We're in a Flu Frenzy. But We Know it.

Swine flu-pardon me, N1H1 Flu- has a caused a hysteria.

Perhaps we are on the downwind of the panic, but acrimonious fear did grip this country-in fact the world- and led to overpowering precaution. Schools closed in Texas because of one probable cause. Airports accros the globe have introduced infared cameras that silently search out fevers among a crowded terminal, a chillingly similar technology to the eye tracker in the twisted movie, Minority Report. All U.I.L. events (from the state wide Regional Track Meet to Round Rock High School's band banquet) were postponed for two weeks. Hundreds- if not thousands- of healthy pigs were slaughtered in Egypt for fear of the pathogen. In Mexico, the epicenter of the disease, the national guard has been involved in quarantine and protection. One cannot deny the global effect of the flu. And I'm not talking number of deaths, but rather amount of fear induced precaution.

Before the outbreak of the N1H1 flu, this country has had it's share of hysteria this century. Two prime examples are The red scare of the 20's and McCarthyism in the 60's. Although both panics were based in very reasonable causes, the absence of sound judgement that so often accompanies panic overblew the whole situation. Now, the eras are looked back on with almost a comical attitude. Senator Joseph McCarthy's deep voice and hawk-like eyes used to instill fear in Americans of the cold war period. But now, his circumventing interrogations and that one peice of greasy black hair that is always out of place appear like stage comedy. Arthur Miller, author of The Crucible, finds reason for this change of attitude claiming that, "Fear doesn't travel well; just as it can warp judgment, its absence can diminish memory's truth. What terrifies one generation is likely to bring only a puzzled smile to the next" .

But what I find interesting is the number of people who right now, in the midst of the panic, are able to look at the incredible responses with comedy and disdain. I find that people are quick to criticize the extreme precautions of schools and airports and even the renowned World Health Organization. They call the N1H1 flu an act of the media and government. An unreasonable fear.

They do have a point. Until this week, the only death in the United States due to N1H1 was a toddler in Texas visitng from Mexico. When hundreds lost their lives from heart disease during the 2 weeks of N1H1 panic in which only one child died from the flu, it is hard to justify the mounting hysteria.

Some of the precaution is over the top, but in general- I'm a fan of "safe is better than sorry". Children are more susceptible to the virus than the older generation, therefore closing a whole school district -though a bit scary, could have saved thousands.

What is interesting is that Americans are acknowledging the hysteria, for better or for worse. During the cold war, most Americans considered the HUAC, deportation, and alienation of communists reasonable and patriotic. Or if they oppossed the practices, they definitely did not speak up about it. As the government, the media, and even the qualified World Health Organization repeat and repeat the dangers of the flu, many- though not all- Americans are skeptical. And they voice it. So either we have finally lost all trust in these organizations, or have just finally found the guts to look at the facts ourselves and come to our own conclusions. I choose the latter.