"I'm Not a Virus": A World Pandemic
2020 is a year in which words carry strength. Although China’s deafening media silence has ruined lives, a grim storm of chaos hovers above the atmosphere on the other side of the globe. “They eat bats and snakes,” “Chinese virus,” “WHO and China are responsible...” The ideology sharpens itself into a weapon, piercing through the Asian/Asian-American community. Yet the truth remains: the planet is being devastated by two pandemics right now, and one has afflicted humanity for centuries. The pandemic that has been around for the longest is racism and xenophobia.
There is an increasing number of hate crimes against Asian Americans across the country - vandalism, racist graffiti, physical and verbal attacks… the list goes on. Not only do Asian Americans fight to prevent from catching the virus, but they also encounter potential threats while completing everyday tasks such as grocery shopping, traveling alone to public spaces, or even letting their children play outside.
National bigotry towards a particular group is not strange to this country. After the 9-11 terrorist attacks, American Muslims also endured fear and panic. The rhetoric of our political leaders is different this time. Unlike President George W. Bush who advocated for the inclusion of American Muslims, President Trump and his supporters openly use divisive words such as the “Chinese virus” to target China and Chinese Americans. Although the first case of coronavirus was documented in Wuhan, using the term “Chinese virus” clearly suggests something far more than “saying its origin”. Names are significant indicators. A disease’s name can be tied directly to disgust, dread, and antagonism. When the word explicitly applies to a single category of individuals, it could potentially be used to dehumanize them and intensify hate and ignorance.
The Asian American community has experienced much more than what has been disclosed in the media: some have been spit on or yelled at in the streets, some have had their business properties vandalized, and much more.
Racism is a virus; let’s not allow it to expand.
