Category: Unit 3 (Page 3 of 6)

Dear James Bennet,

I was very interested in what happened with the coronavirus during the year 2020 and wanted to find a paper that could give me more insight. I stumbled across the article “How COVID-19 Slipped China’s Grasp” in The New York Times and the authors were really able to help answer my questions. Chris Buckley, David D. Kirkpatrick, Amy Qin, and Javier C. Hernández wrote a very interesting article and the sequence of events that were written might have been a big shock to most readers. I, however, knew bits and pieces about the SARS epidemic and China’s role in the pandemic but needed clarity on how things unfolded. I believe “How COVID-19 Slipped China’s Grasp” was informal but I also don’t think this piece is for everyone’s eyes.

Learning about what events had happened behind the pandemic, that scientists and laboratories forewarning about the virus but were ignored by China’s government did leave me confused on why. However, not everybody took what China did lightly. In fact, it set people into a rage, including former President Donald Trump. Very inappropriate and racial slurs were vocalized at the Asian community and I truly feel what was written in “How COVID-19 Slipped China’s Grasp”, the same news Trump received, is what began the anti-Asian hate crimes we’re seeing this year. I’ll explain.

Trump made an ignorant comment referring to the disease as the “China virus” and a bunch of more nasty remarks towards China. I’ve seen people around me say similar things, too. Do I believe China played a big part in the global pandemic? Yes. But do I think they deserve the horrible backlash they’ve received? No. I remember going to an Asian-based food restaurant (yea, I was still eating  Chinese food during the lockdown) and there was a sign on their window that read “Please don’t be afraid to order here We don’t have Corona” and I felt so much empathy towards them. Seeing small businesses lose money because people were saying nasty things like “Don’t order Chinese food because you’ll get COVID” or that they were afraid just made me feel bad.

I’m not saying by any means that your article caused people to react this way. But the way some people perceive the information from the article is awful and I don’t agree with it. Asian Americans were being physically attacked, spat on, told to “Go back to their country”. Things that African Americans and other minorities were fighting against, they ended up doing to Asian Americans here in the states as if they really caused this pandemic. The hate was just misdirected and caused a social problem. Asian Americans were used as scapegoats and blamed for the lack of communication between China’s government and ours.

I might be wrong but I think the authors of “How COVID-19 Slipped China’s Grasp”, Buckley, Kirkpatrick, Qin, and Hernández, added some details in there that maybe wasn’t appropriate to share with anybody who pretty much has internet access. And like my professor said, China’s citizens and people of Chinese descent did nothing wrong. They had no control of what their government was and was not doing. People in China, professors, scientists, and laboratories, were actually trying to persuade the government to let the world know of what was happening. I believe you and the authors had good intentions to illustrate what occurred but at the same time, the information this paper contained fueled a lot of hate. 

Sincerely, a reader,

– Isadora B.

Coronavirus placed a huge stress on people globally. It was so little what we were told and people should know the truth, especially if lives are in danger. “How COVID-19 Slipped China’s Grasp” was an illuminative article and did fill in gaps that were missing. But, I wrote this letter because I wanted to tell everyone how I felt about the main article I wrote on and personally wanted to address the negative effects it may have on readers. Seeing people thrown under the bus for something they had no control over doesn’t sit right with me. I hope everyone can see how the two issues relate because racism is not okay regardless of where the anger and frustration stems from.

Honestly since we started this project I was very confused about what we were going to be talking about Since I thought it was a typical writing project and reading information when I started to think deeply that it was something much more it was something more in your personal opinion and learning from the authors’ descriptions and regarding their articles For me it was quite difficult to complete this project mainly because I had many errands to do regarding other classes and my social life I had to consider the time and study very well the things that I was going to say something that personally was something very hard to do Honestly I must say that at least I am proud of myself for doing this project and being able to complete it thanks to the teacher and the help she has given me is it has been the best thing that could have happened to me, I can say that There is nothing better than when you do not understand a class, a teacher helps you.

Dear Miriam Jordan,

Everyone has a passion for something and well for you is talking about what goes on in theses detention centers and how immigrants are getting treated. Many of us have no clue what happens inside or others don’t seem to care. Some of you believe you don’t make any difference by writing articles based on topic you feel strong about but in reality you do make a difference a little one. You may ask your self what else you can do to make a difference well apart from taking interviews get some footage if you can and show it to the world. Many of you also risk you’re lives just to get the story/ information. Miriam Jordan you are one of them you traveled from Arizona all the way to Tennessee on a bus just to get to the facility to tell us what happens. How does your family feel about all of this? They should feel proud that you care about others and their well-being.

Their should more people interested in what goes on with the kids that cross the border every day many risk it all just to get here. For Many it’s their last day seeing their family and for others is a new chapter. Many are fleeing from their country because of death threats or because they need the money. When entering the facility what was your first reaction how did you feel before and after the interview with the kids. Hearing the statement from one of the officers saying “I didn’t sign up for this”  and hearing that all the children’s wear a bracelet with a barcode just to keep track of them. My reaction when I first read your article was frustrating because how can some of these officers feel okay with all these violations? Most of these officers can be ok with everything they do but not all of them feel that way. Those who don’t agree with the choices of their fellow coworkers can’t speak up because they might be scared of loosing their jobs.

Also in your article with Simon Romero and Zolan Kanno-Youngs I like it how the three combine your interest just to make that article stronger. You also mentioned “Biden administration is struggling to find space for migrant children and teenagers because its almost three times the level seen last year”. Meaning that majority are kids and teenagers traveling for better opportunities and to also help their families back home. Instead they are stuck in theses overcrowded facilities where they are given a few mats to sleep in or on the floor piled up next to each other.  Seeing these conditions that they experienced is crazy because the government doesn’t take interest to see how their facilities are running. Theses articles made me realize that everything that the government shows us is not always true. It has also made me realize that we can all make a difference but at the end it benefits those who are involved. During the pandemic not a lot was done exposing many of them to this virus they were never given a test to see if they were positive or negative.

What would you do if you were in that position if you were a kid traveling all the way from your home and go to a different country? The information you have collected over the years. How does it make you feel? What do you think should be done differently? Interviewing all of these kids coming from Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and other countries Hearing their stories makes it insane what they go through for an opportunity. People who are born hear should feel lucky they have all theses opportunities and should take advantage. Those who don’t take advantage of these opportunities should be the main audience for these articles. Try to find a way to have them become your audience and make them see that no everyone has the same advantages.