For what it's worth--and I'm unlikely to be drawn very far into this--the point of my earlier post is not that any one person is racist, or that using that phrase is inherently racist, but that the use of phrases like that one has negative consequences--at the very least potential for negative consequences, without any contrary positive attributes. If using the phrase is hurtful to Asian Americans (in the case of the piece I posted, my high school classmate's feelings are hurt), why use it? Because the Spanish Flu--from 100 years ago--also has a geography in one of the common ways to refer to it?
While you may bristle at her opinion (you certainly bristle at mine), her very real perspective, as a resident of northern Virginia is this (verbatim from her Facebook post):
"I'm Chinese and terrified for myself, my family & community. Today on the blog I'm asking for your help to be an ally to me and my fellow Asians."
It is true that there is no direct evidence (that I'm aware of) tying the Atlanta shooting to COVID-19 or even, necessarily, racism. It is also true that since the advent of the pandemic, anti-Asian hate crimes are way up in the United States. That being the case, why continue to use this term?
Badge--I appreciate your willingness to reconsider the term.
This isn't "cancel culture," it's decency (empathy) for your fellow Americans. You can use whatever term you like, but there are good reasons not to.