According the the lexicon of political correctness a person with an impairment or a disease should not be defined by their condition or state of mind, or in any way described by using terminology that would state the condition in a negative way. Thus a person with a deadly communicable disease should not be stopped, examined by a physician and quarantined—that would have a negative impact on the individual that could impair the self perception(if they survive the infection). These individuals not be described as “stricken by disease”, “infected” or “sick”— these are negative terms to be avoided at all costs for the politically correct speaker. No these individuals should be described as “challenged with a foreign viral agent”
Here we go again. A new Chinese coronavirus strain arising again from animal to human contacts in China. This one has arisen in central China and in only a few months has spread fear and anxiety around the world. The strain, known as: “2019 Novel coronavirus” is a pathogen which causes a form of viral pneumonia, against which our extensive arsenal of antibiotics is of no use. It has proved be deadly. It’s estimated that more than 4000 have been infected in Wuhan, a city in central China. The origin or source of the virus appears to have been human contact with diseased, live, wild animals being sold for food. Many of the wild animals the Chinese consume such as wild snakes, rats and even wild wolf pups were illegally on sale in the a Wuhan food mart. (It is disgusting—I really don’t care if some folks see rats as edible morsels—there are plenty of them—but what I find reprehensible is catching and caging up wild wolf pups as eventual table fare! Yes you can note my lack of cultural propriety )
I have followed the virtual explosion of this latest horrible virus that the Chinese have foisted on the rest of the world. ( Recall SARS? ). This new outbreak began in late 2019 in Wuhan city in central rural China —then the virus, mutating as it spread turned up in other cities in China. It was quickly carried to Japan, Thailand and to Mexico and now even the USA. There is one case reported in Washington State and another suspected case in Los Angels CA. This latter case is of interest to us here.
There in Los Angeles the specter of being politically correct vs being simply correct raised its ugly head. (The politically correct must use language in a way that avoids describing others in negative terms. These PC folks view all circumstances not as an unbiased observer but from the perspective of the “victim” and how the “feelings” of the victim vs the reality of the situation). On Wednesday night (9-22-20) an American Airlines flight from China ( $+# 2546) arrived at LAX (Los Angeles Airport) and was met by an ambulance which transported a very sick passenger to a local hospital. Immediately afterward, the LA Fire Department followed the ambulance with a “deep contamination process” of the plane and the airport area where the patient had been examined.
A day or so earlier the US Center For Disease Control and Prevention had initiated “health screenings” of passengers arriving from China at LAX, San Francisco and NY airports. These are little more than a questionnaire and a cursory glance. If the passenger claims he or she is OK and can walk and breath the screener lets you pass on into the public. But the person coming in from China on flight 2546 was sick enough to be immediately hospitalized and the officials were worried enough to require a “deep” contamination conducted by the hazmat team of the Fire Department.
But it was the comments of the LA public health officials on site that I underscore here. Based on their comments they are more concerned about being politically correct rather than correctly assessing the sick passenger as a potential virus vector and effectively protecting the city and county from deadly disease-carrying visitors from China.
Does this official’s comments (following) give you any sense of confidence that they are effectively protecting the 10 million Angelenos who reside in LA county? One of the top officials of the LA County Department of Public health was quoted as stating: “Many people travel (to and from China)....We don’t want people saying ...”Oh you’ve been to China you cant come to school or work—..no we don’t want that” Another concerned politically correct LA public health official added: “ Just because someone may have visited China or even Wuhan City (were the outbreak is centered) does not mean that person presents a health risk.”
How do these offices know this ? They do not. The facts about how the virus is transmitted and how virulent it is as well as its morbidity and mortality rates are still being assessed. These officials simply do not know. Yet they are ready to toss the dice for the many Angelo’s to protect the few passengers—as they act in a way not to “victimize” these possible disease vectors. .
But to my mind when you call yourself a “health official” and you are tasked with the well being of ten million people would you not be wise to err on the side of the millions of residents rather than the potential minor and temporary discomfort of a visiting Chinese traveler who has likely been exposed?
Apparently for these LA officials they would rather be politically correct. They would rather put the health and lives of the people who pay their salaries on the line than acting responsibly.
This is so typical California!
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