claimed California. Then they said some place in Africa. Not long ago they tried to say it originated in Italy. Yet all the Genetic research on the DNA and evolution of the Virus clearly shows it came from Wuhan.

It may not have been China's fault that a virus originated in their country, but they were complicit in actively , and knowingly, exporting that virus to the rest of the world.
And as such, should have every finger from every affected country pointed at them. As far as I'm concerned, there should be economic sanctions against them for the damage it has caused.

 

[The Oracle]

I'm fine with Wuhan virus, China virus or Covid 19.

All are correct in application.

Racist is a term that is being liberally thrown around these days in an attempt to assert moral superiority.

In this case the former president was the target for his language in which he was clearly trying to deflect the blame from his administrations response to another regime. Of course the irony is that is the beginning he was praising China for their supposed quick measures and transparency.

Such is politics though. Policies shift like the wind.

 

[lakeboy1]

I know its almost impossible but lets pretend like Trump never existed.

China is not a good country. The suppression of free speech, the disregard they have for animals like elephants, rhinos and sharks to name a few. The list goes on.

 

[richaceg]

It's racist because Trump said it...had Obama said it...won't be here discussing it...

 

[hipjdog]

It's true that the virus originated in China, so "China virus" is basically right.

It's also true that the people of Wuhan (and Chinese people in general) have nothing to do
with the virus originating or spreading.

While not technically wrong, Trump calling it that seeks to put the blame on "CHINA", rather
than aspects of the Chinese government or a few civilians. He should know that this opens
the door to other people being racist towards Chinese people. It's irresponsible of him to
do it and he should stop.

 

[redshank]

Bat Stew Flu is a good one as well

 

[colton1]

A better question would be, "Is it offensive?". To some, it is, to others, it's not.

 

[Jasmina]

False. Obama would never say it because it is, in fact, a racist push.

It's racist because Trump said it...had Obama said it...won't be here discussing it...

 

[luvyeah]

Its ackshually "CHYNA VIRUS"

 

[Jenesis]

A better question would be, "Is it offensive?". To some, it is, to others, it's not.

I think this.


The facts are not wrong. It came from Wuhan. We know this. The facts are also not wrong about how China handled and are still handling the virus.

But to call it the “China virus” puts the blame on the people and not the country because it is the people that title harms. It gets turned into a racial push as stated and used in a purposely racial way. It is used to hurt Chinese Canadians/Americans who never even set foot in China before.


So it is a mixed question. I think it is harmful enough to innocents to use the standard COVID virus title. If saying China virus made the government of China accountable, then I would say have at it but it doesn’t.

 

[YourProfessor]

** Snowflakes have left the conversation **

 

[lakeboy1]

I think this.


The facts are not wrong. It came from Wuhan. We know this. The facts are also not wrong about how China handled and are still handling the virus.

But to call it the “China virus” puts the blame on the people and not the country because it is the people that title harms. It gets turned into a racial push as stated and used in a purposely racial way. It is used to hurt Chinese Canadians/Americans who never even set foot in China before.


So it is a mixed question. I think it is harmful enough to innocents to use the standard COVID virus title. If saying China virus made the government of China accountable, then I would say have at it but it doesn’t.

Ok, so why is calling it the UK variant not offensive? No one blames the Brits for it. I don't buy it