OINK!

What is there to say about swine flu that hasn’t already been said? The answer is not much. That’s ok though, I’ll give it a shot anyways.

I got an email from the University, as did many others I am sure, regarding the possibility of swine flu at Amherst College. Apparently my mother got a similar email, because no sooner did I open the email, but she called to yell that I needed to wash my hands. I discovered that she had read a posting on the UHS website, which sent her into a not-so-uncommon frenzy.

The swine flu is obviously a serious threat to some people. The elderly, the very young, and the sick. Having such a strain on their immune systems can be dangerous and damaging.

With all the pandemoniumsurrounding the swine flu, it was only a matter of time before the jokes started surfacing. I received a text message from friend that said “Fwd: back in the day people said we’d have a black president when pigs flew… obama gets elected and 100 days into office swine flu!”. Cute right?

That is just the tip of the iceberg.  I got an invitation to a party via facebook for a “swine flu ho-down”. The idea of the party was that everyone was going to be dressed up as either a pig or a frightened person (wearing masks and gloves).

Despite the humor on the surface of these type of things I think it is important that we remember not to take pandemics like this too lightly. It is near impossible to make it through any bad situation without a sense of humor, however we need to be respectful of those suffering.

Had anyone else heard any good swine flue jokes? Or do you know the kids at Amherst that have been quarantined?

May 5, 2009. 1.