This past month has been quite a whirl with the 2020 US presidential election, coronavirus in general, and more. Due to the number of things all happening at once, it is hard to get a grasp on it all. I know that I had a hard time keeping up with the influx of information coming at me. Because of this, I decided to write an article giving you a snapshot of a few topics. Keep in mind that this is only the surface!
First off, let’s talk about the 2020 US presidential election. The 2020 US presidential election has definitely been a hot topic in the past few months. This election, in particular, is important, as one of history’s most polarizing figures, President Donald Trump, is being challenged by Former Vice President Joe Biden. The election this year is unlike any in recent times, as it is amidst a global pandemic and more. As for the mental health aspect of the election, according to a new survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 68% of Americans said that the 2020 US presidential election is a significant source of stress in their lives. This is quite understandable, due to the uncertainty of everything right now and the necessity of having a good leader during this time. At the same time, please take care of yourself! A tip that can be found helpful is to limit the amount of news you are consuming if you are struggling mentally due to the election. Also, please try to engage in other activities and talk to others. Some much needed good news regarding the election that can help relieve your stress is that as of October 18, more than 22 million votes have already been cast. Furthermore, election experts predict that turnout rates could be higher than in any presidential election since 1908. On a side note, please respect other’s political opinions even though you don’t agree!
Like I said before, we are amidst a worldwide pandemic, which is crucial for us to educate ourselves about. Unfortunately, our nation is not doing great regarding COVID-19. Daily case numbers are at levels not seen since September and as of October 22, there is a 70 percent increase of daily cases since September. Moreover, the new daily cases average is nearly 60,000, and there have been 220,000 and counting COVID-19 deaths in the US. This leads me to emphasize that you take care of yourself. Stay at home as much as possible and remember that the pandemic is certainly not over. Social distance and wear a mask when out. These simple actions can save lives. The sooner you do your part, the sooner this pandemic will be over. As for those who went out on Halloween and did not social distance, please isolate yourself for a week and get tested.
Furthermore, the latest trend to call COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus” and “Kung Flu” must be stopped. The problem with these terms is that it taps into a history of Anti-Asian rhetoric and violence. Moreover, they incentivize people to view Asian Americans as foreign threats and promote hatred against Asian Americans. In fact, more than 2,100 anti-Asian American hate incidents related to COVID-19 were reported across the country over three months between March and June, and the usage of these terms certainly do not help the situation. Therefore, please do not refer to the coronavirus as the “Chinese Virus” and “Kung Flu”.
I also want to remind you about the Black Lives Matter movement. Around four months ago, the words “Black Lives Matter” took over our social media feeds. But now, almost everyone has moved on, which is quite depressing. We must continue the conversation. African Americans are still being killed due to their race, and posting a black square on Instagram one day will not make much of an impact if that’s all we do. The more we raise awareness of the systematic racism African Americans face, the better. To find ways to help defeat racism, please vist this link: https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/.
That’s it for today! I hope you enjoyed this article, as it is very different from the standard articles I write, which are generally centered on only one topic. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!