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Lady Ayame 講師のコラム

How did he know? The book was published in 1981!

2020年3月4日

Hello Cafetalk Community!

I'm sure you're holding up as well as you can. My sincere wish is that the Coronavirus will be contained and we find a cure soon! (However, the experts say it will take one year to 18 months because it involves testing.) I hope you are washing your hands really well and doing everything you can to stay healthy!
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[Author: Dean Koontz] Wrote a book in 1981 called "The Eyes of Darkness"

I have to tell you about Dean Kootz's novel called "The Eyes of Darkness" that he wrote back in 1981. He wrote about the "Woohan 400."

[Snippet from the book:]
“They call the stuff ‘Wuhan-400’ because it was developed at their RDNA labs outside the city of Wuhan,” a character says in the novel — referring to the same city at the epicenter of the current global outbreak.

Do you think it's an absolute coincidence that Dean Koontz predicted about this man-made virus circulating in the year 2020? After all, this book was written almost 40 years ago! His critics say that coincidence is common in fiction and he probably chose the Wuhan area since it is known to have many laboratories.

Personally, I believe it is more than coincidence that the origin of the super-virus is indeed in the center of the Chinese laboratories developing god knows what. I'm not certain, of course, but I think it may have something to do with biological warfare that went awry and spread among their own people. . . and now globally.

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2. There is racism in the US and Canada. I can't believe how people can be so mean, condescending, and hateful to practically all Asians (not just Chinese people) in the US and Europe now. Perhaps in a homogeneous society like Japan, China, and Korea, you may not come across as much racism. However, I can't believe how mean and unempathetic some people can be. I believe it's easier for people to categorize people to make some order in their minds.

Unfortunately, people can't be so easily categorized and labeled. There may be cultural differences among countries and traditions, but I believe people are people and we are all the same. 

At the moment when certain Americans or Europeans are throwing vitriol at Asian people in general, they are actually blaming the people who are actual victims of the virus 
themselves. I can't understand people can condemn others because of the color of their skin or the way they look.

We are also becoming isolated in our homes, so it's not good to be so divisive. I think a more caring and compassionate approach will quell people's fears and have a more efficient method to curtail the spread of the virus -- which right now seems inevitable.
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[Here are some sad instances when hate crimes were committed to Asian people who are only guilty by association. However, infected people are not to blame no matter who they are or where they come from.) 

1.) [Quote:] "Chinese is so dirty! All diseases come from China!"
2.) [Acid attack] In the UK citizens on Chinese people running a restaurant
3.) [Physical violence against Asians: Especially Chinese people]

Since we are required to be physical distant for the safety and health of all people, we can do our best to maintain relationships with your loved ones. Not literally, but emotionally. These are just my thoughts about this menacing novel coronavirus. Please wear your masks (if you can get more,) and wash your hands for at least 40 seconds. I wish you all the best that you will be safe!

Warmest rergads,

Lady Ayame

(Patricia Ayame Thomson)
 

本コラムは、講師個人の立場で掲載されたものです。
コラムに記載されている意見は、講師個人のものであり、カフェトークを代表する見解ではありません。

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