How do you explain ignorance, racism, and pandemics to a child? I remember watching national news coverage of the H1N1/Swine flu/Killer Mexican flu outbreak in it’s first broadcasts. I remember more when the alert hit my state, exactly two weeks ago today.

As my wife ran out looking for medicines, surgical masks, Lysol, and antibacterial soaps and gels, my daughter Isa asked me:

Is the world ending, Dad?

After explaining the best I could about pandemics and the precautions we would be taking, she calmed and went on her merry way thrilled with the idea of not having school until at least May 6.

At this time, Mexico is, on the outside, back to normal. It is less and less common to see anyone with gloves or surgical masks, restaurants are open, and stores are selling.

Last Monday, Isa and my wife began having problems with their allergies. They both suffer bouts throughout each and every seasons changing, normally, they just take their medicines and all is well.

This time their standard prescription medicine wasn’t enough and by Wednesday Isa awoke with constant sneezing and a nasty cough. Without hestitation my wife jumped in the car for a trip to Isa’s pediatrician.

Not knowing how long they would need to wait upon entering without an appointment, they stopped put on their surgical masks and entered a Super 7 for bottles of water. As they were waiting to pay Isa, still masked, coughed once and let out a tiny sneeze. That was all it took to empty the cashier’s line.

One woman cursed my wife for infecting them all, the cashier simply shook his head in agreeance. My wife tried to explain Isa had allergies, her voice fell on deaf ears as the last patron hurriedly exited the store.

Isa was left ashamed, sad, confused, and in tears as she asked her Mother what she did wrong explaining she can’t infect, she has allergies, a mask, and even coughed and sneezed into her elbow. Apparently this event opened another door to a pain Isa had been hiding.

She began to sob as she asked my wife if everyone would hate her too now. Hate you? My wife asked. It was then Isa told her how everybody hates Mexicans because they say we are dirty and made the world sick and now people are dieing. She was terrified of being called dirty and hated by the world.

I would like to tell her it’s not true, but if our own people treated her like that, what must the world think? What the hell is going on? How can the world be so ignorant and cruel?

I am saddened by this outbreak. I am saddened by the ill and the deceased, their friends and families. I am saddened and angered by the ignorance, but I am most saddened that my baby girl was subjected to this poisonous combination of ignorance, fear, and stupidity.

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”-Martin Luther King, Jr.