The latest figures published by the WHO show that 700 people have died of the H1N1 influenza virus.
Although WHO Director General Margaret Chan predicts that this will be the fastest spreading pandemic on record, there is nothing to indicate that it is more lethal than its influenza predecessors.
Have we all been taken for a ride?
Every 15 minutes somebody steps on a land mine and is killed or maimed. Every 3.6 seconds, somebody dies of hunger. These people simply do not make the news. There is of course the relevant fact that most of us who write and/or read newspapers do not feel in any immediate danger of stepping on a land mine or dying of hunger. Catching the flu, on the other hand, has better odds of actually happening.
Every year some 30,000 people die on European roads: most of them in excellent health. Nobody makes much fuss about that, although we are all in danger of getting killed on the road whether we read newspapers or not. We’re inured to the risk.
H1N1 sounds like something new. In fact, it is new: a new threat, calling for our attention. Add to that the flavour of cutting-edge biotechnology as the world seeks a vaccine, and suddenly it becomes a modern phenomenon – the epidemiological equivalent of Paris Hilton. She’s cool. Only God knows in what way she is different from a thousand million other females her own age, and who are utterly unknown; but there it is. She’s famous.
So is H1N1, also known as swine flu, (although we in the press have WHO instructions not to call it that, in order to prevent having a billion ignoramuses quit eating pork out of unjustified fear, thus causing economic havoc etc.) is famous too.
Paris, bless her, has no discernible talent at anything other than attracting and holding media attention. Hundreds of millions of us appear mesmerised by her simply because she’s there. Those of us who thought they were immune become infected even as they hear of her as a phenomenal vacuum. If you have never heard of Paris Hilton, are you truly alive? She is the epitome of our age, a media diva, not a singer, not a dancer, not a writer or even a Nobel Prize winner in some arcane art or craft.
And because of that very fact she is far more phenomenal than any of those. The earth waits with bated breath to hear of her latest non-event.
Every few days we hear of the dreaded progress of the H1N1. Yesterday, Chloe – a young Scots girl – died of it in Glasgow. Her death, which would otherwise pass unnoticed except by those who knew and loved her, was world news for all of yesterday, thanks to H1N1. We are invited to mourn her but somehow it feels as though her death is exploited, trivialised. Paris Hilton bumped into a nobody and flashed the world’s spotlight upon her for an instant.
Say media and you mean money. Paris Hilton generates millions in any currency just by being herself. Chances are that H1N1 will generate much more just by being famous. Or should it be infamous?
H1N1 is more than just a viral Paris Hilton: it’s a cross between Paris Hilton and Osama bin Laden: it’s famous and there is a very remote possibility that it can kill you. What more could anyone, even a pharmaceutical company ask, to make something famous?
Crimes against women Less hyped up than swine flu, but infinitely more dangerous, is what appears to be an epidemic of violent crime specifically targeting women in our country.
This apparent surge in crimes against women – which has resulted in two brutal murders in the space of a few weeks, both perpetrated by the victims’ current or former partners – has prompted welfare group Appogg to issue a stinging condemnation... not only of the murders themselves, but also of the apparent lack of any meaningful reaction from the authorities, media or even the general public.
Appogg is absolutely right. As one observer put it: we organise public protests against animal cruelty, but have not said a word of condemnation with regard to cruelty towards women.
Without in any way meaning to condone animal cruelty – which remains unacceptable and reprehensible, regardless of other issues – it must be said that the absence of any corresponding protests at these and other crimes speaks volumes about our priorities as a nation. It seems as though we are so accustomed to such manifestations of violence and aggression directed at women, that we scarcely even notice when another woman is brutally murdered by her husband.
It is little short of astonishing, that a nation which prides itself on its “Christian values” would tolerate such barbarism without batting an eyelid.
Surely, Maltese women deserve a whole lot better.
Any comments?
If you wish your comments to be published in our Letters pages please click button below. Please write a contact number and a postal address where you may be contacted.
Download front page in pdf file format
All the interviews from Reporter on MaltaToday's YouTube channel.
