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So a canny Chinese person came up with this clever plan to take over the world. Start a scare about this new version of 'flu (manufactured in a Chinese lab) in a small area of China. Shut it down. Report mass panic (notice how they seem to have stopped it spreading around China). Then make sure the Rest of the World starts getting it. Knowing how the media cannot resist a good story, it takes off causing panic. World (outside China) shuts down. China announces an antidote and vaccine. Grateful world begs for it. In return for huge sums, masses of trade and Chinese advantages, China grudgingly allows everyone to have access. RESULT!
The Chinese government may have a reputation for ruthlessness and a dreadful human rights record (what powerful nation past or present hasn’t ?) but if they do have ambitions to rule the world, I very much doubt they would want to achieve this by deliberately spreading disease or starting a war. Greed, hate, fear, envy (etc) are universal underlying habits of minds that have become split and unbalanced. Anyone could have smeared a sample of the new coronavirus strain on the bats (or other animal) at the Wuhan wet market. Perhaps a Chinese citizen with a long-standing grudge against their government or a Westerner terrified and envious of China’s economic miracle and growing influence in the world. If it was a deliberate act, I’m more inclined to think that the culprit wasn’t a local. Why would anyone in China risk getting caught and being held responsible for taking a long cherished delicacy off the menu?
md wrote: I love Russian sayings. Here are another two that seem apt for the current situation:
У страха большие глаза, Что он видит, чего нет
Fear has big eyes, What it sees is what is not there.
держи голову в холоде, в ноги в тепле
Keep your head cool and your feet warm
my late beloved Russian Granny had a daily one as well.."can you pick up another bottle of Vodka while you are out Dearest" said with a thick Russian accent.