Rising up against hate

Between the pandemic and the social turmoil….

there is another strand that continues to tear into the hearts of our social fabric, hatred. Lately, attacks on Asians are on the rise. I ask myself, how can I contribute in such a way that could avoid violence.

Posting some moves on social media may help. Reminding everyone to have a sense of heightened awareness may possibly avert becoming a victim. Passing stricter laws certainly deters.

Another option also is the idea of stepping on the mat. It not only teaches us special skills but we learn about self-discovery and we learn about further mutual respect. We may learn more about empathy, we may learn to be more considerate of others and see things in a different light.

I’m not one to turn the other cheek, but training in martial arts have taught me to deflect when needed both physically, emotionally and mentally. It taught me to be assertive. It taught me how and when to yield and when to stand up.

To counteract violence, getting on the mat could be one of the answers. Heightened awareness of one’s surrounding is another important exercise. In training, one could learn a measured response. More, importantly it may change point of views.

It all starts with us and our younger generations.