Life chat: Heavy rain
Dear readers, fans, sisters and brothers, and friends,
I do not usually make this type of post, but I feel that I should help clear the air a bit with some personal commentary on the general situation which seems to be gripping the world and affecting most of our lives in ways that we have to adjust to, even if we don't like it. It seems that all the news is bad (but maybe that is the media reporting all bad news out of sensationalism, even though some good things might still be happening in the world).
The United States of America is my home country; I have traveled and lived in over a dozen countries in the world, and I've visited almost every U.S. state during my short time on this earth. I've seen evil, and I have seen good, and much in between where much was unclear. I have seen revolutions, wars, coups, race riots, and assassinations---along with oil fires, evacuations, corruption, thievery, and personal assault. But never have I witnessed the kind of thing that seems to be happening now: the U.S. falling apart in gridlock, fear, politicking, anger, finger-pointing, incompetence, and inaction; and seemingly every major country except China having the world turned upside-down. My mind balks; I still find it hard to believe that both my country and our world is becoming a place of hatred, panic, and intolerance, filled with anger and fear and a smug chauvinism that insists that all problems are the fault of someone else.
Hate crimes against Asians are increasing in the U.S. and around the world---you can see it in the news. Asians are being blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic. And Black, Latino, and other minority communities in America are not getting the health care they need; they are also blamed for being sick.
Hate crimes against Asians are increasing in the U.S. and around the world---you can see it in the news. Asians are being blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic. And Black, Latino, and other minority communities in America are not getting the health care they need; they are also blamed for being sick.
That kind of thinking is wrong. It is absolutely wrong. We are all connected, and we must strive to be humane and compassionate human beings who try to help those who suffer. We must not point fingers; we must not blame others; we must look inside ourselves. We are suffering as a society, with some privations, yes, but America has been and always will be a symbol of what is possible, not only what we are at present. Please, America, do not turn your back on the world at the very moment that it needs you to take the burden of leadership. Do not leave the world in confusion and darkness.
To abjure this privilege and responsibility is the action of a coward who likes when he is winning and complains when he is losing. That is not acceptable, nor is it advisable. We are speaking of human lives here. Please do not put politics before people. I beg you to put money in the hands of the American people (not irresponsibly of course, to benefit only those corrupt banks who wield only blackmail power over the American economy), but rather the small banks and businesses who will spend again when given the chance to keep America alive. Not "great again"---but alive and kicking, so President Trump of America claims despite all indications that he has ignored, mocked, and dismissed and derided the current crisis that is upon us all, without preparing an inch or a foot or even more than a tweet. What world leader would do this?
May all be well. I love you all, but I just went for a simple grocery & alcohol run with full mask on and a spatial quarantine allowed only inside the store that meant I could only holler out names of labels I had purchased in the past, with all indications (despite my lack of illness) that I hollered at them to "bring them out to me," like I was a victim of the disease, like I was someone infected and thus worthy of less moral claims to humanity. It's so hard to believe, but it's like the new normal.
That is not okay. It is not even alright. We must act, must hold on to some decency. We have to take not only probable but also possible the idea that we can revolutionize the democratic American political system, which is broken by the Electoral College and other barriers. Take action and vote for yourselves, and express yourselves (online and otherwise), conscientiously and without restraint. We must be parts of the change for a new American democracy that treats the third part of the Declaration of Independence, "the pursuit of happiness," as one and the same as the other rights of human beings in America.
You might not care much about my fate as an individual human being. But to read news about Asian people being attacked in subways, assaulted in grocery stores, and vilified for just being Asians who "caused" the disease, that must be too much. Even the American president has called this whole thing a "Chinese virus," and placed the blame on people who look like me. No matter our race, we are in this together as we struggle to make laughter and life and joy (and above all, survive). As a Chinese-American, myself, I can feel it if you have neither sympathy nor empathy for my being "Other." In fact, I am not "Other" at all, because I am as American as any other individual in my country, and I was born here and raised here. I might be treated differently by people because of my appearance as an Asian, and I hope that fact will not continue to happen to me or my children. But human nature shows its ugly side throughout history, especially when people are scared or frustrated, or both. Anyone could ask themselves: would you beat a Chinese-American or an Asian-American to death because of anger over job loss? This is real but overlooked. Would race or religion matter much more to you if you were in a spasm of rage?
Maybe any of us could see a hate crime and yet look away. Would you just stand by and watch if someone were insulting or beating up an Asian person? What if you knew she or he were caring for a sick relative or had a family waiting for her or him to bring back groceries at the end of a hard working day? Is there any excuse for a failure of compassion?
I think in this crisis, more vitally than ever, we each must help anybody in need. We are humans who share our fates. We must not let a virus or its bad economic effects defeat our sense of decency and compassion, no matter how bad it may seem. It must not define who we are. We are better than this.
I feel that a heavy rain is upon us, one that an umbrella can't keep away. Be well, stay well, and stay safe. I shall be in contact later, and hopefully very soon. If I cannot, then keep an umbrella open to catch the rain, like the girl in the picture, and know that each raindrop is a tear from Heaven. :o
That is not okay. It is not even alright. We must act, must hold on to some decency. We have to take not only probable but also possible the idea that we can revolutionize the democratic American political system, which is broken by the Electoral College and other barriers. Take action and vote for yourselves, and express yourselves (online and otherwise), conscientiously and without restraint. We must be parts of the change for a new American democracy that treats the third part of the Declaration of Independence, "the pursuit of happiness," as one and the same as the other rights of human beings in America.
You might not care much about my fate as an individual human being. But to read news about Asian people being attacked in subways, assaulted in grocery stores, and vilified for just being Asians who "caused" the disease, that must be too much. Even the American president has called this whole thing a "Chinese virus," and placed the blame on people who look like me. No matter our race, we are in this together as we struggle to make laughter and life and joy (and above all, survive). As a Chinese-American, myself, I can feel it if you have neither sympathy nor empathy for my being "Other." In fact, I am not "Other" at all, because I am as American as any other individual in my country, and I was born here and raised here. I might be treated differently by people because of my appearance as an Asian, and I hope that fact will not continue to happen to me or my children. But human nature shows its ugly side throughout history, especially when people are scared or frustrated, or both. Anyone could ask themselves: would you beat a Chinese-American or an Asian-American to death because of anger over job loss? This is real but overlooked. Would race or religion matter much more to you if you were in a spasm of rage?
Maybe any of us could see a hate crime and yet look away. Would you just stand by and watch if someone were insulting or beating up an Asian person? What if you knew she or he were caring for a sick relative or had a family waiting for her or him to bring back groceries at the end of a hard working day? Is there any excuse for a failure of compassion?
I think in this crisis, more vitally than ever, we each must help anybody in need. We are humans who share our fates. We must not let a virus or its bad economic effects defeat our sense of decency and compassion, no matter how bad it may seem. It must not define who we are. We are better than this.
I feel that a heavy rain is upon us, one that an umbrella can't keep away. Be well, stay well, and stay safe. I shall be in contact later, and hopefully very soon. If I cannot, then keep an umbrella open to catch the rain, like the girl in the picture, and know that each raindrop is a tear from Heaven. :o
Well said.
ReplyDeleteSay what you will about China, but they managed the virus well and now they're helping others. The virus reveals humanity's worst. Playing the blame game doesn't help. Hatred and fear towards a group of people doesn't help. A virus doesn't respect political boundaries, ethnicity, religion nor ideology, it's not a time for meaningless xenophobia it's a time for unity. An event such as this reveals humanity's true self, let that self be a good one.
I agree, and I think you are right: playing the blame game is making everybody (not just Americans) worse as people. We are all human equally vulnerable to a virus that potentially invades us, and I know that there is a real fear. I am not afraid, personally, but I fear that many Americans are, and with them are many Canadians, Germans, and Italians, and Koreans, and Japanese, as well as Singaporeans, Mexicans, Argentinians, Spaniards, Egyptians, Congolese, Thai, Indonesians, Russians, and others whom I might name but whose governments perhaps may pretend that nothing has nothing has ever happened. :(
DeleteIn such times, we must hold together and try to be the best human beings we can be. That might mean that we must social-distance for a while, but if so, we must look forward to the next hug that we receive. For it is in human love that we must find ourselves, and renew ourselves, once again.
Thank you for your comments and thoughts.
It's your blog sweetie! Vent away!
ReplyDeleteI think most people that have followed my blog for awhile have seen my political postings. I give them an option to just not read them if they don't want to see those views.
I've sort of stopped reading Facebook for the time being, well, when I do go on, I will mostly scan quickly through the feed, and focus on things that don't bother me too much. Otherwise I will bite my tongue all the way through to the other side. People are scared, and I get that, and that tends to make discourse sink to the lowest common denominator. Demagogues tend to want to "win something, which leads to that famous quote, "Who won the San Francisco Earthquake?"
Dee, my dear sis, thanks for commenting (far too little of that on my blog). The short answer as to your quotation about who won the San Francisco Earthquake (I assume you mean the great 1906 quake): well, to put it bluntly, the Chinese immigrants won it. They got American citizenship because all the records were burned down in the Frisco quake, and they could claim American citizenship at last (during the Exclusion Act). ^^
DeleteI hope that everyone can mentally calm themselves and be free from fear during what seems to be a scary time, but each person must look at each and every one of the blessings they have in life, no matter how scant.
May you continue to be well, Dee.
Hope you are staying safe, Karen! These are definitely crazy times and the panic is bringing out the worst in some people :(
ReplyDeleteThank you, Chelle! Maybe the situation has brought out the worst in some people, but it is also bringing out the best in some people, too. Be well, stay golden. ^_^
DeleteDear Karen, I can not imagine what you have been through during these days. I can only hope that people, no matter who they are, will regain their common sense asap. I myself am married to a Chinese woman, and living in the Netherlands I acn only see myself as being a very blessed human being. In this country people capt their common sense (well, at least most of them.). I hope you are still doing well and yes, I agree with you, we are all human beings that are connected to each other, all being born from a divine well a very long time ago .... .
ReplyDeleteStay happy and be strong, and may everything be well with you for now and in the future to come. Sincere greetings to you from the Netherlands! - Tom - (e-mail: brans_tom@yahoo.com).