Saying ‘Chinese Virus’ Isn’t Racist [PHIL-OSOPHY]

In these unparalleled times, as if we don't have enough challenging us, liberals and woke media elites have gotten in a tizzy over President Trump and Republicans using the terms "Chinese virus" or "Wuhan virus." And for this, they are branding us as racists.

The liberal media wants you to think that referring to the coronavirus as the "Wuhan" or "Chinese" virus is bigoted and xenophobic. They are mistaken and deplorable.

It's important to know that the new or novel coronavirus has been identified, and reported in the Wall Street Journal, in patients who were part of a cluster of unexplained pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. I believe China tried to mask the warning signs of a global outbreak and downplayed its severity, leading the World Health Organization to declare a "global pandemic."

Diseases are oftentimes named after places or populations, and they are in no way racist for it. Lyme Disease is named after an outbreak of the disease that occurred in Lyme and Old Lyme, Connecticut. MERS-CoV, also called "camel flu," stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, first reported in Saudi Arabia. Does anyone remember the German measles?

Speaking of Germany, the Marburg Virus disease is named after Marburg, Germany in 1967. While the true origins of the Spanish Flu remain unknown, the disease earned its name from Spain. Have you ever heard of the Norovirus? It was named after Norwalk, Ohio after an outbreak in 1968. Eight years later, Legionnaire's Disease was named following an outbreak of people contracting the lung infection after attending an American Legion convention in Philadelphia. There's nothing homophobic, intolerant or prejudiced about any of those names, or many more.

The liberal media and pundits want you to think referring to coronavirus or COVID-19 as the "Chinese" virus is racist. How corrupt of them.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.