Hello friends,

My we have been through it haven’t we?

It feels as though, since the end of 2019, somethings have just been “off.” As though, the Earth’s axis changed its tilt and now we’re devolving.

There is so much “hate,” and “Intolerance” out there. Yet, I have to question, how much of that hate and intolerance is within us? How many of us have been taught to seriously dislike and disregard others simply because they are who they are?

Sadly, many of you have shown your true colours when something horrible happens. The holocaust, the genocides in Africa and Burma and China, the 9/11 attacks, SARS, Covid-19, etc. It’s no wonder we are “alone” in our neck of the galaxy.

As a species, it seems we are in two camps: the ones who represent the worst of humanity, and the ones who represent the best of humanity.

Holding an entire group or race of people responsible for the actions of an unreasonable few is stupid, juvenile, crass, wrong and just plain idiotic. It’s akin to me holding all white people accountable for slavery. Is that fair? Were the majority of you reading this alive and fully participating in the slave trade of the 1700 and 1800s? Do you see how ridiculous that is?

The blaming of all Chinese people for Covid-19 is the same as holding all Muslims responsible for the actions of Osama Bin Laden. It’s naïve and ill-informed, not to mention incredibly ignorant and irresponsible. It’s holding the restaurant accountable for people who dine and dash and then blaming the server because his/her skin colour is not yours.

This level of taught behaviour has to change because it begins at home. It is never okay to blame someone for a crime they did not commit. Yet our justice system is filled with innocents behind bars. The system that has housed internalized hatred has also built homes that house unjustified contempt and prejudice. Where did all this come from? Do those of you whom hate so badly have nothing else in your lives? You just believe all the hate that is spewed from right-wing media outlets and an orange buffoon who doesn’t know how to tell the truth?

How about using your God-given brains to actually read and understand information for yourself? Because if you don’t, you will be the downfall of your own race, and this time, you will have no choice but to hold your prejudice-driven, hate-filled, ignorance-consumed hearts accountable.

Those of you who engage in such behaviour have no idea the level of distrust you engender in the larger society. You make it easy to negate the work being done by the wonderful heroes and sheroes who have stepped up during the pandemic to do things you could never dream of. These incredible people treating and transporting your loved ones, feeding them for free, delivering meals, medical supplies, teaching your kids, sacrificing time with their own families to help you, because you’re human. This is what the best of us do. And not just during times of societal harm- this is what the best of us do all the time!

When white supremacists overtook the Capitol buildings on January 6th, were all white people blamed?
Should they have been?

It’s never okay to blame an entire group or race of people for the actions of an unscrupulous few. And it’s even less okay to think it is.

My heart goes out to the Chinese community right now, as it does to the larger, beautiful BIPOC communities. I stand with you and for you. Privately and publicly. For those who agree with me, it’s time to start showing it.