Day 365, March 17, 2021
Dol
Tonight's soundtrack: Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains, New Orleans, LA 2003
When Koreans turn one year old, there is a special celebration, the doljanchi, where the child is placed before an array of objects, a calligraphy brush, a string of coins, food, long string, and in the case of my brother's child, a stethoscope. The object the child chooses will foretell if the child will be a scholar or artist, wealthy, never hungry, live a long life, or become a doctor. Amidst the cutest little hanbok outfit, the crowd of guests, and the high pressure spotlight, there is always the inevitable crying and tantrums, and then utter surprise at the cheers and clapping at everyone in the room as the child predicts his or her future.
Today marks a year since I started working at home and started writing this blog. I feel like maybe I should get dressed up and have a little celebration. I think I have some leftover sparklers from a 4th of July. Maybe I'll treat myself to a little ice cream.
It does feel hard to celebrate. This morning we woke up to the news of the latest anti-Asian violence. It is one more accretion on a year highlighting violent acts against people of color. It is the product of a campaign that continuously dehumanizes the other until there is a separation of the individual from reality. Both for the perpetrator and the victims.
But, I have also grown stronger at hardening myself from feeling so deeply. I have the determination to continue working, emailing students, cooking dinner, and all the things I will do to resolve my day. We live in a nation where this happens.
That is not a good thing.
For the one year anniversary of this blog, I choose instead to think of the things I will relish writing about in the coming year... when I get to eat a meal with my parents again, when I will visit my brother and nephew, when we will start playing music together again, when there are performances to go and see.... Perhaps, I will become too busy to continue writing the blog and it will recess back into the depths from which it emerged. Perhaps, that will be a good thing. Perhaps, in response to racial injustice, we will find new communities of colleagues and find new or renewed strength in those connections. Maybe, all those ideas that have been fermenting for a year will sprout and come to life. Maybe, we will all start to ride bicycles again. Maybe someday soon we will share a meal together, family style and I'll let you have a sip of my milkshake.
Maybe, a year from now this space will only hold a blank page.
Thank you for sticking with me for a year.
Take care and be well,
Leo
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| The ice on the Sawmill River is almost all gone. |
From Our Friends:
From Asian Nation and C.N. Le:
Recent Violence Against Asian Americans Since Start of 2021
Last year, I wrote about the spike in incidents of anti-Asian harassment, verbal abuse, bullying, and violence since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the level of anti-Asian racism and xenophobia seemed to have declined, but since the start of 2021, there seems to be a new wave of attacks aimed against Asian Americans and especially against older members of Asian American community.
From Mass MoCA:
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