Just a thought (1 Viewer)

[Kedon]

We all know how much backlash Trump is getting for calling COVID-19 the "Chinese Virus".

Not condoning this in any way, but just a thought.

(Then he hit us with this haha)

We call Trump out for calling it the Chinese Virus, but yet history books across the globe still refer to the 1918 flu as the "Spanish Flu".
This case in particular was due to propaganda- Americans hated the Spanish, so when Spain was hit hard with the flu, it was automatically "their fault". America hates China, we're basically using them for resources and connections at this point. Using the term "Chinese" virus stimulates the racist actions taken against east asians, as the term "Spanish Flu" was very clearly used to pit the deaths on the Spanish. The Spanish didn't even have it the worst, either.

One originated in China, the other one strongly affected a country. Both are wrong- yet we use "Spanish Flu" so much more often than we would use "Chinese Virus". It may have been 100 years ago, but that doesn't take away the effects that the term once had on the Spanish just a century ago.


And that's on double-standards.

 

[Kedon]

And that's on double-standards.

Though I will say, rather than double-standards it's a difference in time and social progression. We've all grown up hearing "Spanish Flu" and we never really saw an issue with pitting it against one country until the actual topic is brought to hand. I just feel like if we're fighting against calling COVID-19 the "Chinese Virus", we should really stop calling the flu of 1918 the "Spanish Flu" bc that mess is racist and is giving into historical American propaganda.

Also, the term "Chinese Virus" is so stupid because literally so many viruses come from every country, ie. SARS.

You can't just take an entire issue and pit it on one country. We don't call systematic racism the American virus now do we? anyway next

 

[NASA]

We've all grown up hearing "Spanish Flu" and we never really saw an issue with pitting it against one country until the actual topic is brought to hand.

Yeah I never knew why it was called Spanish Flu, thats just what people called it and I never knew that it was an offensive thing until now, I just don't see why people can't just call it Influenza tbh, that's so much cooler than naming it after a country, same with Covid-19. Naming a virus after a country not only just doesn't make sense but it also just sounds silly...

 

[Kedon]

Yeah I never knew why it was called Spanish Flu, thats just what people called it and I never knew that it was an offensive thing until now, I just don't see why people can't just call it Influenza tbh, that's so much cooler than naming it after a country, same with Covid-19. Naming a virus after a country not only just doesn't make sense but it also just sounds silly...

Right? It's one of those things that don't seem offensive until someone we hates does it and you're like "Hold up...that ain't right". Then we come to realize that we do a lot of the same things in different ways. Which is why it's good to self reflect.

Love to hate people <3

 

[Ahsoka]

Honestly I've heard the term Spanish Flu but I almost always just hear it called the influenza. Also if Trump is as societally progressed as people in the 1920s that really not a compliment anyways

 

[Kedon]

Honestly I've heard the term Spanish Flu but I almost always just hear it called the influenza. Also if Trump is as societally progressed as people in the 1920s that really not a compliment anyways

That's interesting. I've always heard Spanish Flu in textbooks and whatnot.

That's not what I'm saying though. Trump is wrong, definitely, but are we not JUST as wrong for saying Spanish Flu? Especially in modern times?

 

[Ahsoka]

That's interesting. I've always heard Spanish Flu in textbooks and whatnot.

That's not what I'm saying though. Trump is wrong, definitely, but are we not JUST as wrong for saying Spanish Flu? Especially in modern times?

Must be because I didn't learn about the 1918 pandemic in history or any other class in school from what I remember, I only learned about it from my own research which always called it the influenza. But if people are calling it the Spanish Flu still they should definitely not be doing it, I just happen to see it far less I guess although I know both exist.

 

[Kedon]

Must be because I didn't learn about the 1918 pandemic in history or any other class in school from what I remember, I only learned about it from my own research which always called it the influenza. But if people are calling it the Spanish Flu still they should definitely not be doing it, I just happen to see it far less I guess although I know both exist.

It's weird they never taught you that. That was a pretty big deal in my education system, especially now, as COVID-19's taking place.

 

[Ahsoka]

It's weird they never taught you that. That was a pretty big deal in my education system, especially now, as COVID-19's taking place.

Where are you from?

 

[Kedon]

Where are you from?

The States.

 

[Ahsoka]

The States.

Oh same
Must have to do with me taking the literal bare minimum for US history
2 months vs the typical 2 years

 

[Kedon]

Oh same
Must have to do with me taking the literal bare minimum for US history
2 months vs the typical 2 years

Yeah, but I didn't really care about history either. I'm assuming it's just by state, then lol

 

[DrowningFishy]

Fun fact: Though unlikely originating in Spain, the Spanish flu was dubbd the Spanish flu due to the freedom of Spain to report about the virus being still being a neutral country in WWI. In fact the Spanish blamed the French more for spreading the virus. Spain remained one of least infected countries of this strain of influenza. The more correct term is the 1918 Influenza outbreak/pandemic. For the flu it's more common to designate the year an outbreak/pandemic happens.

Where as the corona viruses are actually given names, like Covid-19, due to their uniqueness.

 

[yeji]

honestly think your points make a lot of sense and I really hate how trump is trying to blame one country specifically.