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.
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
