CDN/US Covid-related political discussion

[Brad Sallows]

A name like "kung flu", which is a play on words, could be considered derogatory as well as merely cleverly amusing.

But there's no inherent reason for "Chinese virus" (just a special name for variant #1) to be any more derogatory than "UK variant", except in the minds of sensitive people.

And if the origin turns out to be lab escape (if we ever know with any appreciable certainty), then "Wuhan flu" will take it's place in the pantheon of names which remind us of our power to make horrible mistakes.

 

[Mick]

A name like "kung flu", which is a play on words, could be considered derogatory as well as merely cleverly amusing.

But there's no inherent reason for "Chinese virus" (just a special name for variant #1) to be any more derogatory than "UK variant", except in the minds of sensitive people.

And if the origin turns out to be lab escape (if we ever know with any appreciable certainty), then "Wuhan flu" will take it's place in the pantheon of names which remind us of our power to make horrible mistakes.

While technically it's not a variant, I think "COVID 19, Chinese Variant" is much less politically-loaded than the other alternatives being debated.

It will definitely be interesting to read the report on the origin of the Virus, if we ever find out.

 

[PuckChaser]

I just want fairness.

It is downright hypocritical of people to casually say UK variant, Brazilian variant or South African variant, Indian variant and not their B1.1.7 or P1, B1.351 or B1.617 but you call covid the China virus and suddenly its racist.

Uk-European/Caucasian
South African- African/Black
Brazilian-Latin American
Indian- Asian

If its racist against one, its racist against all, and if its not racist against one, its not racist against all.

Holy crap, Altair and I agree on something.

Normal people don't use variant numbers, they need common language names. The original SARS-COV-2 strain was discovered in Wuhan, it's the Wuhan Virus just as much as we have Brazilian, Indian, South African and UK variants. If there was a variant first found in Canada it should be commonly called the Canadian Variant.

Whether or not the CCP helped or hindered the initial stages of the fight against COVID-19 is a separate argument, so I don't think we should be calling it a CCP Virus unless there's some incontrovertible evidence it originated in a laboratory from a CCP-controlled facility.

 

[Altair]

Holy crap, Altair and I agree on something.

Normal people don't use variant numbers, they need common language names. The original SARS-COV-2 strain was discovered in Wuhan, it's the Wuhan Virus just as much as we have Brazilian, Indian, South African and UK variants. If there was a variant first found in Canada it should be commonly called the Canadian Variant.

Whether or not the CCP helped or hindered the initial stages of the fight against COVID-19 is a separate argument, so I don't think we should be calling it a CCP Virus unless there's some incontrovertible evidence it originated in a laboratory from a CCP-controlled facility.

Yeah, pick a lane damn it.

 

[Altair]

BBC News - Seychelles brings back curbs despite vaccination success Seychelles brings back curbs despite vaccination success

One of the countries ahead of us on the list...

But they used sinovac, so of course they might as well have used a placebo.

People are probably not so jealous of Seychelles now

 

[Pelorus]

Let's not beat around the bush here. Notwithstanding guidance from epidemiologists about best practices for naming diseases, this specific association is problematic because a blowhard demagogue with an incredible amount of social influence decided to popularize "China Virus" (note: not even "CCP Virus") and "Kung Flu" as a way to deflect from his administration's disastrous early handling of the pandemic:

Do we really want to pretend that the people who attended that rally or watched from home came away from it with a better understanding regarding the virus? Or that when they then repeated "China Virus" the following day at their workplace or on social media that it accomplished anything except help to otherize persons of Chinese or Asian descent?

 

[Altair]

Let's not beat around the bush here. Notwithstanding guidance from epidemiologists about best practices for naming diseases, this specific association is problematic because a blowhard demagogue with an incredible amount of social influence decided to popularize "China Virus" (note: not even "CCP Virus") and "Kung Flu" as a way to deflect from his administration's disastrous early handling of the pandemic:

Do we really want to pretend that the people who attended that rally or watched from home came away from it with a better understanding regarding the virus? Or that when they then repeated "China Virus" the following day at their workplace or on social media that it accomplished anything except help to otherize persons of Chinese or Asian descent?

Let's beat around the bush.

If President Trump won a second term and was crying about closing the border to the new Hindu flu or Indian variant, would the term be then considered racist, or would the term Indian variant be racist from the outset?

Does something need trumps seal of stupidity to make it racist?

 

[PMedMoe]

How about we just call the virus and variants by their proper names and cease the "That's racist!" "No it isn't!" discussion*?

I never mentioned racism in my original post, just requested that the correct name be used.

*Unless a Mod wants to split that part off.

 

[mariomike]

How about we just call the virus and variants by their proper names and cease the "That's racist!" "No it isn't!" discussion*?

Who's to say what is racist?

I got scolded for typing the word "Banzai".

There's no need to use a term that references any sort of race of individuals.

 

[Weinie]

Who's to say what is racist?

I got scolded for typing the word "Banzai".

English muffins.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

English muffins.

Dutch oven

 

[Altair]

Dutch oven

use the scientific term.

Flatulence steamer.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

use the scientific term.

Flatulence steamer.

You, good sir, win the internet.

 

[Remius]

A bit more COVID news.

COVID-19 news today: Ontario on track to administer first vaccine dose to 65% of adults by end of May

Also, New Brunswick health officials are reporting the province’s first death of someone who developed a blood clot after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

www.theglobeandmail.com

This is good news.

Also: Most Canadians favour vaccine proof for domestic travel, sporting events: Nanos survey

And it would seem that G7 countries are coming close to an agreement on vaccine passports for international travel.

 

[Jarnhamar]

COVID-19 hits large-scale training exercise at CFB Wainwright​

Link
Soldiers participating in large-scale exercises at CFB Wainwright say Canadian Armed Forces members who have tested positive for COVID-19 are isolating in small, unheated tents with limited ability to wash themselves.

Up to 2,500 soldiers, mostly from Edmonton, are participating in Maple Resolve and Agile Ram in a training area at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright in eastern Alberta. The exercises are expected to wrap up in June.

Two soldiers who spoke to CBC in late April said members of their unit have tested positive for COVID-19 and are spending isolation in small tents.

They said some tents are unheated, and sick soldiers haven't been able to properly wash themselves.

They said they were concerned that the isolating soldiers were being checked on infrequently.

 

[PMedMoe]

Cancel the Ex or send the sick home to quarantine.

Here's a question: Did everyone going on Ex have a negative test prior? Have they been in contact with others outside of the Ex?

 

[Remius]

Unheated tents and no ability to wash? Sounds about right lol.

 

[Altair]

A bit more COVID news.

COVID-19 news today: Ontario on track to administer first vaccine dose to 65% of adults by end of May

Also, New Brunswick health officials are reporting the province’s first death of someone who developed a blood clot after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine

www.theglobeandmail.com

This is good news.

Also: Most Canadians favour vaccine proof for domestic travel, sporting events: Nanos survey

And it would seem that G7 countries are coming close to an agreement on vaccine passports for international travel.

Ah yes, the nanny state.

Ironic that the PM is against this but the right leaning premiers floated the idea.

 

[Remius]

Ah yes, the nanny state.

Ironic that the PM is against this but the right leaning premiers floated the idea.

I see no irony in Trudeau opposing anything that comes from the right lol.

 

[Weinie]

Unheated tents and no ability to wash? Sounds about right lol.

Ummmmmmmmmm..........................Army?