Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Who should you help during the coronavirus pandemic?
Position1 of 8›
Help Asian communities
Argument1 of 2›

Asian businesses have been hit hardest

Every business is suffering, but Asian-owned businesses are among the worst affected by the novel coronavirus.

The argument

We need to help the communities that have been affected most by declining consumer demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic. No community has been affected more than the Asian community. Even before isolation measures were introduced, Asian-American businesses saw a reduction in business by 80%. This was likely due to the virus originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan and allegations that Asian eating habits led to the first human COVID-19 case.

Context

Due to the coronavirus originating in the Chinese city of Wuhan (and claims it was linked to Asian eating habits), many patrons have stopped buying from Asian food establishments.

Premises

[P1]Help should go to the communities hardest hit by the pandemic's decline in consumer demand. [P2] No community has been affected more than the Asian community, whose Asian-American businesses saw an 80% drop even before isolation measures were introduced. [P3] This was driven by the virus's origin in Wuhan and unfounded allegations linking Asian eating habits to the first case. [C] Therefore, we should help Asian communities, whose businesses have been hit hardest.

Counter-arguments

Asian restaurants may have gotten us into this mess. There were reports that the coronavirus may have initially infected humans in China due to the consumption of a COVID-19-infected bat. If this is true, then Asian restaurants should be the last industries we should help.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] We shouldn't help industries that exacerbated or caused the pandemic. [Rejecting P2] Asian businesses may have caused the pandemic. [Rejecting P3] Therefore, we shouldn't help Asian businesses.

Framing

We need to help the communities that have suffered most.