As Coronavirus Fears Increase, Racism Spreads by Steven P
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B14 THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE SUNDAY• MARCH 8, 2020 A PATH FORWARD AS CORONAVIRUS FEARS INCREASE, RACISM SPREADS BY STEVEN P. DINKIN University of California Berkeley, former U.N. Secretary-General where the student health center Ban Ki-moon delivered on the Don’t judge a beer by its cover. posted a list of “normal” reactions International Day of Tolerance in The maker of Corona beer is to coronavirus including anxiety, 2008. It provides sage guidance. hoping you will heed this advice hypervigilance and xenophobia, “Genuine tolerance is about (a version of which you’ve likely which it defined as “fears about openness, curiosity and commu- heard throughout your life). It interacting with those who might nication,” said Ban. “It goes hand seems that the brand is suffering be from Asia and guilt about in hand with knowledge and from the name’s likeness to “co- those feelings.” The university understanding. Education is one ronavirus.” A report on Eater.com deleted the post when alumni of the best ways to prevent intol- says that searches for “corona complained that it normalized erance, by revealing similarities beer virus” are on the uptick. And racism. Hu observes, "(the post) between people and spreading a in a recent survey of 737 Ameri- made explicit what has largely healthy respect for differences.” cans, 38 percent of respondents remained implicit: that because We also need to recognize and said they “would not buy Corona the Asians you encounter in your respond to acts of intolerance, under any circumstances now.” day-to-day life are somehow more rather than ignoring them, which It’s not just the Corona brand likely to be carrying the disease, is equivalent to tacit approval. that’s taking a hit. Chinese it’s reasonable to avoid them.” And while it’s imperative that we restaurants and Asian markets Sarah Kim tells Forbes that heed the guidance of medical around the world are reporting she was taunted by a group of professionals to help stop the that business is down by as much men as she walked to her apart- LISA MAREE WILLIAMS GETTY IMAGES spread of coronavirus, our local as 70 percent. There are far fewer ment recently. They shouted, “See Supervisor May Su stands in the usually crowded Golden Cen- businesses shouldn’t suffer — visitors at Chinatowns around the that Japanese chick over there? tury Seafood Restaurant in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday. even if that means you’ll again country — normally, bustling Stay away from her if you don’t have to wait for a table at your tourist destinations. Locally, want to get the coronavirus!” Kim The incidents of discrimi- descent live all over the world, favorite Convoy District eatery. politicians staged a media event is a Korean American who hasn’t nation are happening despite the and many have never even been in the Convoy District to encour- traveled overseas for several small number of coronavirus to China, yet they’re being Dinkin is president of the National Conflict age San Diegans to patronize months — so she was no more cases in the U.S. and against the shunned as potential virus Resolution Center, a San Diego-based area businesses. And while co- likely than any in the group of backdrop of a significant number carriers. organization working to create innovative ronavirus is a serious global men to be carrying the virus. Kim of flu-related deaths this season. Do we only see one dimension solutions to challenging issues, including health issue, says writer Jane Hu calls their words “xenophobic,” So, why isn’t the paranoia com- (race) in others? Absent a vaccine intolerance and incivility. NCRC is on Slate.com, it seems that acts of adding that they reaffirm Western mensurate with the risk? And — and if we agree that this isn’t nationally recognized for its conflict racism against Asians are spread- culture’s treacherous habit of why would we attribute blame for right — what is the antidote to management and communication ing faster than the virus itself. grouping all people of Asian de- the start and spread of a virus to the intolerance that we’re seeing? strategies. To learn about NCRC’s Hu cites an incident at the scent into the same ethnicity. a single race? People of Chinese I came across a speech that programming, visit ncrconline.com Vijay Navani, state Assemblyman and San Diego mayoral candidate Todd Gloria, Vivek Chhabra and Rekha Chhabra Board members for the house include Rajshree Mudaliar, Salim Shah, Francoise Shah, Vijay Navani, Romila Notani, Ajay Chhabra, Anu Rajasekaran, Nanda Mehta, Sneh Bansal, Pooja Thomre, Rohinee Agarwal, Rekha Chhabra, Radhika Gupta, Madhao Saste and Robinson Devadhason. PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOUSE OF INDIA Rajshree Mudaliar (President, House of India), Consul General of India Ambassador Sanjay Panda S CENE House of India Donor Appreciation & Fundraising Banquet BY U-T STAFF he House of India held its Donor Appreciation Board members for the house include Rajshree & Fundraising Banquet at the Recital Hall in Mudaliar, Salim Shah, Francoise Shah, Vijay Navani, TBalboa Park on Feb. 22. Romila Notani, Ajay Chhabra, Anu Rajasekaran, The funds were raised for the construction and Nanda Mehta, Sneh Bansal, Pooja Thomre, Rohinee furnishings for the House of India Cottage in the Agarwal, Rekha Chhabra, Radhika Gupta, Madhao park. Saste and Robinson Devadhason. Attendees of the banquet. riving votes are counted in kind of candidate that con- campaign is putting people turn out based on the presi- While Zosa has been a RUNOFF coming days — also appear servative voters typically over politics,” she said. “For dential primary,” he said. community leader for more to indicate that the two choose, Leventhal said. me it’s not about politics; it’s “I’m looking for the Republi- than two decades, Campillo FROM B1 Democrats may have the “A lot of his votes are about engaging the commu- cans to come out in Novem- noted that he has local con- Allied Gardens, Del Cerro, edge in November. In Dis- available for me to get,” he nity. I know the district — I ber and make it a lot more nections, including being a Tierrasanta, San Carlos and trict 7, Campillo leads Zosa said. “I’m not taking any- grew up there.” competitive.” graduate of Linda Vista’s nearby neighborhoods. by more than 1,500 votes one’s vote for granted, but I During the rest of the Zosa said the race will University of San Diego District 5, now repre- even though Zosa was the think those votes are up for campaign, von Wilpert said clearly be a choice between a High School before it moved sented by Republican- only Republican in the race, grabs.” she plans to focus on envi- traditional Democrat and a to Carmel Valley. turned-independent Mark and Campillo was compet- Leventhal said another ronmental issues, homeless- traditional Republican but “People don’t realize how Kersey, includes Rancho ing with two other Demo- factor was the hotly con- ness and gun control. stressed that he needs to deep my roots go,” he said. Bernardo, Scripps Ranch, crats — Wendy Wheatcroft tested Democratic primary, Leventhal said he thinks reach out beyond Republi- Campillo said he plans to Carmel Mountain Ranch, and Monty McIntyre. which boosted turnout there are key differences be- can voters. “I can’t just win focus on housing and home- Sabre Springs and the The percentage of Dis- among Democrats. In con- tween the candidates on with Republicans, but I’m lessness because those are northern part of Rancho Pe- trict 7 voters who chose a trast, some Republicans many issues for voters to fortunate to have strong bi- the two biggest challenges nasquitos. Democrat was more than 69 chose not to vote because consider. He said an exam- partisan support from libe- facing the city, and because Registered Democrats percent, leaving Zosa with President Trump has locked ple is allowing dense housing ral Democrats to conserva- they are what voters care outnumbered registered just under 31 percent of the up that party’s nomination. projects in single-family tive Republicans and every- about most. Republicans in District 7, vote. Leventhal also noted neighborhoods, which von thing in between,” he said. Zosa said he plans to fo- 36,857 to 23,908 through In District 5, von Wilpert that he has $132,000 in cam- Wilpert supports more en- “People don’t want that po- cus on those issues but also March 2. The district also leads Leventhal by 583 paign money left over from thusiastically than Lev- larizing atmosphere where some topics that typically has 24,116 voters who de- votes, with 39.8 percent of the primary, while von enthal. people don’t get along to- spur more ideological differ- clined to state a party affilia- the vote compared to 38.05 Wilpert only has $35,000. “I think it’s going to be gether.” ences, such as creating bike tion. percent for Leventhal. But Von Wilpert said she be- about the same things it’s Campillo said he was lanes to help fight climate The margin is much Democrat Issac Wang got lieves her lead is the result of been about already,” he said. pleased with his comfort- change and traffic con- smaller in District 5, which more than 18 percent, while voter confidence in her and “I really respect her a lot, but able first-place finish in the gestion. had been a Republican the fourth candidate — Re- an aggressive effort to visit we have some real policy dif- primary. “I want to really talk stronghold for years before publican Simon Moghadam residents door-to-door.