Dear Asian Youth,
here are two words:
oppression (uh-presh-uhn): the state of being heavily affected by unjust rules and systems
and
competition (kom-pi-tish-uhn): rivalry; the act of striving to outdo another
words that sound so similar, yet are worlds apart
or rather
should be worlds apart
when the struggle of one
is used to erase the struggles of another,
oppression suddenly becomes
competition.
a meaningless war rages on,
and the winner is the one with
the most blood spilled
the most scars etched into your flesh
the most bruises radiating gruesome hues of black and blue
people fight so violently
for a prize with no prestige
a plastic trophy
a certificate that carries no honor
for a prize of selfishness or stupid self-validation
as i look in the mirror
scars stinging, muscles tensing
i think to myself,
“why do they want my wounds?”
- Julianne T.
Cover Photo Source: http://www.goldentiger.com/set-of-3-1st-2nd-3rd-trophies-with-plastic-kick-figurine-eagle-and-stone-base/