It’s been quite a hectic couple of months. In the last few weeks, it is kind of mind numbing that the newest headline is about that of the killing of George Floyd - and the coronavirus has taken a back seat.
It has triggered worldwide protests stemming from racial inequality. And there have been mostly peaceful protests, but once in a while there are bad apples that loot and break.
I hope everyone in the NYC community stays safe amidst the chaos. It really took me by surprise. And I commend the people that are passionate enough to take a stand on racial equality.
But please do it safely and intelligently, without the need for violence and looting.
I don’t really know what to think of this protest. It is a sign that not all is well in America. That there is still systemic racism in the policing system that needs to be addressed.
I see this movement shedding greater light on the need for racial equality and equality in general. Especially in a country as diverse as the United States of America.
Being an Asian American, I don’t identify too strongly obviously as a black person. But, I do read the news and see all the commotion and presence that is being felt across the nation.
The passionate protests and the unending speaking to fight for change and justice. I empathize with the police officers and their current state.
Things do need to change and improve for the better, but they are human beings as well and have their own vulnerabilities and sensitivities.
It’s hard to just label the entire group of law enforcement as bad apples, or as racist. It’s hard to put a finger on just exactly what should and should not happen.
Some law enforcement have taken it to the extreme and punished protestors more than they should - throwing tear gas, firing rubber bullets, and physically forcing protestors to disassemble.
Others have joined the cause for change, and walked together arm-in-arm with the protestors to fight and speak peacefully.
It’s not a one size fits all policy. Everyone has their own opinions and their own actions, and it’s hard to label one group as being good and peaceful, or bad and violent.
It’s hard to come down on forceful judgment. And it’s painful to see the USA in such a heartbreaking manner - with dissatisfaction and discontentment brewing across the minority community.
Especially the black community.
They have their grievances, and I am not going to pretend that I understand what it means to be a black man or a black woman in this country. I am going to step aside and let my more eloquent brothers and sisters speak on this publicly.
All I can say is that this movement on behalf of George Floyd has taken the concept of racial equality to a new light. It has triggered global movements in Germany, France, and Brazil.
This is more than just about the United States of America now. This is about the world and how we can heal together as one entity. Not just one nation. But as human beings. Together. As one.
Black or white. Police officer or protestor. We are all in the same boat. It’s hard to realize when we are so identified with what should be right or wrong.
But we are all the same. Regardless of race, culture, religion, nationality, color, or whatever you want to call it.
It’s hard to get to that point. I’m frankly not even sure what point we are supposed to be getting to. But, it’s unfair to say that this type of violence will just be cleansed from the face of the earth.
There will always be some sort of civil unrest in any type of free society. I commend those who have the courage to take that into action and protest peacefully. The key is to do this in a peaceful manner.
The word as already been spread globally. Many countries have followed suit, and are similarly protesting.
It’s quite surprising that the coronavirus is not the latest headline in the news these days. It’s been awhile since that’s happened.
But, I hope that we can all come together as one nation. And more importantly, one world. To realize that there is nothing to fight if we don’t stand together - regardless of what position we take in these mass protests.
Whether you are for the protestors. Whether you are for police officers. Whether you are red or blue. Black or white. Or in my case, Asian. It doesn’t matter. Equality is something that everyone deserves in this world.
And if I can get anything out of these last few days, it’s a sense of gratitude that this concept of equal rights has been taken to the forefront of our lives. We need to stand united. Peacefully. As one group. Together. And only then will rightful change fall into place.