March 18, 2021

Yesterday was St. Patrick's Day, a day ususally dedicated to good fortune with revelers decked in green*. There was no luck to be had, and the color of the day was red as eight people were gunned down in and around Atlanta, Georgia, at spas owned by Asian-Americans. Six of the dead were Asian women. Against the background of rising crimes and discrimination against the Asian American Pacific Islander community, it is hard not to see this as a hate crime even though the perpetrator claims otherwise.

My heart is broken once again for another community that should never have had to endure this pain. To make matters worse, I learned my state had the brilliant idea to try and pass a law that no longer requires permits to carry concealed guns. This is dangerous and completely reckless, not to mention irresponsible. I realize that Tennessee and Georgia are two different states, but it feels like my state just gave the grieving communities in Georgia the middle finger and effectively declared open season on everyone of all backgrounds.

This country was founded on racism, and I know Asian Americans have been subjected to it for a long time. However, the recent uptick can be traced back to one person, whose vile, disgusting, horrifying characterization of the pandemic is clearly being parroted by his cult members. This person is the "disgraced, twice impeached, one term, former president" (thank you, Don Lemon, for introducing me to this phrase). Holding that office comes with enormous responsibility; your words have double the weight they normally would. It was callous and cruel to repeatedly used these slurs and epithets, and everyone knows it.

Fighting against people like this, like the people in my town, the state, and the United States Congress is exhausting, and it wears on it after a while. You know you are doing the right thing by standing up for those who need help, but the barrage of ugliness and racism and stupidity becomes a lot to bear at times. Allies will stumble; we are allowed to get angry and frustrated. It is impossible to keep it together all the time. The pain of seeing these communities suffering is infuriating. We are only human. However, it is vital that we get back up and keep going. At least we had the courage to get involved and try to make a better, more inclusive world possible.

*Correction: The shooting rampage took place on March 16, 2021.