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SARS - Stupid Annoying Ridiculous Society .............. << previous // next >>
We are living in uncertain and precarious times. Of course there's the war going on with the United States and Iraq, but then there's the potential epidemic of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Three Canadians have died from it. They all occurred in people who traveled to Asia or had contact with SARS carriers. Now people are being very cautious and of course it's understandable. It's also wise. Then there are those annoying people who go to the extreme and even go so far as to avoid specifically all Chinese/Oriental people. It's interesting how with SARS, people who previously held prejudices against Asians now feel that it is more socially acceptable to overtly display them. For instance, in a most obvious observation in church today a man was praying in the pew ahead of me and then once a young Chinese couple went to sit down in the same pew, the man abruptly got up and went to sit elsewhere. People are so suspicious now of orientals. It's disgusting. I understand that you want to be safe and healthy, but making other people feel like diseased social lepers when they're not, is no way to treat anyone. This isn't just discrimination, but it's also mass paranoia. Before mass started, there was an announcement made that because of how SARS is spread, it might be best to just nod to one another instead of shaking hands during the appropriate part of the mass. Also, they mentioned that you might prefer to take communion with your hands instead of on your tongue. Anyway, so during the 'let-us-share-the-sign-of-peace' time, a lot of people seemed to forget and then extend their hands to greet. It was really awkward to be together celebrating the Eucharist and only nodding to one another. I understand why it's better to be safe than sorry. I'm just saying that it felt extremely awkward for everyone, especially those who arrived late and didn't hear the announcement. They probably thought that lots of people were snotty because they didn't shake their hands and only nodded in acknowledgement. Another interesting thing I noticed was that whenever this Chinese woman near the front coughed or sneezed, a lot of people got all nervous, staring at her. Okay, geez Louise! Maybe some dust went up her nose and that's why she sneezed. It happens to all of us. It's like ever since news of SARS spread, we're not even allowed to be human and have normal human reactions to dust particles. It's like....*AAAAACHHHOOOO*....and then people whisper, look at you, and then assume you have SARS. Hmmm....I think those people need to get checked in and be scanned for MRIs, if you know what I mean....hahahaha.... As many of you already know, I am Chinese (with a bit of Irish and Scottish). However, a lot of people can't even TELL that I'm Chinese, which seems so strange to me. Anyway, so far I haven't experienced this discrimination-due-to-SARS-paranoia. I hope I don't either. It's already enough being a triple minority (i.e. Chinese, female, skinny). Yeah, you might laugh at my last description, but I'm for real. It is a minority. I am one of those females with a really high metabolism. I can't put on weight and I eat a lot. I consider being skinny as a minority because just look at all those fitness companies designed for the overweight people in mind. Slimming diets are a dime a dozen. In Canada, there aren't any special diets for skinny people to put on weight. If you look at me, I don't look anorexic-thin or sick even. I do look healthy, but I am a little underweight for my age category. Then again, with the fast food lifestyle in North America, it isn't any wonder...haha...Anyway, I have a strong immune system (I've been exposed to other people with chicken pox on several occasions and I didn't get it even when in direct contact) and a healthy lifestyle (of course I also eat junk food - gee...how could I resist...mmm...*drool*) so my small figure must be due to heredity. Back to SARS: From Health Canada's website (www.hc-sc.gc.ca), these are the symptoms you should look out for: 1) A fever over 38°C AND 2) One or more of the following respiratory symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing. Check out the website for more details. Okay, that's it for now. I just had to give you my two cents on this SARS issue. I'll write again another time. Until then, take care and always try to spread the sunshine even when the people around you are just rain clouds preparing for a storm. ~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-. " When You Look Outside, Look Inside To Your Soul " ~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-.~.*-. SONG STUCK IN MY HEAD: "Fighter" by Christina Aguilera LAST SONG I LISTENED TO: "Crawling" by Linkin Park FAVOURITE SINGER/BAND OF THE MOMENT: Emm Gryner 
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Sunday March 30th, 2003. - 1:36 PM