1/ #Covid The very nasty #history of the ‘Ussens’ v ‘Themmuns’ over disease outbreaks - An aul historian wryly observed, “the increased movement of people across national borders/areas reinforced the need to protect social boundaries/groups. Every national group in Europe for
2/ example defined syphilis as a disease of other nations.” The Germans blamed the French, calling it the “French Disease.” Not to be outdone, the French blamed the Italians. Later, the Poles blamed the Russians, the Persians blamed the Turks, Muslims blamed Hindus,
3/and the Japanese would blame the Portuguese. This whole idea was just absolutely ridiculous, of course, but no matter: some listened, Germans studiously avoided French prostitutes and the French avoided Italian courtesans, syphilis continued to rage throughout Europe at pace
4/ In the early part of the century, the new Irish emigrants to the U.S got blamed for the cholera outbreaks calling it the “Irish disease.” .. Meanwhile other groups found themselves in the same boat tarred by their association with others diseases . Jewish immigrants to the US
5/ being scape-goated as carriers of the plague and typhus in Europe, were accused of carrying “consumption,” better known as tuberculosis, This was the “Jewish disease” or the “tailor’s disease,” so-called because so many Jews followed that occupation...
6/ Many argued that Jews were sickly, weak, and diseased — unlike strapping, native-born “Anglo-Saxons.” This had no basis in fact or reality. Then there was the time in NYC that Italians were blamed for #Polio outbreak there... that’s another sad story...but
7/ today in the north eastern part of Ireland, a govt minister from the #ussens blamed #themmuns for spreading a disease called Covid-19. Ofcourse, complete and utter codswallop, but such base & tribal hate goes a down a very deep rabbit hole that never give redemption or peace.
Sources-JapanTimes. Stephen Mihm, an associate professor of history at the University of Georgia.
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