Sunday, April 06, 2003 :::
Colby Cosh considers that SARS could turn out to have the same impact as the flu, or the same impact as -- well, the flu in 1919. He examines public reaction in 1919, and speculates on how it would be different today:
People seem to have been mentally prepared for the blind, implacable aspect of epidemic; although the people of 1919 Alberta weren't especially religious, they somehow had a sense of calm and self-possession we won't be able to call upon. We know too much to be content in the face of a crisis like this: virology and epidemiology have given our enemy a face, and we therefore cannot confuse it with God.
It's an interesting theory. I don't think he's right that our understanding of disease will cause us to react to it with more panic. I do think our culture is more panickable in a lot of ways than it was in 1919, though, and less accepting of death, and that sort of backs him up. So maybe I should consider this further when it's not 2:00 in the morning (and, simultaneously, 3:00 -- happy Daylight Savings).
::: posted by Steven at 1:56 AM
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