What's in a Name? A Swine Flu by any other name would smell..

You know we have sunk into the pigsty of political correctness when we spend time arguing about the name and not handling the problem. But maybe that is the definition of political correctness: distraction from substance.

So what shall we call the flu that may be an epidemic, a pandemic or just endemic? Does the public have any idea of the differences, or are we just throwing words around? What is the relationship between this flu's morbidity (illness) rate and its mortality (death) rate? Again, does the public know the difference and are the media explaining?

Since we were just introduced last week, this flu has gone as viral as the Susan Boyle video from Britain's Got Talent. Only this time it's The World's Got a Problem. We were introduced to it as the Mexican Swine Flu. But we were criticized by Mexico. They apparently felt hurt by the attribution. This is strange since Tequila, which kills more of us each year than this flu, demands Mexican provenance down to the specific state. Though it is true that some xenophobes have used this stateless bug to bash Mexicans and all illegal aliens (whom they think are made up only of Hispanics).

In Israel one particularly observant cabinet member wanted the flu referred to only as the Mexican Flu. He was afraid that printing the word "Swine" in the paper and that even talking about it would break some kosher laws or offend either God or the Orthodox (of whom the Orthodox are stricter). I know we're not supposed to eat pork, but I do think we're allowed to say the word. Talk about the doctrine of an abundance of caution being taken to an obsessive-compulsive level. Mexico, of course objected, and even the swine were offended by being left out.

Not to be outdone, the Egyptians are slaughtering all their pigs. Now this is not too great a sacrifice. As an increasingly observant Muslim country, the pig population is not exactly vast. This is actually directed at the Christian minority and not the pigs. It is a silly policy and a great distraction from serious Egyptian problems. They have had cases of Bird Flu. They quite naturally have West Nile Virus. They are up to their ears in Schistosomiasis. And, of course, there is no evidence that you can get Swi..., I mean H1Ni from eating pork. Trichinosis, yes, flu no.

Indeed, what's in a name? You will notice that whenever Obama refers to the disease he uses its more formal name H1N1. This is to avoid stepping on any cultural, religious, nationalistic or species toes, paws hooves or trotters.

All over the world, in an absence of good information, we have silliness, panic, and over-reaction. With bullets flying (40,000 violent deaths per year in USA), cars crashing (35,000 deaths per year in USA), regular flu taking out another 35,000 per average flu season, we are cancelling events, closing schools, buying masks (Don't wear them to the bank or 7-11). We are busy looking busy, but not, I think to any great purpose.

This may or may not turn into anything, but of course, take sensible precautions: Wash your hands, cover your face when you sneeze and keep Joe Biden off of TV. Don't, however, be so distracted by fear that you miss the clear and present dangers you can do something about.

©2009 Jonathan Dobrer
www.Dobrer.org