Bridging the Gap
“After spending all this time with my family it has become increasingly apparent to me that they are all bridge builders.”
Bridging the Gap
Currently, I’m living with my two parents and my older brother. It has been hectic having us all under the same roof. I started doing puzzles with my mom, learning how to drive with my dad, and watching many movies with my brother because of our shared love of film. After spending all this time with my family it has become increasingly apparent to me that they are all bridge builders. We are trying to make the best of the situation by finding fun. It’s ironic that while quarantine has separated mankind, in a way we have come together more than ever.
Recently I took a walk around the park. I had a deep, pleasant conversation with my brother, which has been rare. I saw people going out of their way to stay away from elders. I celebrated Passover with my extended family over the phone, during which we exchanged advice on how to apply for unemployment (since a few family members lost their jobs), how to stay safe when outside, and how to take care of our new baby cousin.
I wish the news focused more on the bridge builders than barriers. I live right on Melrose and Fairfax where the Black Lives Matter protests took place. Late on Saturday, May 30, I looked out my window and saw an orange wave of flames. A fire burned right outside my house for 30 minutes. During those 30 minutes my mind was racing. The main emotion I could decipher was heartbreak.
It hurts to watch my neighborhood, in which my family has inhabited for so long, burn down.
However, what happened the next day was beautiful: my heart felt warm to see people cleaning up the streets, and my worries melted away as I saw doves and peace signs painted throughout the block. As I searched the web for information, words like “violence” and “looting” filled up my search results. They were painting my neighborhood as if it were in shambles when it isn’t.
The protests were powerful and strong regardless of the looting. Thousands of people came together to fight for equality in the park where I learned to ride a bike. I feel great pride that this display of unity and strength took place in my home. That’s what the focus should be on. The news should focus on the courageous protesters, the people risking their safety and comfort for the better of the world. Even amid the chaos of COVID-19 and murder hornets, they are still fighting for what is right. They are bridge builders fighting against the many barriers that have been put up to stop them.
(June 16, 2020)