“I am fighting for equality, the soul of my country – and I want my mother back!” (by Mark Nguyen, 9/9/20)

R.I.P. R.B.G. 

"Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you." -- Ruth Bader Ginsburg

“She attends most of the premieres,” my boyfriend Jon told me before he went backstage to conduct the orchestra during the premiere of “Urinetown” at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia in August 2005. 

I looked out for the rock star attendee – then Ruth Bader Ginsburg took her seat without much fanfare in the front row, dressed in an elegant black dress, fishnet gloves and wearing her trademark round spectacles. I was awe struck at seeing this petite yet larger-than-life justice of the Supreme Court. She was a legendary fighter for gender rights and equality her entire legal career and also a passionate patron of theatre and the arts. This was before smartphones, so she wasn’t the object of selfies that night – though was already an icon before she was labeled the Notorious R.B.G. and become a pop culture phenomenon in her 80s.

When I first moved to Washington DC during the humid summer of 1993, it was for an internship with the U.S. Department of State in the Foreign Service Institute. The week prior to my arrival in June, President Clinton had nominated Ruth Bader Ginsburg as his choice to replace retiring Justice Byron White. I recall the Senate hearings that summer and the bipartisan vote which led to her confirmation by 96-3 in August 1993. Those days of bipartisanship in Congress, especially for a Supreme Court nominee are long gone.

Justice Ginsburg's death two days ago on September 18 has intensified the 2020 election fight, setting up a bitter battle to replace her possibly prior to November 3 and with it the possibility of a 6-3 conservative majority for decades. This would go against her dying wish that she not be replaced under the next president is elected, which would be consistent with the approach Senate Republicans insisted on in 2016 when Justice Antonin Scalia passed away in February 2016. The Republican-controlled Senate refused to hold hearings for President Obama's nominee Merrick Garland, asserting that the next elected president should fill the vacancy, which led to President Trump nominating Justice Neil Gorsuch in January 2017.

American politics has often been divisive and marked by deadlock and scandals. Although there have been plenty of disagreements between politicians and over policies, Trump and his administration have pushed divisiveness to a dangerous level -- undermining democratic principles, the rule of law and the very fabric of American families, communities and U.S. relations with the world. Rather than bringing us together to deal effectively with deadly health pandemics, severe economic crises, systemic racial inequalities, staggering damage from climate change and so many challenges – we are finding less common ground and weakened by the infighting over almost every issue.

“The Chinese government backs Antifa rioters and corrupt Democrats!” my mother has insisted with increasingly frequency since the start of the pandemic. Until this spring, she has rarely had strong opinions about politics or the news. Since our family came as political refugees from Vietnam in 1975, she has demonstrated generosity and respect towards others. She has always been steadfast in her love of our family. In the last election, she supported Hillary Clinton and like many thought she had a strong chance to become the first woman president. Then, Trump happened.

“Only Trump can stand up to China and the rioters.... Women would not make good presidents... Biden, Pelosi and Newsom are controlled by Antifa and are communists!”  These false accusations have been routinely shared between my mother, her siblings and friends who have surprisingly turned into staunch defenders of Trump. It is so out of character, especially for a parent I have loved unconditionally my entire life. In fact, I strongly believe Trump and his egotism, lies and toxic masculinity have misled my mom and many other well-intentioned people.

As a supporter of the Democratic party, I attended Pelosi’s inauguration gala at the National Building Museum in January 2007 when she became Speaker of the House. She is a skilled politician and can be a polarizing figure, but she is not a Communist sympathizer and an agent of sinister interests and neither is Joe Biden – despite the conspiracy theories suggesting he is corrupted by his son Hunter's business dealings abroad. 

The conspiracy theories are rampant and exacerbated by social media and ethnic community commentators wearing red MAGA hats on YouTube which my mother and her friends watch as their daily news. These channels amplify Trump’s aggressions toward China, accuse Democrats as being Communists and excoriate anyone who dares to question Trump, creating an almost cult-like devotion to Trump. Facts do not matter in this alternate reality fueled by unchecked emotion and false accusations.

My friend Christine who is an advocate for Asian American rights and now the executive director of the non-partisan Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIA Vote), shared a study released on September 15 about Asian voting preferences. More than half of Asian Americans (54%) surveyed planned to vote for Joe Biden over Donald Trump (30%) for president. Interestingly, APIA Vote found that only Vietnamese Americans backed Trump more than Biden by 48% to 36% compared to other Asian Americans. Also, the survey found that "Asian Americans lean progressive, favoring a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, stronger environmental protections, gun control, and affirmative action."

"Why do you think Vietnamese Americans are more conservative?" Christine asked.

We had discussed this in early July prior to the survey being conducted, when I visited Christine at her home in Arlington, VA where we socially distanced on the patio of her home before a fierce thunderstorm arrived.

"I think it's because Trump has been penalizing China on trade and frequently blames China for the 'Chinese virus', I responded.

"There is a history of distrust of China's intentions as it has tried to conquer Vietnam over the centuries, from land incursions to dominating the South China Sea. Vietnamese are receptive to Trump bashing China, even though it can go against their cultural interests. In fact, my mother said she has been the target of racist comments when she wears a mask in public."

"Yes, there are many reports of increasing racism and hate crime towards Asians since the pandemic," Christine noted. Trump continues to call Covid-19 the "China virus" and that the pandemic is China's fault.

“200,000 Covid deaths are exaggerated to hurt Trump. China created the virus because China doesn’t want Trump to win the election,” were among the false allegations about Covid I've heard from my mother. She has questioned whether the virus was actually dangerous, saying Trump thought it was like the common flu. I strongly cautioned her not to believe everything Trump says. Trump’s lies and lack of leadership are threatening our lives and households.  I can only imagine how many Americans regretted that their blind trust in their president led to their illness or demise.

For all of these allegations, I have tried vigorously to explain to those willing to listen that most are based on lies, conspiracies and media sites that spread fake news. But despite my efforts, I am dismissed by Trump supporters as too na?ve or arrogant to see how the country would be crushed by sinister forces and criminals if it weren’t for Trump.

In fact, Trump’s incompetent leadership has been the cause of much suffering and needless death. Trump’s own words as taped by respected journalist Bob Woodward in his book "Rage" demonstrates how Trump intentionally downplayed what he knew was a lethal virus as it was spreading to the US. On February 7, Trump said the virus is: “more deadly than even your strenuous flus.” On March 19, he said: “I wanted to always play it down,” and “I still like playing it down, because I don’t want to create a panic.”

Also, Olivia Troye a lead staffer to Vice President Pence who was on the Coronavirus task force until July stated how Trump said he didn’t care about a proper response to save lives as it would detract from his re-election efforts. She quoted him saying: “I don’t want to shake hands with these disgusting people” – in reference to his ardent supporters. 

Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen in his recent book warned that Trump's operations are like the mafia and that he is "a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man" and interested in using the presidency exclusively for his personal financial benefit.

His niece Mary Trump a clinical psychologist said he met the definitions of malignant narcissism and lacked empathy. Mary Trump writes that the “end result of Donald’s having continually been given a pass and rewarded not just for his failures but for his transgressions — against tradition, against decency, against the law, and against fellow human beings.”

His sister Maryanne said on tape: “the phoniness of it all … the phoniness and this cruelty. Donald is cruel.”" These are telling statements from Trump and those close to him which expose his lack of moral character and deception.

As a college professor who teaches international business and business ethics in the US and abroad, I am educated but do not claim to know all that is true, ethical or good. These are personal decisions we make every day including when we vote and elect our leaders. I do believe this country is built on moral principles and a social contract that seeks to provide more equal protection and due process to its citizens, as provided by the U.S. Constitution. The scholar John Rawls has described these aspirations in his defining work "A Theory of Justice" where a society should be structured so that the greatest possible amount of liberty is given to its members, though that liberty shall not infringe upon the liberty of any other member. In balancing these liberties, there is a great need for compromise and a common acceptance of greater justice for all.

In a government dominated by two political parties, I recognize that Democrats have their unique problems given how wide the Blue tent is and do not have all the solutions that can satisfy such a diverse population. But, I do strongly believe many Democratic leaders at this moment are more genuine in their intentions to realize the greater good for one nation, and are more capable of healing the deep wounds that have been made worse under the Trump administration. Trump is not the only problem but is an angry symptom of the stark divisions this country is grappling with. The Republican party which I used to belong to decades ago, is no longer a principled political organization claiming the moral high ground -- its primary purpose is to enable Trump and Trumpism at all costs and without question.

I believe it is critical that decent people act when they feel there is a lot of wrong happening to them, their societies and the planet. If we tune out all the news, do we feel this country is on the right track after the last four years? History will look back on this fragile era in American democracy. Did we act on our convictions or were we silent and complicit?

As Justice Ginsburg said: “fight for the things you care about.”

We can all leverage our talented minds, hearts and energy to fight for what we care about. Personally, I care a lot about my adopted country and am fighting every day as if my life depends upon it. Voting has started in Virginia where I was a resident and in other states. I have been volunteering for the Biden-Harris campaign and for my Congressman Harley Rouda (CA-48) and have donated to many candidates in an effort to flip the Senate. Through numerous texts, calls and Zoom sessions, I have educated myself on the issues and learned to be more humble and patient. I am determined to keep fighting despite the depressing negativity I have encoutered by my fellow citizens during these efforts. I have gained a greater appreciation of what is at stake in this election: everything is at stake! 

For me, this election is not just about politics and is hitting closer to home than any before it: empathy and decency, family divisions, fake news, pandemic, fires, economic pressures, racial justice, equal rights as a gay Asian American immigrant and so much else. I believe it is pivotal to the survival of my family, our democracy, and the current and future inhabitants of our planet. I don’t think I’m exaggerating, but everything is at stake!  

If there is one lesson we may have learned from the pandemic, we are truly mortal and connected. We cannot live or function well as separate, divided and uncaring people. Our connections to each other sustain us as social beings, but if we are careless these can cripple us. Our best hope to overcome a global pandemic is to treat each other with empathy – and trust in the science that aims to protect us from harm and cure us of ills. If there was a national mask mandate and consistent health strategy in place in the US since the spring, how many thousands of lives and millions of livelihoods would have been protected? Canada in comparison has reduced its mortality and reported zero Covid-19 deaths on September 11 (and around 9,200 total since March) and still keeps its borders closed to America – while the US is averaging around 1,000 Covid-19 deaths per day and over 200,000 deaths since March.

Beyond my academic teaching, I am also a yoga instructor. "Yoga" means union and a holistic practice based on the concept of equanimity and that we are all connected. The ego and mind often prevent us from realizing that connection with other beings and all that surrounds us. In recent years, I have deepened my practice of yoga and meditation. 

One of the mantras I recite daily is the all-encompassing: O? Ma?i Padme Hū? 

It is an ancient Buddhist and Sanskrit mantra that helps one to transform the imperfect body, speech and mind towards a pure state of enlightenment, compassion and love. Its literal translation is the “jewel in the lotus” -- as the delicate flower rises through the mud and muck towards the light to become a radiant bloom. 

Each of the syllables is a guide towards a more virtuous existence: Om = generosity to overcome pride and ego, Ma = ethics to overcome jealousy and lust, Ni = patience to overcome want and desire, Pad = diligence to overcome ignorance and judgment, Me = renunciation to overcome attachment, Hum = wisdom to overcome hate. 

The mantra has been chanted by Buddhists, yogis and others to overcome the repeated patterns of suffering (known as Sa?sāra or karmic cycles of aimless drifting) that hold us back from realizing our full potential. It encourages healing through awareness and clearing the mind through detachment from ego. Through our thoughts and actions, we can manifest these virtues in our present life and free ourselves from the past and future expectations.

Each of us has incredible potential to realize our radiance. Though, few will ever shine as brightly with righteousness as Ruth Bader Ginsburg did in her 87 years on this earth. But, we all have that innate potential for greatness. This fight we are witnessing in the 2020 election cycle is more existential than ever. Perhaps it is also cosmic, soul-searching and a manifestation of the constant struggles that we as individuals and “We the People” face. 

The Preamble of the U.S. Constitution states:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Back in 1789, the ideals of union and liberty protected the privileges of mostly white, Christian and land-owning men. Over two centuries, this flawed and resilient document has been amended 27 times, fought over with blood and strife, including by a tenacious Ruth Bader Ginsburg who championed women’s rights and equality and civil rights trailblazers like Congressman John Lewis who also passed away this year. This evolution has ensured more equal treatment and less discrimination of women, minorities, immigrants, people of different faiths, sexual orientations and those who don’t resemble our founding forefathers. 

That is the promise of America – “in Order to form a more perfect Union” and to “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…”

This work should never stop if this country is to survive and prosper, and remain that "City upon a Hill" and "Beacon of Hope" which presidents Kennedy and Regan have highlighted in describing American exceptionalism.

Buddhist philosophy suggests that suffering is rooted in our mind and ego as we prioritize our own preservation over that of the joy of coexistence and oneness. We are by no means perfect or pure, but we can guide ourselves to calibrate our moral compass towards a more virtuous and True North. That is that path towards greater awareness, truth over deception, light over dark, and love over hate. It is our own burden and hope to free ourselves of suffering. And it should be our responsibility to inflict less pain and suffering toward others. This is crucial to the survival of humanity and all species, the ability to cooperate as a connected community and overcome ego and self interests. We are all connected. Otherwise, we will succumb to fear and resentment and truly get the country and home we deserve and don’t want.

To honor the legacy of RBG and other champions of equality and justice, we must fight for what we believe in and lead by example. Whatever your values, faith or spiritual blueprint, may it guide you in the fight for “a more perfect Union” as the soul of America is at stake. And with it, is reflected the battle for our own souls and journey to peace.

This is why I am fighting, and I want my mother back! I hope you will join this battle as our lives and posterity depend upon our resolve. If we keep fighting with determination and purpose as Justice Ginsburg did until her final days, she and we -- can truly rest in peace and power.

#VOTE #RIP #RBG