Catrina Sable

I must say something about the shooting that happened in Atlanta. They found the shooter. He accepted responsibility and stated he understood what he had done. Good. What was his excuse? He had a bad day. No. A bad day is getting into an argument with a friend. Then coping by getting a glass of wine and eating some ice cream. It is not going out and shooting people. Supposedly it was not racially motivated, but when over half of the victims were Asian women it makes you question that.
          
          My heart breaks for my fellow Asians. I am fortunate to live a relatively sheltered life in a mostly safe area. But even so, things could still happen. A few days ago, a friend and their family was screamed at because they were Asian. It was the same area my parents live. In the suburbs. Where it’s safe.
          
          America is a beautiful melting pot. My parents were born and raised here. Yet people say they “speak English so well” as if English wasn’t their first language. They outright banned Chinese from coming to the US under the Chinese exclusion act. Then there were the Japanese internment camps. And yellow fever. And now the Chinese virus. When will this end?
          
          These incidents aren’t unusual, this is stemming from years of racism. And calling for more surveillance and more police is not the answer. I understand, that’s the easy solution, but I don’t think it’s the right one.
          
          Just like at the beginning with the Black Lives Matter movement, we need to educate others. Yes all lives matter and now we’re calling for people to acknowledge that Asian lives matter. Let’s fight the stereotypes and racism together as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I am not White. I struggle with prejudices against my race. Last year, I was the “model minority” but now my ethnicity is a disease. It’s a problem, but not one for right now. I am not Black. I don’t have to worry about being hunted as I go for a jog. I don’t have to hear police laugh as I choke to death. I don’t have to think about police barging into my home and shooting me. I don’t have to fear for my life while trying to save others.
          
          I still have privilege. In a way, I can turn from the injustice. I will never truly understand what Blacks are going through. I know I will make mistakes in what I write, or say, or do, or think. For that, I am sorry. I was hesitant to post because I feared what others would think. Still I need to speak up about the cruelty shown. I pray for my Black brethren, that they would get justice instead of blame. I pray for the protestors, that they could go home instead of to jail or a hospital. I pray for the police, that they would walk with us instead of firing at us. I pray for my nation, that strive for peace and healing instead of “otherness” and death.
          
          I will be honest, I’m not out protesting because I’m scared. I don’t want to be pelted with rubber bullets, or choke on pepper spray, or blamed for violence, or hauled off to jail, or run over by vehicles. To those that are brave enough, I thank you. I hope you stay safe, as the virus is still spreading. These words that I write and hashtags I post are not enough. It’s not enough if we donate $5 then let this slip from our minds. It’s not enough if we say but do not do. It’s not enough if we don’t examine ourselves first.
          
          It’s okay if you can’t be out protesting, there are other ways of fighting. We can start conversations, or donate, sign petitions, or vote, and we can educate ourselves. Whether young or old, let us raise our voices. Let us keep fighting so everyone can pursue happiness, strive for liberty, and most importantly live.

Hi, wow, first status update. To everyone who was reading and liked Beautiful and Strong, I am sorry. I decided to delete it and start over. Similar overall plot, but the celebrity will now be Demi Lovato. This new book is called My Nightingale. I hope you enjoy it