[Image: a facebook post by Emily Bolander. Transcription of text below]
I live in Japan and only speak English, and maybe 20 Japanese phrases.
I grew up in a world of “go back to where you came from. This is America. We speak English here.”
Not once has any individual in Japan told me, “This is Japan. We speak Japanese. Go back to where you came from.” Not one time.
Individuals give up their seats in waiting rooms, on trains, or on busses here when they see me pregnant or carrying my children. No words, just a simple standing and gesturing for me to sit in their place.
I can barely thank them in their native language.
Masks were worn here before a global pandemic ever surfaced. Before Covid-19 was circulating rampantly, the Japanese people wore masks to protect their communities.
They didn’t want ME to get their sniffles, and they expect me to not want to give them mine.
It’s not political. It’s not an infringement of rights. It’s a matter of, “Maybe it’s just allergies, but I dont know that for sure, so I wear a mask to keep from spitting on you when I speak.”
Freedom is a beautiful thing, yes.
But collectivism isn’t a threat to freedom, y'all.
Caring about someone else’s reality doesn’t make you weak, and for the love of God it doesn’t make you a “sheeple.”
Community is a beautiful thing.
I love my country dearly, hear that. But in so many ways, I KNOW we can do better.
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