Swine Flu and Racism
Sunday, May 03, 2009
I commented on Consent of the Governed over the weekend, in regards to the swine flu:
Race is something that I haven't seen addressed in any of the news stories, commentaries, or by the talking heads. It is there, though, the elephant in the room. I think this flu could become a great divider, forcing hidden opinions out into the open to the detriment of all.
(Before I continue, perhaps you should know that "race" is a pet peeve of mine. I think the different definitions of "races" are an artificial construct by anthropologists that have nothing to do with the actuality of human beings, especially in today's mixed world. Pigeonholing someone based on the shape of their head or the texture of their hair is asinine. That, my friends, is a rant for another day.)
A few observations from the Mama on the street:
Friday night, I went to a restaurant with a bunch of other moms for a night out. The conversation turned to hiring a nanny (they aren't all SAHMS), with the advice to go down to the local Mexican market (the one where I love to buy produce) and look for women with backpacks. They'll work cheap and they clean house, too, even if they only speak Spanish. But, of course, you'll want to wait a few months until the swine flu is taken care of. I wonder if this conversation would have happened last month, or last year?
Saturday night, we went to the ER for preterm labor. It was crazy busy, full of people wearing masks. My nurse said it's been like that all week, since the schools started closing. There was a comment made - by a hospital worker - that the Mexicans were all trying to get tested. I doubt I would have ever heard anything resembling that comment at any other time.
Sunday, I went grocery shopping. I discovered that there are some great deals on Mexican produce - mangoes, avocadoes, and so on. Kroger marked their mangoes down 75%. Signs were posted prominently to remind everyone to wash their produce!
Later, at the Mexican market (I call it that because you can get all of the ingredients for Mexican cuisine there, including comals, tamale wrappers, and two aisles of Goya imports), the cashier commented on my apple purchase (9 pounds) and said there was no way she was buying produce there. She mentioned she would only shop at the more expensive grocery store up the street from now on (the one that stocks Brie and Pelligrino, not pintos in bulk).
I also heard more than one comment on talk radio - on two separate stations- frustration with the swine flu name. Apparently, people think it's a conspiracy because the H1N1 flu is not being called the Mexican Flu. Yes, there are people who feel passionately about this issue. There was lots of ranting.
There are rumbles of frustration about the school system. Last week was TAKS testing week, the big time when every kid fills in their bubbles with a no. 2 pencil and determine if the school will pass or fail, continue to get federal funding or not. The flood and the flu have interfered with the culmination of months of instruction, not to mention the hardship on parents who are scrambling to find child care.
What have you heard in your neck of the woods?
I'm not worried about getting sick from the swine flu (and I'm definitely not getting the vaccine whenever it comes out).
I'm worried about the mass hysteria/effects of swine flu panic.
I'm in Houston - four different school districts have shut down schools for two weeks. Kids out of school = parents not able to work = even less income/job security.
If they start closing restaurants, groceries, libraries... THAT is what is driving me to prepare as much as possible.
Another thing that could (but probably won't) come out of this, is an escalation of racial tensions. Most of the wealthy Mexican citizens in border towns have ended up in Houston after fleeing their country. I fear that it coud get ugly if any American citizens die in Houston from the flu. The fact that the one swine flu death had gone to one of the area's ritziest malls before his death has dominated the headlines here.
Race is something that I haven't seen addressed in any of the news stories, commentaries, or by the talking heads. It is there, though, the elephant in the room. I think this flu could become a great divider, forcing hidden opinions out into the open to the detriment of all.
(Before I continue, perhaps you should know that "race" is a pet peeve of mine. I think the different definitions of "races" are an artificial construct by anthropologists that have nothing to do with the actuality of human beings, especially in today's mixed world. Pigeonholing someone based on the shape of their head or the texture of their hair is asinine. That, my friends, is a rant for another day.)
A few observations from the Mama on the street:
Friday night, I went to a restaurant with a bunch of other moms for a night out. The conversation turned to hiring a nanny (they aren't all SAHMS), with the advice to go down to the local Mexican market (the one where I love to buy produce) and look for women with backpacks. They'll work cheap and they clean house, too, even if they only speak Spanish. But, of course, you'll want to wait a few months until the swine flu is taken care of. I wonder if this conversation would have happened last month, or last year?
Saturday night, we went to the ER for preterm labor. It was crazy busy, full of people wearing masks. My nurse said it's been like that all week, since the schools started closing. There was a comment made - by a hospital worker - that the Mexicans were all trying to get tested. I doubt I would have ever heard anything resembling that comment at any other time.
Sunday, I went grocery shopping. I discovered that there are some great deals on Mexican produce - mangoes, avocadoes, and so on. Kroger marked their mangoes down 75%. Signs were posted prominently to remind everyone to wash their produce!
Later, at the Mexican market (I call it that because you can get all of the ingredients for Mexican cuisine there, including comals, tamale wrappers, and two aisles of Goya imports), the cashier commented on my apple purchase (9 pounds) and said there was no way she was buying produce there. She mentioned she would only shop at the more expensive grocery store up the street from now on (the one that stocks Brie and Pelligrino, not pintos in bulk).
I also heard more than one comment on talk radio - on two separate stations- frustration with the swine flu name. Apparently, people think it's a conspiracy because the H1N1 flu is not being called the Mexican Flu. Yes, there are people who feel passionately about this issue. There was lots of ranting.
There are rumbles of frustration about the school system. Last week was TAKS testing week, the big time when every kid fills in their bubbles with a no. 2 pencil and determine if the school will pass or fail, continue to get federal funding or not. The flood and the flu have interfered with the culmination of months of instruction, not to mention the hardship on parents who are scrambling to find child care.
What have you heard in your neck of the woods?
Labels: health, In The News, Texas
posted by Milehimama at 5/03/2009 09:03:00 PM | Permalink |
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