THE CORONAVIRUS AND THE BLAMING GAME

It is part of human nature to try to find the cause of everything. We are curious and want to find the reason of almost everything in order to understand the world around us. The Coronavirus pandemic is not different.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in the US, this virus was first detected in China and has now been found in more than 100 locations internationally, including the United States. The virus has been named “SARS-CoV-2” and the disease it causes has been named “coronavirus disease 2019” (abbreviated “COVID-19”). It was originally caused by bats. But to some fanatics, religious or otherwise, this is not enough. They are looking for human behavior that gave rise to this terrible disease. The Chinese already blamed some US soldiers for bringing it to China. In the past, some Evangelical Christians have blamed LGBTQ people for all sorts of natural disasters and diseases, from Ebola to earthquakes, and now they’re starting to falsely link the community to the new coronavirus COVID-19. Some claim it was brought about by Zionists; some even attributed it to the fact that during religious services many people keep talking about secular matters. How far can this lunacy go?

I think many people are recommending behavior that is extreme, simply because we don’t really know how to control the pandemic: close schools, shut down museums and sports events; don’t shake hands, maintain social distancing, stay at home, clean everything. In our independent living complex, one couple even decided to self-quarantine themselves. I find that we are going to extremes. There seems to be a mass hysteria about this disease. People are hoarding hand lotions or toilet papers.

I think we need to take reasonable precautions until this passes over, but please, please do not look for easy answers or find easy human targets. We have enough problems to deal with. We don’t need fanatic responses.

Rabbi Rifat Sonsino, Ph.D.

Boston, March 15, 2020