Dear Reader,

  What is rational? What is irrational?

  "Rational" means something based on reason. "Irrational" means
  something not based on reason. For example, it would be rational
  to fear walking across the street with your eyes closed. It would
  be irrational to fear talking to someone with AIDS.

  How does this vocabulary lesson relate to my last issue about
  SARS? My question is "What did you do during SARS that was
  rational or irrational?" When SARS was around, being curious about
  human behavior, I spent a lot of time reading about SARS on the
  Internet and observing the reaction of people around me. I noticed
  some very irrational fears.

  For example, only one person in Taichung city died of SARS, but
  most people had a great fear of going to restaurants and public
  places (were you one of them?). Did you stop visiting your friends?
  Is this rational? I am sure many more people died of car accidents
  during this period, but no one feared driving. I am sure more people
  choked on food during this period, but no one feared eating.

  I must admit however that I have some irrational fears too. I think
  it is human nature to fear the unknown or a disease that is unknown
  to us before, especially when it gets news coverage every day.
  However, being humans, we must recognize any irrational fear for
  what it is and try to rise above it. Don't let the fear control you.
  Don't let media control you.

  Try to make your actions based on reason and not blind fear. As the
  experts says, the fear of SARS is much much more destructive than
  the actual disease. SARS seems far away now, but If SARS or
  something similar comes again, remember to be the captain of your
  own ship. Don't let the irrational fear of it destroy our social fabric
  and your bond with people. To me, that was the most frightening part
  of SARS!

                                               Hoping we are all enlightened,
                                               JacksonFive

  P.S. We should support health care workers. I made an effort to
          speak up for them with the parents at my school. I think they
          work under great pressure during SARS and yet they were
          treated as if all of them had the disease too. They and their
          families were not welcomed guest any where (ostracized by
          society). In my opinion, this is very wrong!

  P.P.S. On the bright side, something good did come from this. Now
          that I've stalled cute sinks in front of the school, everyone is
          still washing their hands before entering. Among the teachers
          and students alike, we've noticed a significant drop in doctor
          visits.

<< JacksonFive Family News >>

  To read memorable emails from readers about issue 67 (SARS),
     http://www.path2english.com/Reference/SARS.htm
  To read two new "English Shares" visit
     http://www.path2english.com/Share/Share.htm
     If you have good "clean" Shares, please remember to email them
     to me. I especially like ones that have a good social message or
     will inspire people.