“OH MY GOD! Have you heard?! The Woker is back!!!”
Coming from a queer, trans POC, it is no surprise to anyone that I am woke — maybe “too woke” (which is BS, btw). My identity and my livelihood are political debates, yet so many people still cannot understand that politics and social issues influence EVERYONE. And I mean everyone.
Everyone knows our world has gone to shit. Some choose to ignore it, while others are more aware of the current state of the world. I am not telling you to be an activist, to always attend protests, or to even think about every tragic thing happening in the world right now. People should just be more conscious of their own actions and that their actions do have consequences, no matter what. It genuinely angers me when people are so ignorant. The internet is free to y’all — you just don’t care.
Yes, the cup of coffee and the bag of fries that you are buying are killing people. Yes, the “funny” AI-generated image is stealing fresh water from displaced communities. Yes, not voting and sharing your voice impacts millions of people daily. Yes, not using your voice and people being idle make you a part of the problem. It is so disheartening when people say “too woke”, when it is just being kind, aware, and caring for others.
Everyone wants a community, but is never ready to make a sacrifice or even accept a small inconvenience for themselves. You will never create a better place, world, or home if you keep yourself in a comfortable bubble that shields you from reality. It is disgusting that there are actual people who could give less of a single fuck about other people across the sea, or even their own neighbors, because it doesn’t impact them. How privileged you are.
I know that it is painful and hard to face these issues, but it is necessary. It is easy to feel hopeless in a world that can be so unkind. But if you do your part, the community will thank you endlessly. It is so easy — small steps make a big difference. Go shopping at your local market or the vendor down the street, say hi to your neighbor, go vote, spend a couple of extra bucks on your community,
Be aware, but most importantly, be kind.
Lydia Luo
Media Producer
—————————————————————
Asian Outlook Magazine & Media releases blog posts every week, featuring different members of our incredible executive board and community. Please message us on Instagram or write to ao.editor@gmail.com if you want your thoughts published as a blog post! Also, send us any questions, comments or concerns!
Asian Outlook | Art and Literary Magazine 