Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
History and Religion
Why Has Italy Suffered the Most from Coronavirus?

Why Has Italy Suffered the Most from Coronavirus?

Last updated on: April 7, 2020 at 11:46 pm by Dave Armstrong

Why Has Italy Suffered the Most from Coronavirus? 2020-04-07T23:46:45-04:00 Dave Armstrong

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

+ Reflections on the Propriety of Using the Term, “Chinese Flu” / Condemnation of Anti-Chinese Prejudice

I just ran across an article, “Why Chinese tourists love Italy’s quaint rural villages: . . .” (Silvia Marchetti, South China Morning Post, 12-12-19). It stated:

More Chinese tourists have visited Italy this year than any other European country, with many seeking out the country’s villages and hamlets. . . .

Forget about France, Germany or Greece – Italy is now the most popular European destination for Chinese tourists.. . .

According to Italian tourism authorities, roughly 3.5 million Chinese travellers had visited Italy this year by the end of October [2019], . . .

Dr. Anthony Fauci, chief medical adviser to the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, and expert on epidemics, agrees with this assessment as a big factor in the spread of the virus, stating:

Italy got hit very badly because they had a large number of importations from China by Chinese tourists . . . Before they even knew what was going on, there was enough baseline people spreading that it essentially got out of hand, . . .

I think this can explain much of it, in and of itself. Of course, it obviously isn’t the fault of these tourists: that many were carrying a virus that originated in China; therefore, Europeans would not have built up any immunity to it. It’s similar to Europeans bringing various diseases to the New World after 1492. The Native Americans and other indigenous people dropped like flies because they had no immunity.

That wasn’t the Europeans’ fault (many other things were); likewise, this isn’t the Chinese people’s fault. It’s their terrible government that covered up the epidemic in its beginning stages, who bear the blame (I think, the most blame in this whole tragedy). No one knows better than the Chinese how oppressive and evil their Communist government is. A government is not the same as the people the government governs.

I will take this opportunity to utterly condemn and abhor any and all acts of prejudice or bigotry against Chinese people, or Chinese-Americans (and other Asian-Americans: to the extent that they may be also affected to some degree). It’s a terrible American trait to look down on ethnic groups different from one’s own. Our original sin was slavery. Even after we abolished that, it took another hundred years to get rid of institutionalized racism, enshrined in law.

Though racism is without question grotesquely exaggerated and made the topic of constant demagoguery by Democrats, for political purposes, it doesn’t follow that it doesn’t exist at all. It does, and those who are the recipients of it know this full well. One can discuss how prevalent it is, but anyone with two brain cells wouldn’t deny that it still does.

I understand why President Trump has been using the term, “Chinese flu.” His point is that it originated there (just as the term “Spanish flu” has been used for over a hundred years to name the terrible flu pandemic of 1918). As I understand it, he is also protesting the claim by the Chinese government that the coronavirus was introduced there by American soldiers. So, typically, it’s his provocative way of sticking a finger in the eye of the Chinese dictator and his lackeys. It does not imply at all (in his mind) that there is anything wrong or inferior about Chinese people.

The New York Times addressed the “American soldiers” fiction in an article dated 3-13-20:

China is pushing a new theory about the origins of the coronavirus: It is an American disease that might have been introduced by members of the United States Army who visited Wuhan in October.

There is not a shred of evidence to support that, but the notion received an official endorsement from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose spokesman accused American officials of not coming clean about what they know about the disease.

The intentional spreading of an unfounded conspiracy theory — which recirculated on China’s tightly controlled internet on Friday — punctuated a downward spiral in relations between the two countries . . .

The circulation of disinformation is not a new tactic for the Communist Party state. The United States, in particular, is often a foil of Chinese propaganda efforts.

That said, I agree that — especially in the present tense situation –, the term “Chinese flu” can cause repercussions among unsavory people inclined towards racism and bigotry, who take it out on innocent victims. Benjamin Tong is a Facebook friend of mine, and he wrote on my page:

I agree that it could have been worse without restricting travelers from China entering the US. And a Democrat president could have handled it worse. As a Chinese descendant, I’m okay with President Trump not being PC in these precautions, however, not likely to forgive him for calling the disease “Chinese virus”. Now in America and Europe, many Chinese and Asians are facing discrimination and some even suffer from hate crimes everyday because of this disease. And I think that President Trump is making it worse by using the term “Chinese virus”.

I basically agree with him. I don’t think it’s racist per se, or that Trump is, but I take his point, which is a valid one.

Likewise, my friend Dr. Christopher Atwood, a professional historian who specializes in Mongolian Studies, wrote on my Facebook page:

Reality check: most Asians I know who go out have experienced at the very least occasional strange looks, muttered comments, ostentatious distancing, and similar things in public if not worse. Pretty much every Asian I know would like to wear a mask to protect themselves and others, but is scared to do it because they worry it will provoke hostility. That’s the reality. If Trump really wanted to address this, he would do a news conference in a mask.

I myself (having written several articles about the virus) have always — from the beginning — used the word “coronavirus.” I even checked just now to make sure. I’ve been an observer (and condemner) of racism and prejudice literally for 53 years. It started as a result of the Detroit Riots in 1967. Then I majored in sociology at Wayne State University in Detroit. I’ve always been very passionate about the great wrongness and immorality of it.

Accordingly, I have written articles condemning names of sports teams like Cleveland Indians or Atlanta Braves or Washington Redskins. For the record, I received very vigorous opposition in taking that stand. I grant that there may be a legitimate case to be made (and indeed, many Native Americans: maybe even a majority, as I recall, say that they don’t care). In any event, I think it shows that I am sensitive to labeling aspects like this concerning ethnic groups other than my own (Anglo-Saxon / Celtic-, Scottish-, and Canadian-American) and how it affects minority groups in America. So I “get it.”

***

Sara Belligoni wrote a very insightful article entitled, “5 reasons the coronavirus hit Italy so hard” (The Conversation, 3-26-20). None of her five reasons included the great number of Chinese tourists. She observed:

1. Lots of old people

Italians have the sixth-longest life expectancy in the world – 84 years old. That means lots of Italians are elderly: In 2018, 22.6% of its population was 65 or over, among the highest proportions in Europe.

Medical researchers have said the coronavirus poses a more serious threat to older people than to younger ones. . . .

2. Close proximity

Italians aren’t used to social distancing. They are very physically affectionate people: Hugs and cheek-kisses are common not just among family members but also friends and even work colleagues.

Even when they’re just chatting, Italians are closer together than many other people, because their culture’s psychological perception of personal space is smaller than in other countries. . . .

3. Dense population

There isn’t a lot of space in Italy for people to spread out in. Italy is a densely populated country, with an average density of 533 people per square mile. In comparison, Germany has a population density of 235 people per square mile while the U.S. has 94. . . .

4. Northern Italy is a business hub

Milan, in northern Italy, is the country’s financial capital, and has close trade and educational connections with China. The whole region of northern Italy is home to offices for many multinational corporations.

5. Massive number of cases

[ . . .]

This is obviously bad news for Italy, but encouraging to the rest of the world insofar as it shows that circumstances leading to the great tragedy there are fairly unique and wouldn’t be replicated in their entirety elsewhere. In other words, other countries are not likely at all to have their experience. The US has the most cases anywhere now, but a far lower death rate than Italy. And even in Italy there are already signs that the plague is starting to decrease.

***

Taylor Marshall: Pachamama “Idolatry” Judged by Coronavirus (Yet “Antichrist” Pope Francis Walks the Streets of Pandemic-Ravaged Rome Free of the Virus . . .) [3-17-20]

Alexander Tschugguel, Taylor Marshall, & God’s Wrath [3-19-20]

My Outlook & Goals During This Coronavirus Crisis [3-24-20]

Explanation of Coronavirus Statistics (Dr. JD Donovan) [3-26-20]

“Black Death” Mentality On Display at Patheos Catholic [3-26-20]

Dialogue: [Irrational?] Leftish Reactions to Coronavirus [3-27-20]

Dialogue on Leftish Reactions to Coronavirus, Part II [3-27-20]

Reply to Unfair Criticisms of Trump Re Coronavirus [4-4-20]

Coronavirus: Chris Ferrara vs. Science & Historical Precedent (Social Distancing Was Used in the 1918 Flu Pandemic and Has Been Shown Again and Again to be Highly Effective) [4-7-20]

Will US Coronavirus Deaths Be Far Less than Predicted? [4-7-20]

***

Photo credit: Alexey_Hulsov (3-12-20) [Pixabay / Pixabay License]

***

Political & Ethical & Moral Issues

Chinese tourists in Italy

Previous Post

March 27, 2020

Dialogue on Leftish Reactions to Coronavirus, Part II

Next Post

March 28, 2020 Jeremiad on Stupefied Anti-Francis Mentalities (w Paul Hoffer)

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category & Last Things About Me Anti-Catholicism Atheism & Agnosticism Baptism and Sacramentalism Bible and Tradition Blessed Virgin Mary Books by Dave Armstrong C. S. Lewis Calvinism & General Protestantism Catholic Apologetics Catholic Apologists Catholic conversion Catholic converts Christmas Church (Ecclesiology) Church History Conversion and Converts Development of Doctrine Eastern Orthodoxy Ecumenism & Christian Unity Eucharist & Liturgy Fathers of the Church French Translations G. K. Chesterton Hell Hell & Satan Hell & Satan & Last Things Heresies & Comparative Religion Holistic Health Inquisition & Crusades & Scandals James White Jews & Judaism & Old Testament John Calvin John Henry Newman Liberal / Modernist Theology Life Issues Literary Resume Lutheranism Mariology Martin Luther Music Orthodoxy Papacy & Infallibility Personal Page Philosophy & Science Political & Ethical & Moral Issues Protestant Persecution & Intolerance Protestantism Purgatory Purgatory & Penance Romantic & Imaginative Theology Saints & Purgatory & Penance Salvation Salvation & Justification Satan & Last Things Sexuality and Gender Issues Spanish Translations Traditionalism vs. Radical Catholic Reactionaries Traducciones al español / tradução para português Trinitarianism & Christology Uncategorized Videos

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 April 2010 March 2010 December 2009 October 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 March 2009 February 2009 October 2008 September 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 May 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 October 2005 June 2005 April 2005 February 2005 July 2004 May 2004 April 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz