Page 76 - ShowSight - June 2020

ON THE LINE: THE CURSE & CAUSE OF CORONAVIRUS
What we do know is that China became our biggest supplier of every- thing from clothing to gadgets to prescriptions! In 2018, United States imports from China totaled $539.5 bil- lion and estimates are/were higher for 2020. Then our president announced we were levying tariffs on the trillions of Chinese imports.
And Coronavirus hit. Our leaders pointedly avoided referring to it as con- nected to China whereas previously we called the Hong Kong Flu what it was. I know that “dog people” are pretty smart as a group, comprised of teach- ers, professors, medical doctors, vet- erinarians, and breeders who burn the midnight oil studying canine health.
Correction, I’ve been told we have evolved from lanterns to Facebook.
Most people are concerned only with prevention, not origin of the virus but, thankfully, our leaders are weigh- ing the implications of social engineer- ing, especially as it affects elderly or chronically ill people.
Speculation abounds as to whether this virus was intended as “population control” for China’s burgeoning prob- lem or a means of thinning out Ameri- ca for a takeover. China has the largest population in the world, over 1.4 bil- lion people but it is 4th in land mass. In open land, we are 3rd after Russia and Canada but our science and tech- nology labs are second to none.
You might say we are a grouse and China is the field dog.
Speaking of dogs (this is, after all, a dog magazine) you and I think of the unique and beloved breeds that originated in China. From Pekingese to Shar Pei we love and treasure our “Oriental” breeds. We don’t want to think badly of China but, shucks, we blasted Japan and then hugged our Akitas and Chins.
So, we—and they—seem able to put political differences aside when it comes to dogs. But when it comes to “thinning” our society we are neither stupid nor blind.
Let’s hope our leaders are equally gifted with brains and vision. They could start with recognizing WHO as an obstacle or as we animal lovers would say, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
photo by ©Matthew Palmer
74 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JUNE 2020
Most people are concerned only with prevention,
not origin of the virus,
but thankfully, our leaders are weighing the implications
of social engineering,
especially as it affects elderly or chronically ill people.