Chicago Health Officials Warn People - Even Guanabee Commenters - Not To “Stereotype” Against Latino Students With Swine Flu

Nine probable cases of swine flu have been identified in Illinois, five of those in Chicago.  The city’s Joyce Kilmer Elementary school was shut down as officials attempted to determine whether a sick student at the school was suffering from the hybrid flu. Health officials advised parents not to be alarmed, but to keep children at home and to sit in a circle of toothpaste while wearing a hat fashioned out of aluminum, lest killer hogs should break through windows to devour the young and vulnerable. 

The fact that 59.9% of the school’s population is Latino prompted Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Terry Mason to advise against “drawing conclusions or stereotyping.” It’s a little troubling that someone would have to say this. “Now let’s not start pointing fingers at the malignant brown children until we know for sure that this is all their fault.”

We’ve written before on how those in the media should be cautious in how they report on the virus, which prompted one commenter to gently remind us that it’s ok to be racist against a certain group if you’ve witnessed accounts of one or two members of that group being racist at some point:

If you expect non-Latinos to “call this out as adding to the ire aimed at Latino immigrants,” you have to return the favor. Latinos are some of the most racist people I’ve ever encountered. I remember when everyone was terrified of the Asian-originated bird flu and heard a constant stream of racist jokes and comments from Latinos about the “chinos” and Chinese food and Chinese people, etc.

Take care of your own house first, amigo.

Excellent comment, buddy. 

Just to be safe, we’ll stay away from people of all backgrounds, quietly contemplating the works of Wifredo Lam and eating arroz frito with platanitos until this whole thing blows over.

Swine Flu: 9 Probable Cases In Illinois, Chicago School Closed  [HuffPo]