[-empyre-] the second wave?

[Junting Huang]

dear all

I want to thank all guests for sharing their works and stories, and everyone for tuning in. When I mentioned the possibility of hosting a monthly discussion on coronavirus to Renate at the very beginning of March, Italy and South Korea just became the first two hotspots outside China, and when there was only one confirmed death in the U.S. At that time, I shared with a few friends an article that I came across. It is “The Coronavirus Is Us” by Michael Marder, which begins with an intriguing quote “We live in an interconnected world, where borders are porous, more like living membranes than physical walls.” (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/03/opinion/the-coronavirus-is-us.html) It is hard to believe how things have changed in just about a month. 

While in February, I was extremely concerned about my friends and families in China, in the past month, they have been even more concerned about me in the states. While we understand the severity of this global pandemic, it is also important to be reminded that, because of our “porous borders,” the crisis comes in waves. Even within the U.S., while New York is hit hard at this moment, other states will probably follow in the next few weeks. And now, there are talks about “a second wave” in Asia, where countries that had the situation under control may face another wave of "imported cases" (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51955931).

The problem with our “porous borders” is that it often gives us a false sense of security. When Trump said he’s banned all travels from China and Europe, he seemed to suggest that that is all it takes to contain the spread. Yet we know it is not. On the other hand, however, our “porous borders” also gives us the time to respond. Because the viral spread comes in waves, we have time to help people in other places and to prepare for the next wave. 

I believe that empyre as a global network can remind ourselves of our “porous borders” in order to act and to respond at this critical time. I look forward to the month’s discussion. 

Stay well and strong. 

Junting Huang
Department of Comparative Literature
240 Goldwin Smith Hall
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853