By Zhenyang Shao
After the Covid-19 outbreak in United States, I notice that many restaurants are closed, and it is very obvious that you can see the aboard hanging on the door which is written that the restaurant is closed and it will open in the future or call for a takeout. However, the board in some restaurants are written that do not allow Asian people to enter inside. In addition, I find that the phenomenon of bullying and beating Asian people is increasing due to the outbreak of coronavirus. I am very confused that why does the spread of pandemic matter the racism?
After I read several news about the pandemic outbreak in United States, I realized the fact of that. First of all, President Trump consider the pandemic is a “Chinese virus” since the pandemic outbreak in China in the first time. He relates the virus to the race pf people. In addition, he even speaks those words and spread them in public. Secondly, the racist catches this opportunity to blame for Asian people because of the increasing number of cases. In addition, I also heard about that the person who wear mask will be regarded as disrespectful and impolite. From what I have learned in the course, Simone de Beauvoir’s mentioned the idea of the one and the other in “The Second Sex”. In this case, the one refers to the people who discriminate the Asian people and connect the coronavirus to the racism problem. The other refers to the innocent Asian people who is under the pressure of wrong public opinion.
For those phenomena, what I want to say is that the main reason to cause the increase number of cases in United States is the lack of protection consciousness and action. If all of us can wear masks and wash the hand, the cases will not increase so fast. For example, Chinese law has put wearing the mask in constitution law. For those people who do not wear mask in public, they will be punished very seriously. This law not only eliminate the injustice and the conflict of wearing the mask in society but also raise citizen’s consciousness of the prevention. In the face of the pandemic, everyone cannot laugh at each other and blame to others. We need to fight together so that we can conquer the virus.
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When this came out I was so upset that after everything that is going on, people are pointing fingers and blaming others when what we should be focusing on is being strong and listening to the CDC on how to further prevent this virus from spreading. Trump like you said is constantly blaming China for this virus and it just shows how immature and not fit a person can be to put blame on someone, rather than finding ways to better the country. This particularly gets me upset because it’s a struggle to live in American when you are a minority, never less having your president bash another country. He is promoting discrimination and stereotyping as well other horrific things just by people watching him and believing the words he says. He should be promoting social distance and masks, I believe that because we have reached so high cases again is the lack of protection that people use is no where to what should be used. Issues like this need to be taken care of responsibly. Thank you for sharing and providing supporting evidence.
I also researched into this for one of my Diary of Systemic Injustices. While searching YouTube I came across a video of very famous Asian actors who responded to the stereotyped “Chinese virus” and how they never thought they, as successful and respected mainstream actors and actresses, would fear going to the grocery store. While I knew President Trump’s declaration of Covid-19 as the Chinese virus was very wrong and immoral, I often forget the extensiveness the impact can make. From struggling Chinese immigrants to some of the most renowned stars, every person suffers from the idea that they are the reason behind a global pandemic which is very disheartening to hear.
Here is the link to the video if you are interested:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L392YT1lAac