Lunar New Year

As with everything in this blog, I know I am late - a few days late. Happy Lunar New Year!

I hope everyone has been doing well this season, and taking care of yourself! As a Southern Californian, 2025 is off to a bit of a rough start - with fires blooming early this year, sickness in the family, the re-entrance of someone into presidency, and news of a fatal airplane crash out in DC.

I know that for CNY, it is important to keep things "lucky" and talk about happy things - but I think that as a Christian, we must voice the things that are wrong.

For those of you who do not know, I used to be a flight attendant for United Airlines, a major US airline with a hub in DC. I was a flight attendant when someone first took office, and I remember how it felt like working the very next day after that person won the election. As an Asian American, I was told that I would be sent back to where I came from - mind you, I am a Californian native. I was told by an older lady she didn't want my help, because she didn't want to owe me any favors when I was taken. It was as though overnight, any progress of embracing diversity was pushed back decades.

Now looking back, I was lucky. There was no firing of the FAA Director nor attack by this person in office unto the aviation industry back then. This could have happened back in 2016. I could have been on a plane that was headed towards doom, rather than home. Do you know what it's like to be a flight attendant nearing the end of the flight? Finally pushing the last bar cart into place and plopping down on the jump seat, excited in anticipation to go home, go to the hotel, rest, or explore the city? But that never came for the crew of AA5342. What about the passengers? They too, had places to go - families and loved ones waiting for them.

The aftermath? This person in office not only does not take responsibility, but rather blames the DEI. A reporter asked pointedly how diversity has anything to do with this crash, and this person blatantly said that he knows because he has common sense. Common sense dictates that this was not an issue of diversity, but rather a senile man-child throwing a tantrum and limiting his own accountability, firing aviation officials and key personnel who are key to safety and security, simply because they do not agree with every word he says.

I am the face of diversity. Literally, I am the face of diversity outreach for my day job, and he has basically said that I, and all hyphenated Americans, will always be to blame for all things bad. Inflation? It's because of us - commodities of our parents' or grandparents' or great-grandparents' motherland is stealing jobs and causing issues with American economy. Crime rates? It's because of us - we are bringing in the drugs, booze, and violence. Housing crisis? Definitely us, buying up all the houses and creating scarcity, though most of us do not have the generational wealth acquired to even own a home. Clearly, our skin color is an obstacle in making America great again - and nothing to do with a man-child being in office, firing qualified professionals from important jobs.

I cannot for the life of me understand why a narcissist with no affinity for empathy, doesn't tolerate accountability, nor takes responsibility would be voted to re-enter office.

I don't normally post very political posts, but it has been such a ridiculously rough season. It is hard for me to even watch the news without feeling depressed. As an empath, I don't have the emotional capacity to take in all this sadness and fear. There is so much hope when I see my social media flooded with resources during the fires, tips for how to pack for an evacuation, legal advice on handling with ICE, and more. But the flip side is: these posts are necessary because people need them. It is so heartbreaking, and this really pushed me over the edge. As an ex-flight attendant, this was such devastating news.

I know that as a Christian, we are called to submit to authority, as God has sovereignty even over times as these, but it is hard. How can this be for Good? How can someone whose leadership is communicated through bullying and blame be chosen to lead a nation? I know I am very fortunate to be minimally impacted by the policies imposed by the person currently in office, but that should not close my lips against injustice! I may never be American enough for him, but I am an American, and I can very assuredly say that he does not make America great again. It will be a long four years, but in the meantime, I'll continue praying for someone who can to step up to the plate.