THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY
THE ALLEYNIAN 708 | OUT OF THE ORDINARY
OPINION, INTERVIEWS & FEATURES
SMALL HANDS ANDVOICES
Our daily discourse and everyday interactions may seem insignificant in the context of these turbulent times, says Arjaan Miah (Year 11), but their impact is greater than we realise
L et’s talk about individuals. Under the weight of unique challenges, wherever they lie, many feel powerless; the impact we, as individual people, can have on the many terrifying crises of the day is minuscule. But don’t rush to think of your role as inconsequential, just because it’s small. We must all marshal our efforts to curate the messages and footprints we leave behind us, especially now. It saddens my heart to hear the stories from my East Asian friends, who have, in recent times, been subject to harassment in the name of public health. Here in London and across the world, people are being told to ‘take their China virus home’, are seeing their businesses close down, and, in the worst cases, are being attacked. These acts of xenophobia are made easier each time we make a ‘Chinese’ joke, every time we normalise or sympathise with this irrational and dangerous plague of racism. Equally, many in the Italian community, myself included, have faced harassment for speaking in Italian. I didn’t think I lived in a country where so many people would stay silent as a passenger of the P13 spewed vitriol at me while I was on the phone to my grandfather in Italy. It is paramount that we recognise the role that we each play in this complex societal issue – whether it’s staying silent, making light of
harassment, or watching TikTok videos of amateur comedians making jokes at the expense of the Chinese community. There is hope, however. If we direct our efforts towards unity – supporting other people – the rewards are huge. Take the #ClapForOurCarers campaign. When each member of a whole community, or country, took a few minutes out of their day to show their appreciation for the staff of the NHS, we had a massive impact, controversies regarding its media coverage aside. Equally, let me be clear in saying that you don’t need to have anyone else alongside you to make an impact: each individual who shops for an elderly neighbour, facing peril in the free-for-all of the Tesco Express, has used their hands to help another person and, in doing so, has put food on another person’s plate and a smile on another person’s face. Be the small voice that speaks in the defence of an Asian person on public transport; be the person to offer a small gesture of help to your neighbours; be the person to videocall your friends first. This is a time for unity. A time to offer anything – everything – we can to the next person. If we let ourselves be divided, we will surely fall. But if we all work together, we can heal nations.
DON’T RUSH TO THINK OF YOUR ROLE AS INCONSEQUENTIAL, JUST BECAUSE IT’S SMALL
Image: Michael Wong (Year 11)
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