Thursday, April 30, 2009

We Are Not Quarantined

.... but we have had to make some changes in our weekend plans:

1. Pig wrestling in Oaxaca

And we had to add some things to our plans

2. (urgent) Secure cancellation insurance for summer trip, a.k.a. Chickens Abroad

I know Swine Flu H1N1 influenza A is not a laughing matter, and yet it has provided moments of hilarity for me. Particularly the article on MSNBC the other day, and from it I offer this quote:

"Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said the reference to pigs is offensive to both religions and "we should call this Mexican flu and not swine flu," he told a news conference Monday at a hospital in central Israel.

Both Judaism and Islam consider pigs unclean and forbid the eating of pork products.
"

Am I to infer that they can eat Mexicans and therefore calling H1N1 influenza A "Mexican Flu" makes it palatable? I would think that a flu that may become pandemic would be crisis enough without people fretting over the name, and that anyone's sensitivity over pork would be trumped by the notion of singling out one country by making it share the name of a deadly virus. Talk about insensitive.

Well, whatever you call it, I hope it stays away from You and Yours.

2 comments:

Jennifer said...

I am so with you (as always). H1N1 is serious, but the swirling whirling around it makes it necessary to poke some fun just to survive. I keep thinking the same -- I want everyone to be safe, to stay healthy, and for our little planet to move through this in the best way possible.

warren said...

I hadn't seen that quote you provided but all junk about people slaughtering pigs in great numbers seems crazy...so now we change the name. It's madness!