United We Stand Tall and Strong

As if the COVID-19 pandemic were not devastating already, 2020 America should have to experience yet another upheaval. Protests about police brutality and inequality/injustice have broken out in all major cities across the United States, from Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Miami, to Louisville, Houston, Cincinnati, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Seattle, etc. Following George Floyd’s tragic decease under a chokehold by a police officer that went seriously wrong, the unrelenting issues of racism resurface and drive large crowds to gather and demonstrate despite the need for social distancing and economic recovery.

The world seems to have come to its horrific end, or at least the world as we know it: “Not only is the nation facing current crises of public health, the economy, race relations and public safety, and perhaps democracy itself, but there are still things that could happen, … such as a foreign conflict or cyber-attack.” While protests turn violent and chaotic, police have shot rubber bullets and tear-gassed both protesters and journalists, and on the other hand, unruly civilians have disrespected law enforcers, some assaulting the police. But we do not need to have more bloodshed and carnage. What we need is unity. We need to unite to solve problems and rebuild our country as well as the world. Unity is strength.

During these times of civil unrest, we need to think hard and clear about what it means to be American. Peaceful measures, instead of looting and destruction, should formulate our channels of expression. In several cities, individual police officers have knelt with protesters to covey pain over system injustices. Some have marched with protesters, while among demonstrators and the police force, there have been plenty of greetings and handshakes. Former President Obama “condemns violence, outlines how protesters can bring about real change.” In his essay dated June 1, 2020, he urges our countrymen to “channel our justifiable anger into peaceful, sustained, and effective action, …and [elicit] a real turning point in our nation’s long journey to live up to our highest ideals.” Joe Biden also pinpoints: “George Floyd's last words [I can’t breathe] … didn't die with him…. It's a wake-up call for our nation. For all of us.” Our founding fathers taught us the principles of liberty/justice, and never were they parallel to violence or hostility.

“This is the United States of America. And there is nothing we can't do. If we do it together.” – Joe Biden

“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.” -- J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

“Like a sculptor, if necessary,

carve a friend out of stone.

Realize that your inner sight is blind

and try to see a treasure in everyone.” -- Jalaluddin Rumi

United we will stand tall and strong; divided we will fall even further and harder. Celebrate similarities and embrace diversity. What makes the world rich and beautiful is the unity in diversity.

团结力量大

新型冠状病毒带来的灾难似乎不足以毁害世界，讽刺的是2020年的美国还得经历另一场国家动荡。美国所有主要城市：明尼阿波利斯、纽约、费城、华盛顿特区、亚特兰大、迈阿密、路易斯维尔、休斯顿、辛辛那提、拉斯维加斯、洛杉矶、萨克拉曼多，以及西雅图等城市皆在乔治·弗洛伊德（George Floyd）遭警官扼杀的情况之下大力举行游行抗议的活动，无视疫情所需的人与人之间的安全距离和和经济复苏的需求。种族歧视的问题再度浮现，驱使大批群众聚集和示威。

世界似乎面临可怖的末日尽头，我们所认知的世界已不再存在：“我们的国家不仅面临着当前的公共卫生和经济危机，种族关系和公共安全也受到危及，民主制度遭受冲击，并且可能发生额外的困境，例如外国冲突或网络侵袭等等。” 在民众抗议引发暴力和混乱的同时，警察开枪射击橡胶子弹，并对抗议者甚或新闻记者施加催泪弹，另一方面，不守规矩的平民也执行蔑视执法人员的不法活动，有些人还攻击警察。值得注意的是，我们不需要更多的流血事件和屠杀。我们需要的是团结，团结同心来解决问题、来重建国家和世界。团结力量大。

在这动荡时期，我们需要认真思考并解析身为美国人的重大意义。和平手段和措施、而不是抢劫和破坏，是制定我们表达问题和要求平等人权的正规渠道。某些城市的警官已与抗议者共同跪下，以认知制度不平所导致的困苦。有些还与示威者共同游行。另一方面在示威者和警察之间，也有许多和平问候和友好握手的交流。前任总统奥巴马“谴责暴力、表示示威者应可以带来真正的改变。” 在2020年6月1日发表的文章中，他敦促我们的同胞“将合理的愤怒引导至和平、持续和有效的行动中，并在国家实现最高理想的漫长旅程中制造一个真正的转折点。 ” 前任副总统兼2020年总统候选人拜登同时指出：“乔治·弗洛伊德临终的遗言[我透不过气、我透不过气]…并未随同他而死去。他的遗言乃为针对我们的国家所发出的警告，是每一个人皆需聆听的警钟。” 美国的创国元勋教授予我们自由/正义的原则，这些教条从来未涉及暴力或敌对。

“美利坚合众国力量大。如果我能团结起来，我们可以成就任何事业。” -- 拜登

“只有团结在一起我们才有力量，分裂了我们只会衰弱。” -- 罗琳，哈利·波特与火杯

“如果需要的话，像雕刻家一样，

用石头来雕刻一个朋友。

意识到你内在的视线有所障碍、

并尝试在每个人身上寻得可贵之人性宝藏。” -- 贾拉鲁丁·鲁米（Jalaluddin Rumi）

团结一致，我们将站得更高更强壮；分裂了，我们将跌得更低更惨。欣赏世人相似之处，并拥抱其多样性。致使世界富裕和美丽的乃是多样性的统一与协调。