This story came across my desk as I was out of town this weekend. Am I surprised? No. The fact this doctor did this is amazing. What is odd, which probably shouldn’t be at this point, is the mother of one of his patients reported this to the hospital and Dr. Gu was put on paid administrative leave.
Think about that.
The mother of one of the patients he was taking care of didn’t like his political views, and told the hospital. This is asinine. The article does not detail the race of the woman that did this, knowing her son was his patient, this sounds like white privilege and its exploitation of minority people.
She didn’t care what he did as long as he saved her son. Once he had outlived his usefulness to her, she all of a sudden wasn’t comfortable with him kneeling.
Kneeling.
But I promise you, she will swear up one wall and down another that she isn’t a racist and is, what is the phrase now, but ‘concerned about the state of the country and doesn’t think the workplace is the right place to express political beliefs.’
If anything, those whom call themselves allies or practice allyship need to understand progress and change are not catch phrases or trends. There is a level of agreement you commit to which you remain vigilant to those you agree to help. You don’t just abandon that because it gets hard or something else cooler comes along.
Take a cue from Dr. Gu and the God’s Son album, track 12 (Revolutionary Warfare):
“..and listen more, and talk less…”
“…be ready to die for what you believe in and ride all the time, not just when convenient.”
Being an ally will cost you something. Being a part of a things greater than yourself will require you to do things greater than what would expected of other people. It will demand you understand what you agree to support will require your support. Allyship is no respecter of time or situation.
Your support, if it is true, will require you to do something. It will require you to be comfortable with being uncomfortable–and that may cost you. However, if the goal is change and that is achieved by disruption, that is great gain.
Don’t lose sight of the goal.
Thank you to all those who support the movement (not just the moments), and desire to see the world change to benefit and protect all people.
Thank you.
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