March 20th, 2020

This Coronavirus

Something happened while I was watching  like most of you about the Cororavirus. Yes, some may say we have to focus skipping the news because to be honest it quite depressing. My view is this on the damn Coronavirus. It's a virus that doesn't discriminate. No matter your age, geographic location or ethnic background, it doesn't care. It's a virus that can be spread based on close proximity to each other. For whatever reason, we started late planning for this mess. It's easy to blame others but what does it really accomplish. Nothing! Absolutely Nothing!. But my President and I respect the title of President and I give him the respect he deserves to be my President has labelled the Coronavirus as the "Chinese Virus" Whatever hsi agenda was about that label, we'll never know and his response to a reporter was why is it necessary to call it the Chinese Virus?, His response is it started in China. He claims it wasn't a racist remark and he went on to start that China may have accused American soldiers, but he added he has the most admiration of Chinese Americans in our country in so many words for whatever reason or whatever strategy, Chinese Americans living in the United States and damn proud of being an American in these difficult times, now myself and my family have to deal with an additional fear of being looked at weirdly or waiting to be sucker punched by someone out of fear blaming myself or my family member for bringing this virus. 
The last time this happened to Asians was during World War II with the Japanese Americans. I guess we don't learn our lessons.
I am not concerned about coming in contact with the Coronavirus but if I decided to go to Target, Redners, Shop Rite or CVS, the last thing I need is to be confronted by an ignorant person expressing his anger towards me. Well, I'll know its out of fear of the unknown and whether I blame him for his actions, can I actually speak logically to that person. NO!, so what is Chef Woo Can do? Allow my blood pressure to go through the roof since I have a Type A personality, or suck it up and for that brief moment allow myself to be put down with 4 letter words. Now, if you ask my friends from New York, they have been my friends for quite along time in suburbia, Long Island. I grew up with my friends from kindergarten to high school and 40 years later reconnected with alot of my friends. The interesting thing was although I stood out from my friends, I actually thought I blended in kind of well not knowing I was different. My friends seemed to accept me and I lived a great life. Yes, there were some that thought otherwise but for the most part I was one of the guys. 
It's just another hurdle our country is going through and I believe that our President is doing the best he can. but Mr. President Trump, what you said about the so called Chinese Virus may put more Chinese or any Asian Americans in these Unites States in Harms way!
Does this mean that if any American is a carrier without knowing it as they return overseas and infect family members, who is the scapegoat?  Whether things are fair or not and nothing is fair as we go through this pandemic our lack of action and slow action has made things worse. Money is not the only answer. The answer is to tackle this pandemic asap and provide the medical personnel with masks, respirators, ventilators and hazardous suits.
For all its worth about how we may feel about China, they have sent a contingency to Italy to help them with ways they observe to stem the tide of infection. They may realize that we are ALL in it together!. Jack Ma  CEO of Alibaba  has sent masks and other equipment to help our health care personnel.   
We as citizens cannot control what our government officials do regarding action and what they say to other countries politicians. but as citizens I have to beleieve in our hearts that goodness prevails. Obviously goodness doesn't sensationalize the news but I bet that a vast majority of us is helping in our own special way towards the elderly to our neighbors or organizations.
Be safe, don't panic, don't stress out and try to be content. Our way of life has changed so we might as well go along with it then rebel!

By Chef Woo Can at www.chefwoocan.com
#chefwoocanoncoronavirus, #noitsnotchinesevirus