One of my state senators and one-time DNC presidential nominee, Kamala Harris, recently co-authored Senate Resolution 580 which aims to condemn and denounce anti-Asian sentiment, racism, discrimination, and religious intolerance as evidenced in the use of such phrases as “Wuhan virus,” “Chinese virus,” and “Kung-flu.”
I wrote this letter to her:
Ms. Harris,
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/580“Wuhan Virus” and “Kung-Flu” are not any more racist terms than “Russian Collusion” or “Ghetofabulous”. ‘Made in China’ is just a term unless your intention is derogatory to indicate cheapness or a matter of pride for authenticity. As an Asian-American liberal, please stop wasting time on woke posturing. We have many more pressing and substantive issues, like providing economic solutions for people at high-risk for COVID-19, who must continue to shelter-in-place as the country opens up. Please deal with those.
Regards,
Thomas DelMundo
As a ‘classical’ liberal (I’m old-school), any regulation on free-speech, no matter how well-intended, raises red flags. Reading the actual text of the resolution, it is at best ‘virtue signaling’ reaffirming her colleague’s stance against discrimination (not that any member of Congress recently said they were for Asian discrimination). But at worst, it is ‘virtue signaling’ without actually proposing any improvements on existing laws on anti-Asian discrimination that it purports to address. A cynical reading would be that SB580 is merely an empty ‘achievement’ that can be cited as an actual accomplishment in the November campaign season.
SOURCES
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/580