Yesterday, listing to a local New York radio show "John Gambling in the Morning," one caller asked why the Swine Flu is not being called "Mexican Flu" (or for that matter, why Bird Flu is not called "Asian Flu"). The (obviously racist) argument was that since the viruses originated in a certain area, it should be named as such and the reason it was not named that way is because of political correctness.
There are two problems with the argument:
- They are named the way they are because the virus came from certain types of animals. Swine = pig or hog or boar. Bird/Avian = birds. The viruses somehow moved from being limited to a certain genius of animals to humans (which, coincidentally, is what is believed to be the basis of HIV/AIDS). It just so happens that it started in certain areas outside the United States.
- The last big outbreak about Swine Flu was in 1976 (and, before that, in 1918) and it was not related to Mexicans.
Honestly, what was that caller thinking? In the contemporary society we live in today, it is not smart to be overt in one's racist beliefs (or leanings).
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