13 Things You Don’t Know About China Until You Live There

Overdue Ferguson Response

First off, I’d like to apologize for the lateness of my latest update/blog post. Life has a way of getting in the way when school is hectic, but there always should be time for a teenager’s take on current events.

Everything I’ve wanted to talk about seems to be of the past, however, the Ferguson grand jury decision is one topic that cannot go undiscussed. This could easily be an enraged post about how a teenager, just a little older than me did not deserve to die, but there are plenty of those surfacing the internet. Instead, I’d like to calmly offer my opinion on the matter. In my own little corner of the world (Beijing, perhaps not so little), the only thing I can do is sit here and spectate and offer my opinion to anyone who will listen.

Firstly, I am appalled. By many things. I am appalled by the apparent racial profiling that should not exist but still exists, by the lack of justice in our legal system, and by the enraged looting that occurred as a result. Before I delve into my opinion, I’d like to offer that

a. Cigarillos and a squabble by no means should lead to the death of an unarmed boy with a life ahead of him. This is plainly nonsensical and the fact that this occurred forms a pit of revulsion in my stomach.

b. The mere idea that Wilson was not indicted for this obvious crime forms a deep fear and disappointment for humanity, or should I say lack of humanity.

c. Looting stores and the chaos does not reconcile a. and b.

America is flawed, divided and flawed. For a while, there was still a flicker of hope that justice would be served – though I suppose deep down there was a growing fear that Wilson would walk unscathed. Despite Mike Brown’s hands in the air, he was still shot. And despite the evidence, Darren Wilson walked free. These are the injustices of America. This is telling us the lives of people do not matter. But in addition, riots are the aftermath – with claims of a voice of vigilance and rage. However, this isn’t righteousness, this is criminal.

Violence in America has always been a problem. Violence plays a role in this entire epidemic itself, America is undeniably a violent country. Racism also undeniably plays a role in this epidemic. Racial profiling is present, prejudice does exist. Violence and racism are pressing issues. The riots do not solve this, they are counter-productive. What the riots do accomplish is making the innocent, law-abiding store-owners of Ferguson the punching bag. The secondary victims are those whose lives are impacted by the chaotic atmosphere.

There is a problem, a problem that cannot be overlooked and called a “misfortune”. And we don’t have a solution, yet, but the solution for now is not creating more chaos and violence.