| Servpro cleaning crew members wait to unload gear at Life Care Center of Kirkland, a long-term care facility linked to several confirmed coronavirus cases, in Kirkland, U.S., March 13. Reuters/ Yonhap |
This comment was sent by Allan Barry from Canada. ― ED.
I read with interest your article “Minister Kang ― our best Joan of Arc” outlining the over-reaction of Japan and others to Koreans regarding the corona virus.
Around the world racists are attacking anyone who looks Asian. Within South Korea itself, conservative ideologues condemn the liberal administration for not banning Chinese from the country.
Yet from a western perspective, and from health experts' perspective, as is being widely reported, South Korea is leading the entire world in its handling of this crisis. Once again it is leading the world.
If I were a South Korean I would be very pleased with the government's decisions and leadership on this issue. Contrast its leadership with the leadership of the United States and it would be immediately obvious who in the world knows what they are doing and who does not.
The war against this virus is far from over, but South Korea is now being seen as a world savior. As a Canadian, I am very worried that the infection rate of our next door neighbor and major trading partner, because its lack of leadership and outright dishonesty will explode and flood into Canada.
So far there has been no talk of banning Americans from Canada and I don't think Koreans, even the conservative ones, would ever suggest banning Americans despite America's lack of testing and its potential to infect the world.
While there is almost no need to fear China anymore, the U.S., on the other hand, is on the cusp of becoming the worst virus culprit on earth. If South Korea should ban anyone, it makes more sense to ban Americans.