Bronwyn,

You just said about yourself above:

"I'm well-educated and widely-read .............."

Please, continue. I would love to hear all about you.

Sorry, Bronwyn, I'll try to be less ambiguous in future :)

As it happens, no, I don't believe that China's scientists deliberately - or accidentally either - created this virus. I'm much more interested in the possibilities that it was a product of the exchange of 'bush-meat' goods between forest foragers and towns-people in southern China, as happens around the world.

Joe

Foul-Mouth,

We all know you are a mouthpiece for the Chinese and we assume your explanation is what Beijing wants us to think.

Bronwyn said "I do not subscribe to the racist and ignorant anti-Chinese sentiment so prevalent on this site and will call it out at every opportunity. "

Answer- I don't think it is wrong to protect ones own country. There are some (especially communists) that believe all wars are racist wars. Perhaps it is racist to protect ones own country but I don't think it is wrong. Maybe the word racism has been used wrongly.

See I am attacking the idea not the wielder- does that make me fair or stupid

People have always protected their own nation their own culture their own family- suddenly seventy years ago this became racist and prejudice. People should read more history. Some would call Araminius a racist- not to mention the Dalai Lama- perhaps they both are- but that doesn't mean they are wrong in their beliefs to protect their own interest. You could perhaps argue that the whole of capitalism to gather resources to themselves is a form of prejudice. Capitalism has been called "enlightened self interest".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enlightened_self-interest

Some read books but don't understand their context- or their context. ;) ...

Misop,

Any time you're in Adelaide, let me know and you can come around and kiss my hairy arse.

Cheers,

Joe