The crimes keep happening

Again. It has happened again. Another anti-Asian hate crime, this time in Oakland, CA. It happened last night at the Lake Merritt BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) station when a young Asian girl was harassed with death threats for being Asian. BART police were notified. The suspect is still on the loose.

In New York City last week there were apparently five separate attacks of Asian Americans within two days.  Numbers are likely not accurate because so many of these hate crimes go unreported.  

What is being done?  Not enough.  Not nearly enough.  The crimes keep happening and apathy seems to be the additional offense that we can add.  Seriously.  I've written here for several days and asked for suggestions.  Two racist rants came (which I deleted) and a friend did give me some good feedback.  We need to get involved though.  ALL of us need to.  Human beings are being attacked and that is totally unacceptable.  You don't have to be Asian to care about Asians.  

I will again ask for suggestions to stop the hate and to show support.  Please comment below.  One more thing.  Help spread the word.  People are saying this isn't true because there isn't widespread coverage.  Call your local newspapers and televisions stations and demand they report these stories.  Let's see and end to this!

No place for hate

Writing an anti-hate message here the past few days, I thought for sure there would be at least one comment.  There hasn't been though.  Not one word has been written here.

A friend of mine sent me a message though.  He basically said to keep it up.  "You're being an ally, and I really appreciate that. Keep going. Not enough people (Asian and non-Asian) are talking about it."  So very true that is!  I wish there was more news coverage.  I think this is very important, and I am grateful to my friend in Hawaii for his positive words.

If you are a regular reader, you know that I don't talk about myself here.  This isn't about me after all.  I want to share a bit more of what my friend said though.  "No, Michael, do NOT remain silent. You are part of the change. You ARE making a difference, even if you think you're not."  Thank you!

Please join me.  Please help end hate and especially and the anti-Asian hate crimes that have been happening.  We can do it!

End the attacks on the API community

 THIS MUST STOP

This is the third day in a row that I am writing about the same subject.  Those of you who read this blog regularly, know how unusual that is.  This is important though.  The anti-Asian hate crimes must stop.  Let's come together.

Here in this space I have appealed to my Asian sisters and brother for guidance on how we all can help.  Two comments came and both were rather disgusting (I think) and so I deleted them.  In the first, I was referred to as "Mr Know-It-All" and they said I was writing lies to stir people up.  The other comment was that I am white and this is none of my business.   Well everything I have written here have been true and attacks on our neighbors and friends I believe is everyone's business.

This anti-Asian hate didn't just begin.  The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 forbade Chinese people from even entering the United States. After Pearl Harbor, from 1942 through 1945, Japanese people were legally detained in internment camps. Back in 1982, a young Chinese-American draftsman was beaten to death by two white men in Detroit. They thought him to be Japanese and blamed him for the rise of Japanese car manufacturers.  This is just a small sample of the hate that has existed for years.

In the past few days I have written about this and given a few suggestions on how we might address the discrimination and hate.  I'm sure there are more things that we all can do.  Together though, let us end these senseless acts against the API community.  We can do it.

I Don't Have All The Answers

Yesterday in this space, I wrote about the ongoing hate directed at Asian Americans. I think I was quite clear in that this is horrible, it needs to stop.  The only comment I heard was a disgusting racist remark (which I have deleted) that referred to me as "Mr Know-It-All" and said I was writing lies to stir people up.  Well I am passionate about this and I have a lot more to say.

First, just in case I wasn't clear, the Asian American community has been under attack for a long time, but it has largely been ignored.  Last year COVID-19 led to more and more hate crimes, and they continue to be under attack particularly the most vulnerable, the elderly.  If you haven't been seeing news coverage, call or write you local news outlets and demand that they bring attention to this.  Also, I didn't say yesterday that I have all the answers.  In fact I have never said that.  In closing yesterday, I suggested that we might reach out to our API friends and neighbors and get suggestions.

Yesterday I also made suggestions about being supportive.  Those so called "jokes" that are actually racial slurs, are hurtful.  Stop them!  If someone says them to us, we need to speak up.  If we see hate crimes occurring, we need to get involved.  Supporting local Asian-owned business is something else i think would be helpful.  I'm sure there are a lot more ways to be supportive, and I reach out to the API community for thoughts and suggestions because, once again, I don't have all the answers.

One thing I do know for certain is that nobody should have to live in fear.  Because of these attacks, many are afraid to go out of their homes, and that's just plain wrong.  So, how can I help?

Stand against hate

Writing about good things and people and organizations that help make them happen, is what I set out to do thirteen years ago. I much prefer writing those positive stories and talking about the bad things that happen in our world. I see the hate crimes though. I'm not ignoring them.

My stomach churns at the horrible news that seems to be coming more and more. Crimes committed against Asian Americans are in fact at a higher level each day. I'm not only talking about discrimination against Asian Americans but also verbal harassment and physical assault.

The simple answer of course is for everyone to stop hating.  Hate is always bad.  I have written here about anti-gay and anti-trans and anti-Black and anti-Jewish and anti-Asian and a whole bunch of other antis.  It is all bad.  Unfortunately it won't stop just because I urge it.  Tougher hate crimes laws?  Perhaps.  I think we need more though.  It's going to take people working together.  It's going to take caring and committed people willing to take a stand against hate.  

We need to be supportive of the targeted communities too.  Right now with our Asian sisters and brothers under attack, let's all be more aware.  If you see something, say something.  When someone makes a racist remark, challenge it.  Out shopping?  Give extra attention to Asian owned businesses.  Getting some take-out?  How about that Chinese restaurant you like so much.  

Now is not the time to say it doesn't concern me.  Crimes against people are really crimes against ALL people.  It needs to stop.  One more thing:  we can all ask what we can personally do beyond these things I mentioned.  Let the Asian community direct us to things that would be helpful to them.  Let's end these hate crimes NOW!

Valentine correctness

When I was in school, kids would bring in Valentine cards to exchange with other kids in their class and sometimes with other classes as well.  There was a problem though.  It ended up being a popularity contest.  A new kid who wasn't known or the students who weren't as popular might not get any cards at all.  Instead they would have hurt feelings and would go home crying at the end of the day. 

 

This year we of course have another problem.  Many kids are not in school because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and even if there are in-person classes, it probably isn't a good idea to be in close contact with others and exchanging anything.

 

It isn't just about the kids either.  There is so much pressure to remember Valentine's Day that some people try to outdo each other.  If there are four women in an office and one gets a huge bouquet from her husband, will the other three feel bad?  Will they think that their own partners have let them down because no gift comes or it there is one perhaps it is not as "showy."

 

Today is going to require some creativity.  Are you doing anything special for Valentine's Day tomorrow?  Has Valentine's Day become too commercial?  Is there something we should change?  How would it be if we celebrated love every single day?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Celebrate

Everyone loves a good celebration, right? How can you really celebrate though when you are under attack? It really isn't new. It seems to be getting more attention these days, but as I said yesterday, the anti-Asian hate crimes need to STOP. All hate crimes should stop. Nobody should have to live their life always looking over their shoulder.

Today begins the Year of the Ox, the second of the 12-year Chinese zodiac calendar. This year celebrations are scaled back because of the pandemic. Many don't feel much like celebrating anyway, out of fear. Hate incidents directed at East Asians have skyrocketed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic with thousands of cases reported and the actual number unknown because many (perhaps most) incidents are not reported.

I'm personally angry.  Very angry.  This involves coworkers, neighbors, and friends.  Hate is such an ugly thing anyway, but it becomes much worse when people are injured and property is damaged.  As I said, this isn't new.  Slurs or jokes related to race or ethnicity have been around since I was a kid.  I can remember the hurt expression on people's faces when they were the subject of these slurs.  Being laughed at isn't fun.  There are things in this world that are fun and we should be directing our energy toward them.

It's long overdue, but let's fix this problem.  Let's  end the hate.  Everyone can help by simply reaching out to the Asian businesses in our communities and giving them our support.  Order food from your nearby Chinese or Japanese restaurants.  When you hear disparaging remarks, say something.  Don't be a part of it.  If you see a crime, report it.  Let's all have a prosperous Year of the Ox that is free from hate.

Stop the Hate

While it might not get much coverage from mainstream media, there has been a surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans.  Yesterday I saw an incident on social media and broke down in tears.  I have never understood hate, and probably never will, but I do know that crying won't solve the problem either.

Since I was little I have seen people hate "them."  Sometimes the "them" is people who identify as transgender.  Sometimes the "them" is anyone of a different race.  Sometimes it's religion based or sexual orientation.  There seems to have always been people who hate other people just for who they are.  Again, I don't understand it.

The hate toward Asian Americans isn't something new.  I saw it directed toward the third generation Chinese American woman that I worked with.  "Go back to your own country," someone shouted at her one day.  She told me she had never been out of this own.  Why is it that one of the first questions an Asian hears is "Where are you from"?  I just don't understand it!

I do know that we can make changes.  We can stop the hate - ALL of the hate.  We can also help correct the horrible things that have happened.  Those Chinese restaurants that have been boycotted?  Turn it around.  Only eat at Asian restaurants for awhile.  Flood them with business.  Support other Asian owned businesses too.  Also - and this is very important, stop looking the other way.  If you witness any racist activity, speak up.  Don't let it continue.  If it is a criminal act, report it.  Don't ignore assaults or vandalism.  All human beings have the same rights and nobody should have to live in fear.

 

Read all about it

Recently there seems to have been more horrifying violence all across our nation and around the world. I could list the instances of hate crimes, police brutality, terrorism, and various other terrible news stories, but you already know what they are. What about good news? Is there any? Isn't it time we saw more of that?

What I try to do here each day is tell you positive stories, and there are many of them. I talk about ways we all can get involved and make things better, and I talk about those wonderful people who are already doing just that. There are tons of heartwarming tales that deserve to be told. The mainstream media may not spend much time on it, but that doesn't mean there is no good news.

Of course you can help too! Have you heard about an individual or an organization that is doing something really great? Leave the information below in a comment, so we can read all about it. Share this blog with your friends too and invite them to tell some good news stories that we can all benefit from.

How wonderful to remember that while there are bad people doing terrible things, there is still a lot of good in this world!  Some of that good news, is the people working for social justice and an end to hate.  I'd like us all to be able to read all about it.

One

Back in the 70s, Three Dog Night sang that "one is the loneliest number."  It doesn't have to be though.  One can multiply very quickly.  One can make a huge difference.

Yesterday I wrote here about David Hogg and how he had an idea and in just a matter of hours made it happen.  (David does have a partner in this endeavor, but he was the primary face of it).  He reached out via social media and got thousands of responses.  It was him reaching out though.  One person got something done - something big.

On Friday there was a tie vote in the US Senate.  This is something likely to happen a lot.  The Vice President broke the tie.  She made a difference.  Her one vote was all it took.

I have heard people say "what can I do"?  Plenty.  If you think that your single vote doesn't matter, you are mistaken.  If you think that your volunteer shift at the library isn't that important think about what doesn't get done when you aren't there.  We all have special skills and we all can make a difference.  That's what this blog is all about.  

One person is seldom really alone. It might begin that way, but quickly you might be joined by others who also want to make a difference. Changing the world for the better is the daily regular occupation for people who dare to get involved. You can be that person.

 

Hogging the pillow market

Yesterday afternoon, David Hogg tweeted "Second start up and I still can’t drink." This was after he had spent the day tweeting about the Trump supporting pillow guy and how it was time to give him some competition. This wasn't about getting rich. This was about social justice, because that's who David Hogg is.

David Hogg was a high school student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL when the 2018 shooting occured killing 17 people and injuring another 17. Hogg survived the shooting and since has helped lead several high-profile boycotts, protests, marches, and other actions. He currently is a student at Harvard University.

There is a whole lot more about David Hogg than I can say in this small space. He and his sister wrote a book. He frequently speaks out on issues of injustice. Today was a huge step as he took on a big company. I've never met David Hogg (although I would like to some day), but today I watched his tweets tell a very inspiring story. All the pillow company story hasn't been told yet, but Hogg tweeted at tech entrepreneur William LeGate would be joining him and that the new company would have "Unionized workers based in the US, Sustainable sourcing, and help fund social good.

Did the Parkland shooting form the David Hogg we know today? Well in another tweet Hogg said "Gun violence doesn't define me- I do.  People are much more than their trauma." And he had some thoughts for our future saying "I hope other young people with PTSD can look at me as an example of what we can do with the right help, friends and therapy."

Something to help

Making a difference, for the better - that is the theme of this blog, but what about cancer? How on earth can I make a difference? Yesterday I wrote here that cancer sucks.  Indeed.  Although I am personally fairly healthy, I have been touched by cancer many times over the years and have lost a lot of friends and family members. 

My grandmother had stomach cancer, and I never want to witness the pain and discomfort she experienced. I vividly remember my mom's last hours too, when she was gasping for air due to her lung cancer. So, what do I do? Just a few years ago, a dear friend of mine died from cancer at a very young age. I always think of my friend Aidan who lost his husband to cancer.

We are all affected by cancer in some way, and we can all do something to help. How?  Well, there is not just one answer. When someone is diagnosed with a cancer or when you hear the news from a family member or someone at work, what happens first?  Again, there isn't just one answer. We all deal with things differently. Rage, tears, quiet contemplation, and any number of emotions can result. Information is a good place to begin. Know as much as we possibly can.

Notice I have said WE are all affected and WE can all do something? That word 'we' is important, because cancer is something that nobody should have to deal with alone. There are all kinds of supportive individuals and organizations that deal specifically with cancer. Seek them out.  Ask yur health care provider.  The American Cancer Society website at https://www.cancer.org/ is an excellent information source.

If you and everyone in your circle of friends is currently healthy and you aren't dealing with treatments and healing, you might consider volunteering at cancer treatments centers, at a hospice, and charitable organizations that deal directly with cancers, or at hospitals. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are still ways to volunteer your time.  Donations are welcome too and can do all kinds of good.

There are numerous events all over the country that are excellent resources and sources of support. Last week I was energized once again as I registered for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night Walk. What are some of the things you do?

Cancer sucks

This morning I may be stating the obvious when I say "Cancer SUCKS," but in the past few years I seem to have encountered it on a very regular basis. I'm certainly not alone. I keep hearing friends and acquaintances mention a family member or co-worker or friend who has just been diagnosed with cancer.  Since today is World Cancer Day, I want to say a few things.  

My mom died with leukemia and from lung cancer. One of my dearest friends died a few years ago at the young age of 42, from cancer. Actually numerous people I knew have died in the past few years from various cancers.  I have a friend in hospice right now who has been fighting cancers for some time.

I have had the privilege of working with some incredible women over the years, who have been attacked by breast cancer. Some have won the battle. Some have lost. Veteran television reporter Betty Rollin was one of the ones who beat breast cancer. She has been a great help to others, authoring several books, including one that deals directly with her fight: First You Cry. Faith Fancher was another television journalist diagnosed with breast cancer. She decided that raising awareness was important, and so shared her story with viewers. Faith's television station regularly reported on each step of treatment. Faith even created a charity to do more. Sadly, the disease won and we lost Faith Fancher, but her message of hope and the importance of awareness that she shared, have saved the lives of many others.

Alicia Parlette was a newspaper reporter who told of her cancer, a rare form, and she too brought awareness. Reports in The San Francisco Chronicle, where she worked, and on National Public Radio, helped make cancer personal. It wasn't just something that happened to others. It happened to this woman we knew from her reports of the news. Alicia died at age 28, just over six years ago.

Some of these were not recent.  Over the years we have all seen it over and over.  I have volunteered for various cancer agencies and donated money and I'm sure that is true for many of you.  It is frustrating to keep seeing these deaths though.  And sad.  It is very very sad.

 

So now what?  What do we do about it?  Tomorrow, I'll have some more thoughts.

Still walking

Some words this morning about me and about AIDS Walk, but first some words written in The San Francisco Chronicle by Randy Shilts back in 1982 -

A 45-year-old San Francisco man looked at the purple spots covering his arms, face and chest and contemplated the death sentence they might foreshadow.

"Every time I see a new spot, I think I'm a step closer to death," said Jerry, a former waiter. "I don't even look in the mirror any more."

Jerry is a victim of one of a series of baffling diseases hitting primarily gay men with increasing frequency across the country.

Scientists have lumped the various illnesses together under the acronym of GRID -- for gay-related immuno-deficiency diseases -- and public health officials have come to view them as the most startling health problem to hit the United States since the first outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in 1976.

The numbers of gay men struck by the GRID disease passed epidemic proportions long ago and are now frightening public health officials for a number of reasons.

-- In the 11 months since the first American case of a rare skin  cancer known as Kaposi's sarcoma was reported to federal    authorities, the cancer and the other GRID illnesses have reportedly struck 335 Americans, almost all of them gay, killing 136 -- a higher death toll than both toxic shock syndrome and Legionnaire's disease combined.

-- The diseases, most of which were previously unheard of among healthy young men, offer few hopes for survival. Only 15 percent of the men diagnosed in 1979 for Kaposi's sarcoma, now colloquially known as "gay cancer," are alive now, say federal officials. Two-thirds of the reported 1980 victims have died.

-- The overall death rate for patients with Pneumocystis pneumonia, the "gay pneumonia," which is the deadliest GRID, now stands at 50 percent.

-- Public health officials are also discovering that a laundry list of other strange diseases are striking gay men, apparently associated with a dysfunction of the patient's immune systems. These "opportunistic" diseases now account for one-sixth of GRID victims.

These words from Randy Shilts tell of those early days when it was called GRID. It was deadly, and few outside the LGBTQ community were paying attention. Fundraisers were held. One of the biggest and continuing fundraisers is AIDS Walk.  It isn't only about rasing money too.  It's about raising awareness.  It's about education.  It's about doing away with the stigma that still exists in 2021.  I wrote the other day about signing up again and someone asked me why I do this every single year.  I walk every year because I want to see a cure.  I walk for those we lost, including Randy.  I walk to make a difference.  

As always, I would be honored to have your support.  Go to https://sf.aidswalk.net/MichaelFullam to sponsor me.  Thanks for making a difference.

Getting to know you

If 2020 taught us anything, it is that there is an enormous divide between the races in this country.  Too much of what we hear about race is untrue, especially when it comes to African Americans.  Let's mend the problem and to begin, let us get to know Black history.

It's impossible of course to learn everything in just a month, but we can at least make a start.  Back in the 1920's there was Negro History Week, an even shorter period.  The first Black History Month in the US was in 1970.  Have we learned anything since then?  

Take a moment and think in your mind about all the heroes in US history who happen to be Black.  I know this is putting you on the spot, but how many can you name?  Go all the way back to the American Revolution and discover who Crispus Attucks, Salem Poor, and James Armistead Lafayette were.  Ever heard of Charity Adams Earley or Muhammad Ali or Maya Angelou?  Read about them.  Get to know them.

We can't just look at famous people.  We also need to look at slavery and modern day injustice.  We need to examine how races treat each other.  I will not suggest for one minute that we can solve all the race problems in just 28 days, but we need to start, and knowledge is always a good place to begin.