Laughter is Contagious
Being so far away, it is sometimes easier to isolate myself from the havoc that the SARS virus is causing at home. Looking at it statistically, the SARS virus has not claimed a large number of lives, though its highly contagious nature is cause for alarm. No cure for any type of virus has ever been found in the history of humankind, so the best people can do is try not to get infected.
There is a cure, however, for the paranoia and insensitivity that comes with fear. People from China risk losing their jobs solely because of their nationality; doctors and nurses are ostracised from society because of their occupation; and labels like “super-infectors” are placed on people who never strove for so dishonourable a title.
Just as I was touched and impressed by the New York firefighters during the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centers, I am even prouder of the nurses and doctors in Singapore who battle discrimination and possible infection while doing their job. My heart goes out to them.
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how about...
i heard.. "walking disease" to describe the index case(es)..? equally bad haha
but we tend to ostracise others or see pple in another light when we aren't in their shoes.. that's human character
A friend passed me some free postcards which are meant to be sent to the doctors and nurses of Tan Tock Seng hospital (some have already been received by staff). The cards are being given out at an MRT station, I heard. A kind gesture of encouragement and support.
Van, do you have the address I can send things to?
I'll check the postcard address when I get back from work. In the meantime, someone just sent me a link so you can sign a petition in support of our 'healthcare givers'.
http://www.petitiononline.com/SARS_SG/petition.html
The address is:
Tan Tock Seng Hospital
11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng
Singapore 308433.