Release time: 2020-03-20 18:56
Calling COVID-19 a “Chinese Virus” or “Kung Flu” Is Racist
President Trump doubles down on a racist term, endangering Asian Americans
My gut sank when President Trump responded today to ABC correspondent Cecilia Vega’s pointed question about his calling coronavirus the “Chinese Virus.” (See transcripts and links to video below.) He doubled down on his use of the term, and did not substantively address the report that his aide used the even more derogatory term “Kung Flu” with CBS correspondent Weijia Jang. He then reflexively went to his long-documented go-to aggressive and antagonistic nationalism by framing his words as counteracting a Chinese official’s Twitter claim that the virus was introduced to China by the American military. (To those who don't know, Zika is the name of a forest, and Ebola names a river. The WHO advises against naming pathogens for geographic regions.)
As I’ve noted before, when some individuals feel insecure and threatened, they can feel more powerful by blaming and victimizing others. This bluster is superficial and shallow, and does nothing to make us safe. In fact, the president’s racism is paired with his putting the country on “war footing.” This should ring alarm bells. Racist words from the top lead to racist actions by those disinhibited by the president’s rhetoric and dog whistles. Could they lead to actual war, and further actions against Asian Americans? Honestly, can you imagine Asian Americans feeling safe with words like this from the President? Let’s face it, President Trump is not exactly sending messages to our better angels. I try to maintain compassion for President Trump. He has a difficult job. But I wish he would show more compassion for the rest of us. By framing this issue as "us vs. them" (or "me vs. them") President Trump dangerously personalizes a global situation.
There are numerous and daily reports of Asian Americans, British Asians, and others being attacked physically and verbally as the coronavirus has spread in the Western world. (See references.) For the president to not take a clear line denouncing these racist and fear-based actions puts the entire Asian American community at risk. I’m quite sure it’s possible to deal with the propaganda of Chinese officials while also safeguarding lives of Asian Americans and Asians around the world.
The problem is not just the term “Chinese Virus,” but also the implicit linkage to a long history of anti-Asian rhetoric and violence. Chinese (and other immigrants) have been targeted as filthy vermin and rats, parasitic locusts, rapists, hopeless burdens, and so on. The outstanding American Experience documentary “The Chinese Exclusion Act” is now streaming online, and documents the virulent racism that Asian immigrants faced in this country. Google “racist Chinese Exclusion Act cartoons” if you don’t believe me. The term “Chinese Virus” raises history’s ghost, and it is clear that there are those who become possessed by the ghost. To be generous, their fear of the virus and infection triggers their survival brain, fight-or-flight responses, and then becomes displaced into fear and rage against Asian Americans more generally. To be less generous, underlying racist attitudes become exposed when they are given official sanction.
Already, this has impacted people in my greater community. Some, like New Yorker writer Jiayang Fan, who have been verbally abused, strategize about staying safe in an atmosphere of racism that could easily turn physical. Another friend wrote "I'm so scared. I feel like we are one out of work Tesla employee away from the next Vincent Chin." Vincent Chin was brutally murdered in the Detroit area in 1982 by Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz, who blamed him for autoworker unemployment and the rise of the Japanese auto industry.
Our survival will not be enhanced by racism or denial of racism. On an individual level, our immune systems are enhanced by compassion and community, and damaged by contempt. Our immune systems also include the systems of care that surround us, from the president to the grocery store clerk and the people working hard to keep our supply chains and health care system functioning.
The president’s contemptuous, racist words pose a physical threat to Asian Americans. They also expose and amplify a weakness of our communal immune system. We are all part of the body of America and the world, and we all play a role in keeping each other well and safe. We cannot afford to turn on one another, in any way.
We may be sheltering-in-place, but we must make ourselves shelters as well, by cultivating compassion and connection. This virus is teaching us that our fates are deeply intertwined.
Exchange between Cecilia Vega and President Trump, 3/18/20:
Cecilia Vega: “Why do you keep calling this the ‘Chinese virus’? There are reports of dozens of incidents of bias against Chinese Americans in our own country. Your own aide, Secretary Azar, says he does not use this term, he says ‘ethnicity does not cause the virus’ – why do you keep using this? A lot of people are saying it’s racist.”
President Trump: “Because it comes from China. It’s not racist at all, no. It comes from – China. That’s why. It comes from China. I want to be accurate.
Vega: “Are the aides behind you comfortable with this term?”
President Trump: “I have great love for all of the people from our country. But as you know, China tried to say – at one point, maybe they stopped now – that it was caused by American soldiers. That can’t happen. That’s not going to happen. Not as long as I’m president. It comes from China.”
Alcindor: “At least one White House official used the term ‘Kung Flu,’ Referring to the fact that this virus started in China. Is this acceptable? Is it wrong? That having this virus be talked about as a “Chinese virus” … puts Asian Americans at risk?
President Trump: “No, not at all. I think they probably would agree with it a hundred percent. It comes from China.
Other reporters shouted these questions to Vice President Pence, White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Deborah Birx, and others. Thanks to all of them for keeping this issue in our awareness.
The Pacific Heart
Ravi Chandra, M.D., F.A.P.A., is a San Francisco-based psychiatrist and writer.
In Print:
Facebuddha: Transcendence in the Age of Social Networks
Online:
Ravi Chandra, Writer, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn
psychology today