An Israeli official wants us to change the name of swine flu because Jews (and Muslims) don’t like pigs, and it apparently will be too traumatizing to have to think about the fact the virus may have originated in a pig.
He suggests “Mexican flu,” because apparently we can all be comfortable pinning the outbreak on Mexicans.
Scientists are unsure where the new swine flu virus originally emerged, though it was identified first in the United States. They say there is nothing about the virus that makes it “Mexican” and worry such a label would be stigmatizing.
But certainly that pales next to the delicate sensibilities of people whose ancestors made up a rule against eating pigs millennia ago!
It certainly is a testament to the power of faith, which can make you say stupid things without feeling the least bit embarrassed! That is an accomplishment.
(Fun fact: the “Spanish Flu” was first detected in Kansas.)
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Not wanting to call it Swine Flu is stupid, if you ask me. But trying to rename it Mexican Flu is totally out of order!
I think we should rename it Jerusalem Flu or Haifa Flu or Theodor Herzl Flu.
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