I am alive
I spat in the eye of hate and lived
This is what we must do for one another
We must live for one another
We must fight for one Mother
We must die in the name of freedom if we have to
Luckily it’s not my turn today

I didn’t write those courageous words. A young man with the name of Micah Fletcher did. Mr. Fletcher is a 21-year old college student in Portland, Oregon. On May 26, 2017, he was riding public transportation in Rip City on his way to work. According to the police and witnesses on the train, a white man with the name of Jeremy Christian started raving and ranting racial slurs toward two female passengers, one of whom was wearing a hijab. The two women moved to the back of the train while three male passengers started telling Christian to calm down. The three fearless strangers who came to the young women’s rescue were Ricky John Best, Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche and Micah Fletcher. Christian pulled out a knife and stabbed them. Mr. Best died right away. Mr. Namkai-Meche died later at a hospital. Mr. Fletcher survived. None of them, the alleged killer, the gallant Samaritans knew each other or the women who were being harassed.

Not too many people are as undaunted as Best, Namkai-Meche and Fletcher. I don’t think I could be like that myself. But to these necessary heroes, I thank you and salute you. You are an inspiration and a reminder to the rest of us that we humans have to take care of each other.

*** The End ***

  (The dissemination of this writing is for non-commercial enjoyment only. The author reserves the copyright for himself)

.

Note: Click here to continue browsing other writings and works of Camillus Chan within this site