There is a major difference in tracking its origins which pretty much no one disputed was China vs calling it the "China virus" or "Kung Flu". The former is matter of fact and allows for greater discussion of whether it was natural or leaked from a lab. The later can be easily seen and was used towards not only the government of China but also Chinese Americans. Many Asian Americans, including children, were scared for their lives due this.
In short, its not racist to say covid19 originated in China or think a lab leak is a likely possibility that needs a much better investigation or even to think that the Chinese government might be covering it up. It is racist to call it the "China virus" or "Kung Flu" and treat people who had absolutely nothing to do with its origins wrongly.
Technically? Either way it's a lazy name since it was traced to the Midwest US.
IMO year based names (like the 1918 pandemic) are better still since even if they emerged sooner the undeniable historical impact is likely within a year or so of its recognition.
It is true. And yes, using the year is more politically correct given the current culture and climate.
I think the question of naming is less of origin, and more of cultures and what offends someone. Back when and where I was a kid growing up, people were mature enough to realize that terms like "Spanish flu" or "Chinese coronavirus" weren't condemnations of Spain or China, and we somehow never saw violence or offense over these sorts of things.
They were neutral, factual descriptions. And yes, factually, the Spanish flu was first widely reported in Spanish newspapers.
In the US in 2021, it seems like racial tensions run high, and these sorts of thing DO lead to offense and violence.
It's an odd shift, but not an unreasonable one. A big part of this has to do with intention. With COVID19, the racial terms were intended to be offensive by many who used them. Whether someone is trying to insult you goes a long ways to whether you might reasonably feel insulted.
Have you heard of anyone being insulted by "Spanish flu" prior to the e.g. 1980?
As a footnote, a more subtle way to play this is to code switch language based on where you are. In China, I don't get offended by people calling me fat, whereas in the US, I do.
And "Spanish flu" is called that because the Spanish discovered it, not because it was based in Spain. But most people didn't realize that then or now.
Not quite. It was called the Spanish Flu because the Spanish press, being neutral during WWI, were free to write about the flu epidemic, while wartime censors in every other major country blocked any mention of it. But nonetheless, it almost certainly didn’t originate in Spain. https://www.history.com/news/why-was-it-called-the-spanish-f...
In short, its not racist to say covid19 originated in China or think a lab leak is a likely possibility that needs a much better investigation or even to think that the Chinese government might be covering it up. It is racist to call it the "China virus" or "Kung Flu" and treat people who had absolutely nothing to do with its origins wrongly.