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Wednesday, August 19, 2020
Saturday, June 13, 2020
Where do we go from here
If you are a friend of mine and follow me on social media, you see my posts.
If you are a friend of mine and hang out with me, you hear my opinions.
If you have read my blog, I've posted political or social commentary - this post will not be a surprise to you.
I know there is head shaking, eye-rolling and maybe even fear among so many of us over the last few months if not longer. It's so important that we understand each other. Really understand each other and how we ended up in this spot. I've un-friended and un-followed people over the last couple of weeks. I know others have done this too. People are watching, judging and some are taking action. People are complex creatures. I do believe people are innately good. It is our society, our parents, our culture and life that spoils us.
We justify terrible things happening to people because they 'deserve it', they made choices and those consequences are theirs to suffer. It isn't always that simple. We're not all raised in-like situations. We're not all given the same tools and support to make the best choices. We're not all given second chances equally. We're not all able to make the best choice because of we don't start from the same spot. It is why our compassion is crucial in society. I'd argue that it is most important for those in the ruling class and America does have a ruling class. Most of my friends are part of that ruling class. It is why I feel such a responsibility to speak out. We have to exercise our compassion to understand that our society has been built upon inequities that are steeped in ethnocentrism.
I don't come from much. I had a modest childhood. I learned early the importance of education, the importance of having the 'right friends' and I had the ability to be able to make good choices. I could transition between social classes and ethnic groups because I had one foot in each, but I'm always aware that I am perceived as other. By gender or racial identity. I was a tomboy (a term I dislike). I've always been good for a girl. I've been called 'exotic' and mistaken for Hispanic, Native, Filipino, Latina, Hawaiian. My ethnicity has never . My friends always remind me of this. It isn't done with maliciousness, it's not anything that I take offense because it is part of my experience, but it has shaped my views and my actions. It is why I'm passionate about advocating for equality and injustice. I'm crying as I type this because I'm tired and frustrated.
In 2004 I worked my last campaign in Florida. It hurt. I never cried after losing a race before. Feeling helpless and realizing that voters don't care. Worse of all, that the political system I believed in and had faith in, was broken for many people. Disenfranchised. I was heart broken because I had this dream that I could make a difference, engaging voters in democracy to get elected officials to make better policy that will create a more equal society for everyone. I felt betrayed by the system. The curtain had been pulled up and I saw the man, who was more concerned about maintaining a ruling class. I realized to get to that point, some of those people I worked for had turned their back and refuted their values in order to join the party. I didn't want to participate to be 'accepted with conditions'.
What does that mean? During the second world war, Japanese and their American children were interned. Those children we're asked to show their allegiance to America by joining the military to fight against the Japanese. That's accepted with conditions. Rather than suffer injustice, they joined. They joined because their choice was to suffer to go to war. They were accepted as American only on this condition. Accepted with conditions.
White people can't understand. It's not possible no matter how poor or how much you've overcome. It is a complex history. It isn't about removing history, but understanding that the history we've learned has come at the expense of great injustice to so many others. It's about recognizing that history taught to us minimizes or excludes the experiences of people of color. We've addressed this through charity. Black history or Women's history month, rather than to overhaul the curriculum to be inclusive of all history.
We've long dehumanized large swaths of society. People of color, the poor, LGBTQ+. We've made ourselves feel better by choosing to support charity, rather than do the hard and uncomfortable work of making meaningful change through policy and systemic change. We continue to come short on foreign policy because we continue to practice ethnocentrism, believing we're inherently better.
Here we are. Two weeks of protest. Riots. Calls to "Defund the Police". We are still in a pandemic that has taken over 100,000 lives in America. It will probably take another 100,000 by the end of the year. We watched too many times as lives were taken, and the crime was being Black. Their value was less, their rights diminished until we all watched George Floyd. However, his death wasn't the first time the Black community has raised the issue of injustice stemming from racial prejudices, racism. Bad apples, solo incidents; but they are a continuing pattern of injustice (and racism) against Black boys and men. As we sit with nothing much to do, our collective society experienced Floyd's death. It illustrated the brutality of the police, and the compliance of those officers who did nothing to stop it. George Floyd made bad choices in his life, but his life had value. For the first time in a long time, the Black community wasn't alone in their anger. They weren't alone in their calls for justice. If you aren't aware, there are dozens and dozens of incidents of police brutality against people of color being shared on the internet since Floyd's murder. I'm not going to get into a debate on the "defund the police", but I will say that we must listen. We must not discount the outrage and ignore the problem because we don't agree with the approach.
How many times have you heard, "I give to charity" or "I support that cause"? In polite society we don't talk sex or politics? Don't rock the boat? I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I don't have the answers, but I know that we must all put aside polite society and talk about these issues. Shining a light on them is unpleasant. We must admit America hasn't been great for many people, so when we say make America great again, what does that mean to all those people who have been oppressed. It doesn't mean we can't strive to be better than we were yesterday, but it starts with us. It starts by saying it aloud. "We've got a problem and we must work on it." It is going to be a lifelong pursuit of happiness. All of us together have to be committed. Those who aren't affected, those who may be scared, those who are tired and most importantly, those that have the power to make change. To those who have never felt "other", who never feared being stripped of their liberty based on their race, gender, sexuality, sexual-orientation, made to be less, this is a plea for you to make a different choice, a choice to be part of a better America. We must participate in the dialogue, support discourse and reforms and vote for people who will do the work. Get informed, Get involved and Get out there and Vote. I have faith in you.
Love and Peace - C.
If you are a friend of mine and hang out with me, you hear my opinions.
If you have read my blog, I've posted political or social commentary - this post will not be a surprise to you.
I know there is head shaking, eye-rolling and maybe even fear among so many of us over the last few months if not longer. It's so important that we understand each other. Really understand each other and how we ended up in this spot. I've un-friended and un-followed people over the last couple of weeks. I know others have done this too. People are watching, judging and some are taking action. People are complex creatures. I do believe people are innately good. It is our society, our parents, our culture and life that spoils us.
We justify terrible things happening to people because they 'deserve it', they made choices and those consequences are theirs to suffer. It isn't always that simple. We're not all raised in-like situations. We're not all given the same tools and support to make the best choices. We're not all given second chances equally. We're not all able to make the best choice because of we don't start from the same spot. It is why our compassion is crucial in society. I'd argue that it is most important for those in the ruling class and America does have a ruling class. Most of my friends are part of that ruling class. It is why I feel such a responsibility to speak out. We have to exercise our compassion to understand that our society has been built upon inequities that are steeped in ethnocentrism.
I don't come from much. I had a modest childhood. I learned early the importance of education, the importance of having the 'right friends' and I had the ability to be able to make good choices. I could transition between social classes and ethnic groups because I had one foot in each, but I'm always aware that I am perceived as other. By gender or racial identity. I was a tomboy (a term I dislike). I've always been good for a girl. I've been called 'exotic' and mistaken for Hispanic, Native, Filipino, Latina, Hawaiian. My ethnicity has never . My friends always remind me of this. It isn't done with maliciousness, it's not anything that I take offense because it is part of my experience, but it has shaped my views and my actions. It is why I'm passionate about advocating for equality and injustice. I'm crying as I type this because I'm tired and frustrated.
In 2004 I worked my last campaign in Florida. It hurt. I never cried after losing a race before. Feeling helpless and realizing that voters don't care. Worse of all, that the political system I believed in and had faith in, was broken for many people. Disenfranchised. I was heart broken because I had this dream that I could make a difference, engaging voters in democracy to get elected officials to make better policy that will create a more equal society for everyone. I felt betrayed by the system. The curtain had been pulled up and I saw the man, who was more concerned about maintaining a ruling class. I realized to get to that point, some of those people I worked for had turned their back and refuted their values in order to join the party. I didn't want to participate to be 'accepted with conditions'.
What does that mean? During the second world war, Japanese and their American children were interned. Those children we're asked to show their allegiance to America by joining the military to fight against the Japanese. That's accepted with conditions. Rather than suffer injustice, they joined. They joined because their choice was to suffer to go to war. They were accepted as American only on this condition. Accepted with conditions.
White people can't understand. It's not possible no matter how poor or how much you've overcome. It is a complex history. It isn't about removing history, but understanding that the history we've learned has come at the expense of great injustice to so many others. It's about recognizing that history taught to us minimizes or excludes the experiences of people of color. We've addressed this through charity. Black history or Women's history month, rather than to overhaul the curriculum to be inclusive of all history.
We've long dehumanized large swaths of society. People of color, the poor, LGBTQ+. We've made ourselves feel better by choosing to support charity, rather than do the hard and uncomfortable work of making meaningful change through policy and systemic change. We continue to come short on foreign policy because we continue to practice ethnocentrism, believing we're inherently better.
Here we are. Two weeks of protest. Riots. Calls to "Defund the Police". We are still in a pandemic that has taken over 100,000 lives in America. It will probably take another 100,000 by the end of the year. We watched too many times as lives were taken, and the crime was being Black. Their value was less, their rights diminished until we all watched George Floyd. However, his death wasn't the first time the Black community has raised the issue of injustice stemming from racial prejudices, racism. Bad apples, solo incidents; but they are a continuing pattern of injustice (and racism) against Black boys and men. As we sit with nothing much to do, our collective society experienced Floyd's death. It illustrated the brutality of the police, and the compliance of those officers who did nothing to stop it. George Floyd made bad choices in his life, but his life had value. For the first time in a long time, the Black community wasn't alone in their anger. They weren't alone in their calls for justice. If you aren't aware, there are dozens and dozens of incidents of police brutality against people of color being shared on the internet since Floyd's murder. I'm not going to get into a debate on the "defund the police", but I will say that we must listen. We must not discount the outrage and ignore the problem because we don't agree with the approach.
How many times have you heard, "I give to charity" or "I support that cause"? In polite society we don't talk sex or politics? Don't rock the boat? I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I don't have the answers, but I know that we must all put aside polite society and talk about these issues. Shining a light on them is unpleasant. We must admit America hasn't been great for many people, so when we say make America great again, what does that mean to all those people who have been oppressed. It doesn't mean we can't strive to be better than we were yesterday, but it starts with us. It starts by saying it aloud. "We've got a problem and we must work on it." It is going to be a lifelong pursuit of happiness. All of us together have to be committed. Those who aren't affected, those who may be scared, those who are tired and most importantly, those that have the power to make change. To those who have never felt "other", who never feared being stripped of their liberty based on their race, gender, sexuality, sexual-orientation, made to be less, this is a plea for you to make a different choice, a choice to be part of a better America. We must participate in the dialogue, support discourse and reforms and vote for people who will do the work. Get informed, Get involved and Get out there and Vote. I have faith in you.
Love and Peace - C.
Tuesday, April 07, 2020
Our "new normal"??
It's day...heck, I've lost count what day it is our 'new reality' or 'new normal' or whatever people call this situation. I, like many others who live in California, working from home and doing their best to follow stay-at-home orders. I experienced several different feelings of disbelief, annoyance, worry, anger, frustration, sadness. Not just for myself, but for those who are greatly affected. I understand my privilege. I am able to work from home with very little inconvenience. I have steady income and am without concern for job security because I'm fortunately working in a sector (healthcare/med device) that is vital, even more so under these circumstances. I'm not missing any milestones of my youth, like senior-year activities, college graduation, child-births or weddings. It is relatively easy for me to make modest adjustments and I'm doing my best to keep this perspective.
It doesn't mean I'm not without feelings, since feelings are a result of your perspective and personal experiences. I'm adjusting to the indefiniteness of our current situation. I've decided to take it day by day. Being present and not looking forward is very helpful way for me to manage this situation. This is not my natural instinct. I have goals, make plans and have fun things to look forward to. My friend and I were suppose to go to see Allen Stone last night. Next week, we were suppose to be at Pearl Jam.
Maybe it helps me that I have always lived with a certain level of uncertainty and change. My childhood was loving, but came with a high-level of turbulence during adolescence. It wasn't until I was in my early 30's that I really began to crave stability and set roots. It is true that everything in your life leads you to where you are, because all those experiences shape how one chooses to react to their circumstances.
I've written before how blessed I am to have a great support system. We don't get through life on our own. For me, reaching out to various people whether it's a phone call, video chat or text has always been my outlet. Feeding my soul through meaningful interactions with people I care about and those who care about me. The basic needs of our being doesn't change under these circumstances. Love, food, exercise and sleep, but they are magnified because we don't have all the other distractions filling our time. Trying to keep it simple seems to be working for me. Oh, and retail therapy. And naps. Everyone knows I love a good nap.
Here are three things I've done this week:
Hang in there. Be kind to each other, and more importantly, be kind to yourself. If you don't fill your cup up, you can't have anything to fill up the cups of others.
Love and Peace,
C.
It doesn't mean I'm not without feelings, since feelings are a result of your perspective and personal experiences. I'm adjusting to the indefiniteness of our current situation. I've decided to take it day by day. Being present and not looking forward is very helpful way for me to manage this situation. This is not my natural instinct. I have goals, make plans and have fun things to look forward to. My friend and I were suppose to go to see Allen Stone last night. Next week, we were suppose to be at Pearl Jam.
Maybe it helps me that I have always lived with a certain level of uncertainty and change. My childhood was loving, but came with a high-level of turbulence during adolescence. It wasn't until I was in my early 30's that I really began to crave stability and set roots. It is true that everything in your life leads you to where you are, because all those experiences shape how one chooses to react to their circumstances.
I've written before how blessed I am to have a great support system. We don't get through life on our own. For me, reaching out to various people whether it's a phone call, video chat or text has always been my outlet. Feeding my soul through meaningful interactions with people I care about and those who care about me. The basic needs of our being doesn't change under these circumstances. Love, food, exercise and sleep, but they are magnified because we don't have all the other distractions filling our time. Trying to keep it simple seems to be working for me. Oh, and retail therapy. And naps. Everyone knows I love a good nap.
Here are three things I've done this week:
- Started a two person book club with a friend.
- Set up a group chat with former work colleagues.
- Designed/ordered supplies to make my balcony a retreat, so I can feel a cozy escape when needed.
Hang in there. Be kind to each other, and more importantly, be kind to yourself. If you don't fill your cup up, you can't have anything to fill up the cups of others.
Love and Peace,
C.
Friday, January 31, 2020
Let’s go!!
What occurred today, whether you think Trump should be ousted from office, is thoroughly an embarrassment for the 51 who voted no to calling witnesses in the Senate trial.
Everyone one of them should be voted out of office. They are guilty of putting party and self-interest before country. Senators are suppose to be above politics and vote their conscience. For them to essentially say, witnesses need not be heard, they aren’t doing their duty. If you think they are voting their conscience, may I remind everyone... this is the same do nothing senate led by the slimiest of sewer rats, McConnell.
If they don’t want to do the job, let’s agree to give another person a chance. Our senate has become 🦥 -like, are obese from years of decadence. Time to clean the chamber out.
Let’s go!!!!!! 2020, 2022, 2024. Each of the 51 will be up for re-election during one of these years.
Doing nothing is unacceptable. What sort of trial has no witnesses without a dismissal. Now they want to vote to “acquit “ before state of the union. It’s our government and we need to take it back. Regardless of party, if we continue down this path, we are all complicit in the failing of our government. We have no one to blame by ourselves.
We do have the power to make things better. Our votes appoint them. We give them our proxy. We give them our trust. These 51 no longer deserve it. Neither does this administration. They are using hate to gain power and deflection to maintain it.
We should all lift each other up. Enough with ideological politics. It is what allows power to be maintained. Find and build upon what we share, what is common between us. Lift up communities that need it because when we do that, we all benefit. Fixing systems can’t be done in one election, one term. It take a visionary to create a path, and a commitment from all of us to continue to walk down that path.
“We’re all one.
One nation under god, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for ALL. “
They have forgotten their pledge, let’s not forget our ballots.
Everyone one of them should be voted out of office. They are guilty of putting party and self-interest before country. Senators are suppose to be above politics and vote their conscience. For them to essentially say, witnesses need not be heard, they aren’t doing their duty. If you think they are voting their conscience, may I remind everyone... this is the same do nothing senate led by the slimiest of sewer rats, McConnell.
If they don’t want to do the job, let’s agree to give another person a chance. Our senate has become 🦥 -like, are obese from years of decadence. Time to clean the chamber out.
Let’s go!!!!!! 2020, 2022, 2024. Each of the 51 will be up for re-election during one of these years.
Doing nothing is unacceptable. What sort of trial has no witnesses without a dismissal. Now they want to vote to “acquit “ before state of the union. It’s our government and we need to take it back. Regardless of party, if we continue down this path, we are all complicit in the failing of our government. We have no one to blame by ourselves.
We do have the power to make things better. Our votes appoint them. We give them our proxy. We give them our trust. These 51 no longer deserve it. Neither does this administration. They are using hate to gain power and deflection to maintain it.
We should all lift each other up. Enough with ideological politics. It is what allows power to be maintained. Find and build upon what we share, what is common between us. Lift up communities that need it because when we do that, we all benefit. Fixing systems can’t be done in one election, one term. It take a visionary to create a path, and a commitment from all of us to continue to walk down that path.
“We’re all one.
One nation under god, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for ALL. “
They have forgotten their pledge, let’s not forget our ballots.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Why I'm not a Single Parent
Let me start off by informing you that I dislike the term single-parent more than I dislike the use of boyfriend for anyone older than 25 (for those who know me, they have heard this before). Boyfriend sounds juvenile. The first phase of dating. However, what if all one wants is to date and not get married? Furthermore, I'm not interested in dating boys. You get the idea. It doesn't fit into my perception. Perception is reality after all. So, single-parent household? I'm a single-parent? Of course, it helps to define our lives and relationship status to the world. My beef isn't with its use, rather the emotional reaction that arrives with its use. It makes me cringe with shame.
Here's why - I don't feel like I'm a single-parent. To start off, I was never afraid of being a solo on a parenting path because I just don't think of it as solo. Although, there are times solo would come with considerable fewer number of headaches. I have a very supportive family. I'm close to my parents and my brother. I have a large extended bunch of Canucks, and an amazing web of friends, who are like family. If we limit the definition to: who financially supports and executes most of the day to day operations? Yes, I'll raise my hand and accept that role. However, it really stops there. We don't do this on our own. In my case, I get a set schedule of days off (which is both a positive and negative) a.k.a. our parenting plan schedule. I have parents who help me out by purchasing certain wants and needs, a.k.a. generous birthday/Christmas gifts, family trips and meals out. I have friends that feed me, not just my soul, but nourish my body with good eating. I'm fortunate that I know so many wizards in the kitchen. I'm surrounded by generosity. I'm not obtuse to this fact and I'm so appreciated everyday to be so fortunate. It is a blessing that not everyone is afforded.
Sure, the laundry, dishes, home checks (when the Dude is with me) and parenting duties (72 percent of the time) fall on me. Most of those things I would be doing for myself without a child anyways. Also, 95 percent of the 72 percent, I love. As exhausting as it is, I love every moment. The reward for adulting (successfully) is a feeling of empowerment. I can and will kick ass, but more importantly, I'm not singularly alone. So, don't commend or sympathize with me, but if you want to invite me over for a dinner, I'm free Wednesdays.
peace & love,
C.
Here's why - I don't feel like I'm a single-parent. To start off, I was never afraid of being a solo on a parenting path because I just don't think of it as solo. Although, there are times solo would come with considerable fewer number of headaches. I have a very supportive family. I'm close to my parents and my brother. I have a large extended bunch of Canucks, and an amazing web of friends, who are like family. If we limit the definition to: who financially supports and executes most of the day to day operations? Yes, I'll raise my hand and accept that role. However, it really stops there. We don't do this on our own. In my case, I get a set schedule of days off (which is both a positive and negative) a.k.a. our parenting plan schedule. I have parents who help me out by purchasing certain wants and needs, a.k.a. generous birthday/Christmas gifts, family trips and meals out. I have friends that feed me, not just my soul, but nourish my body with good eating. I'm fortunate that I know so many wizards in the kitchen. I'm surrounded by generosity. I'm not obtuse to this fact and I'm so appreciated everyday to be so fortunate. It is a blessing that not everyone is afforded.
Sure, the laundry, dishes, home checks (when the Dude is with me) and parenting duties (72 percent of the time) fall on me. Most of those things I would be doing for myself without a child anyways. Also, 95 percent of the 72 percent, I love. As exhausting as it is, I love every moment. The reward for adulting (successfully) is a feeling of empowerment. I can and will kick ass, but more importantly, I'm not singularly alone. So, don't commend or sympathize with me, but if you want to invite me over for a dinner, I'm free Wednesdays.
peace & love,
C.
Monday, March 04, 2019
Why Seeing People Like Us Matter
I read this article and immediately knew I had to share it. "(In) Visibility" by Maya Moore is worth the 5 minutes it will take you to read it. This article reminded me when I discovered Amy Tan's Joy Luck Club. I watched the movie before I read the book. It was the first time I had the experience of seeing someone I could physically relate to a movie. Someone with similar features and family dynamics. At least within one side of the family. I've had this feeling of inspiration 4 times in my life.
- Watching the women's basketball team during the 1984 Olympics.
- Seeing Geraldine Ferraro run for Vice President
- Watching For Love and Basketball
- Watching the aforementioned Joy Luck Club
Seeing people who look like you by race or gender do matter. When we can see ourselves in others, we can see what is possible. This is why representation matters in business, education, government, entertainment, etc...
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