When It Comes To Policy, Any Chance We Can Redirect One Iota Of The Empathy Given To Mass Shooting Suspects On TV Towards The Victims Of Gun Violence? Anyone?
Let’s dive right in…
Yesterday was awful. And we are learning more about how despite an uptick in hate crimes against Asian-Americans during the pandemic (Stop AAPI Hate says there have been nearly 3,800 reported over the past year - and those are just the reported incidents), “many incidents have either not led to arrests or have not been charged as hate crimes.” Then, when I logged on to Twitter this morning, I saw a tweet imploring people not to share a yellow square to honor the victims, saying “I should not have to tell you why that's inappropriate.” The fact that we as a culture aren’t aware of how the historical implications of that color make it highly inappropriate for performative instagram activism (see: Yellow Peril on Wikipedia) belies the fact we haven’t reckoned with our ingrained anti-Asian racism. And do NOT get me started on the Sheriff who said the suspect was having “a really bad day.” Because when I have a really bad day, I attempt to meditate, or I eat Girl Scout cookies, or I binge a show on cults, or I deluge my friends with animal Tik Toks, or I learn a Taylor Swift song on guitar (notice the conspicuous lack of murdering eight people on that list?) If you’re looking for somewhere to channel your anger, might I suggest donating to Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
We talked about this yesterday, but a reminder that “being busy” all day long prevents you from actually thinking, and creating. BuzzFeed also has some tips on “Doing something that has no useful outcome whatsoever.”
Lyz Lenz is so damned good: The Myth of the One Good Man.
Good: the FCC fined two telemarketers $225 million for robocalls. (CNBC)
And finally, a man did a half-marathon barefoot on a frozen lake in Quebec and that is a HECK NOPE from me. (CBC)
Be kind to each other and wear those masks, mmmkay?
Xoxo Amy