Israeli official: Swine flu name offensive to Jews, Muslims
JERUSALEM (AP) — The outbreak of swine flu
should be renamed "Mexican" influenza in deference to Muslim and Jewish
sensitivities over pork, said an Israeli health official Monday.
Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman said the
reference to pigs is offensive to both religions and "we should call
this Mexican flu and not swine flu," he told a news conference at a
hospital in central Israel.
Both Judaism and Islam consider pigs unclean and forbid the eating of pork products.
Scientists are unsure where the new swine flu
virus originally emerged, though it was identifed first in the United
States. They say there is nothing about the virus that makes it
"Mexican" and worry such a label would be stigmatizing
Lauowolf's Blog 
Posted by Robbbiedobbbie on April 28, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Oh. my. goodness.Words fail me.It's called H1N1 virus….I'm just hearing on CNN a request from the Dept of Agriculture that we to call it that, to protect the pig farmers and meat producers. Has anyone asked the piggies?Holy carp. What a world. There are people who are starving all over the world EVERY DAY and "we're" rolling around in the mud slogging it out over names of viruses.Thanks for posting this…… *waves**shakes head and crawls back under her bed to hide*
Posted by Robbbiedobbbie on April 28, 2009 at 12:40 pm
I forgot this: It's great to see you again!!!!!!!! *smoooochies*
Posted by mariser on April 28, 2009 at 12:49 pm
I don't remember anyone getting their panties in a twist last year when the pandemic du jour was the avian flu. IMNSHO, they should stick to the conventional notation: this particular virus strain originated in pigs, thus it remains swine flu.
Posted by Lauri on April 28, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Um, yeah. I don't hear any swine complaining. However, if I was a Mexican I would. People are soooooooooooooooooo weird.
Posted by Laurie on April 28, 2009 at 12:54 pm
It's not like we're asking them to eat it.
Do they not realize that everyone is treating the flu as an unclean, unwanted thing? Isn't that consistent with their attitude toward pigs?
Anyone will try and grab a news cycle now, won't they?
Posted by AmyH on April 28, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Seriously? *rolls eyes*
Posted by Lurkertype on April 28, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Exactly. You'd think they'd be happy about it, with everyone making remarks about how they're not gonna eat pig till this is over.Don't insult us by regarding something the way we do! But it's a-okay to insult the Mexicans!
Posted by arbed on April 28, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Because until it was called "swine" flu, it was a good thing???
Yeesh.
Posted by DKN on April 28, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Wow. That makes NO sense whatsoever.
Posted by Doug on April 28, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Ridiculous. It's the influenza that's offensive. There are more important things to worry about than the nomenclature of this little package of protein.
Posted by Lauri on April 28, 2009 at 2:58 pm
I know, let's make them really happy and call it the Jew Flu. or the Abu Flu. Or One Flu Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
Posted by Carlisa on April 28, 2009 at 3:21 pm
You gotza be kidding! Who gives a rat's behind WHAT they call it?
Reaches up and slaps Lauri! LOL…can't take her anywherez!!!
Posted by Lauri on April 28, 2009 at 3:48 pm
*Snort**Runs around screaming and holding my cheek* 'lisa slapped me, 'lisa slapped me!!!Bwahaha. It was werth it! 😀
Posted by lauowolf on April 28, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Can't take the pair of you anywhere.If you don't stop squabbling, I'll just stop this car and go home.
Posted by Lauri on April 28, 2009 at 4:03 pm
Carlisa told me that she wants them to call it the Poo Flu. o_0
Posted by lauowolf on April 28, 2009 at 4:05 pm
That's it.I'm going to pull over if there is one more remark out of you guys.
Posted by Lauri on April 28, 2009 at 4:08 pm
*muffled remark made through my own hand covering my own mouf*(I don't hear nuffin')
Posted by lauowolf on April 28, 2009 at 4:15 pm
(sigh)(grips steering wheel a little more tightly)Why don't I put on the radio?
Posted by DKN on April 28, 2009 at 4:44 pm
LMAO! *snort* I was thinking the same thing re Jew Flu, etc.
Posted by lauowolf on April 28, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Don't you go setting them off again.i just got them quiet back there.
Posted by DKN on April 28, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Oops! Sorry! LOL!
Posted by Lauri on April 28, 2009 at 4:50 pm
*wakes up* Huh, wha? Did someone say sumpin???
Posted by Kzinti on April 28, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I say they call it the Republican Flu… Everyone seems to hate them anyways, so why not take advantage of it? LOL
Posted by lauowolf on April 28, 2009 at 5:09 pm
We need to have a contest, to come up with a proper name for it.(Sadly, I am really liking the Poo Flu. Becuse I am really just that immature.)(And I want them to say it on the news.)
Posted by Little Odd Me on April 28, 2009 at 5:11 pm
*LOM rides up beside the car on her Racing Weasel and blows an air horn in the window, and yells:
"Jew flu, poo flu, got a piggy in you!"
.. and races off.*
Posted by lauowolf on April 28, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Oh noes…This is getting entirely out of control….Think I'll just take this lot for ice cream, and head on home.(I think Poo Flu wins.Especially since I gather it has intestinal issues.)
Posted by Carlisa on April 28, 2009 at 5:29 pm
No I dihint Lauo!!! Lauri is lie'n! Her iz all wayyyyzzzz mussin wuff me!!!!
Posted by Little Odd Me on April 28, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Awwwwwwwwww! No fair!
Posted by lauowolf on April 28, 2009 at 6:06 pm
If I hear ANY noise back there, everyone's in trouble.
Posted by Carlisa on April 29, 2009 at 4:48 am
giggles at LOM and quietly (w/o noise!) mooshes a Twinkie in Lauri's face.
Posted by Little Odd Me on April 29, 2009 at 4:53 am
Heyyy, how did I end up in the back seat?
Mo-o-o-o-m! Lauri stole my racing weasel!!!
*wails*
Posted by lauowolf on April 29, 2009 at 9:07 am
Put that weasel down, now!And quit feeding it a twinkie – I'm sure it shouldn't be eating one.Here… I know..Let's try a sing along….(Starts singing loudly, to block out sound from back of car.)A hundred bottles of beer on the wall.A hundred bottles of beer…
Posted by Lauri on April 29, 2009 at 4:46 pm
O.M.Gaaaaaa!!! *noms Twinkie off ma own face*You guuuuuyyyyyzzzzz!!!lauo, you are a saint! *grabs a beer and starts singing*