#zion race

[mostlyexcited]

Oh, I guess now’s a good time to mention I ran my dream race in April — a 100K in Zion — and then we got to camp in the park. It was every bit as amazing and exhausting and exhilarating as you’d imagine (even though I missed a turn and ran ~7.7 extra miles!!).

#runblr #runfam #fitfam #fitblr #running #run happy #colorado #trail running #denver #zion #zion 100k #zion race #zion national park

[creature-wizard]

Looks like it's time to talk about starseeds and the New Age movement again.

Since I'm seeing more starseed content being posted, I'm gonna make another post on why the whole starseed thing and the surrounding New Age belief system are... not good.

So for those who don't know, New Age mythology is essentially a hodgepodge of cherrypicked and distorted myths from various cultures, racist pseudohistory, and far right conspiracy theories. To put it very briefly, starseeds are supposedly here to help Earth resist the reptilians, a race of politics-manipulating, war-starting, media-controlling blood-drinking aliens. For those who don't recognize the tropes here, these are basically all antisemitic canards. The reptilian alien myth as most know it today comes from David Icke, who ultimately cribbed a bunch of his material from The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, a Russian hoax created to justify violence against Jews. He was also influenced by the work of people like Fritz Springmeier, a hateful crank who based much of his work on other hateful cranks.

(David Icke, by the way, also claims that transgender is an evil reptilian conspiracy. You'll never find just one form of bigotry with these people.)

There are supposedly numerous alien races out there, and one of the most prominent among them are the Pleiadians, AKA Nordics. While modern depictions of the Pleiadians give them more variety in skintone, there's no denying that older Pleiadian mythology basically pictured them as Aryans In Space, even associating them with the swastika.

You see what's going on here? "Good" swastika-loving Aryan aliens versus "evil" Jewish aliens? Sound familiar?

Racism isn't just a tangential part of the starseed myth, either. It lies at its very core. It's inextricably tied in with the ancient astronaut hypothesis, which has a history of racist motivation behind it. The TL;DR is that a bunch of white people couldn't believe that non-white people had built a bunch of things they couldn't figure out how to build themselves (EG, the Great Pyramids), so they proposed that the real builders were anyone from Atlanteans to aliens. (Atlantis, by the way, never existed; it was a literary device created by Plato.)

One supposed purpose of starseeds is to help the world "wake up to the truth," which basically just means "convert people to New Age spirituality." New Age believes that world peace is contingent on a majority of the world being converted to New Age belief, and that resistance against their belief system is ultimately the work of the aforementioned reptilian aliens.

To put it another way, New Agers think they understand other cultures' spiritual traditions better than the actual members of said cultures, and think that anyone who disagrees with them is being manipulated by the conspiracy, or is an agent of the conspiracy. This includes Indigenous cultures which are already endangered from white Christian colonialism.

Essentially, endangered cultures cannot speak up for themselves and resist New Agers' efforts at cultural assimilation without being labeled a problem and an enemy. It's basically white Christian colonialism repackaged as "spiritual, not religious."

Again - if you heard from these people that some ancient text or myth describes extraterrestrial beings visiting our planet for one reason or another, you heard misinformation. They twist and misrepresent literally every myth and text they get their hands on. For example, you may have heard that the vimanas from Hindu traditions were actually alien spacecraft. They were no such thing. Or maybe you heard that the Book of Enoch describes aliens performing genetic experimentation on humans. It literally does not. At best, all of the stories they cite just kind of sound like aliens if you ignore most of their content and pay no attention to their cultural contexts.

The starseed movement preys on alienated people, especially autistic people and people with ADHD. You can look up nearly any list of signs that you're supposedly a starseed, and many of them will align perfectly with characteristics associated with autism and/or ADHD, or that people with these conditions commonly report. Some people within the movement even go so far as to claim that ADHD and autism don't even exist, but were actually made up by the conspiracy as a cover to suppress and control starseeds, which is some yikes-as-hell ableism.

So basically, people are being told that if they have these certain characteristics or symptoms, that means it's their job to spread New Age spirituality to defeat the conspiracy and help others ascend to the fifth density.

And what's the fifth density, you might ask? It's supposedly humanity's next evolutionary level, because New Age is also based on biological misconceptions. Supposedly once everyone's DNA "upgrades," they'll essentially morph into an aetheric form. Supposedly, this is preceded by a number of "ascension symptoms," including depression, headache, gastrointestinal issues, and any number of other symptoms that could indicate almost anything, including stress.

What many of these people don't realize is, this prediction has already failed. Back in the 2000s and 2010s, experiencing "ascension symptoms" was supposed to precede ascension to 5D beginning December 21, 2012. One lady, Denise Le Fay, was convinced that the hair loss she was experiencing in 2008 was an ascension symptom. As we can see by looking her up, she's very much still with us on the 3D plane these days, repeating the same tired old scripts New Agers recycle endlessly.

By the way, everything you near New Agers saying today about old systems being dismantled, dark forces being arrested or kicked off the planet, and new economic systems on the horizon? They've been recycling these scripts for years now. Take a look at this page written back in 2012. You got stuff about the complete dismantling of an enormous network of sinister forces," "the arrest and removal of a world-wide cabal," and a "new economic system."

("Cabal," by the way, is a dogwhistle term for "Jews.")

Furthermore, people in this movement are often encouraged to try and access past life memories through dreams or hypnosis, which makes the whole thing feel even more real to them. But the thing is, you can have incredibly vivid experiences about literally anything you put your mind to - the people in the reality shifting having vivid experiences of living another life in the Harry Potter universe are a great example of this. Just because you have vivid experiences, doesn't mean they have any bearing on anything happening in this reality.

So yeah, the starseed movement and the larger New Age movement are both extremely harmful. They promote racist pseudohistory, medically-irresponsible pseudoscience, conspiracy theories that target numerous marginalized groups, and functionally target aliened people with ADHD and autism to convince them that spreading its beliefs is their job.

#starseed #starseeds #new age #new age beliefs #ascension #5d #fifth density #spirituality #racism #antisemitism #ableism #transphobia #ascension symptoms #conspirituality #conspiracy theories #conspiracism #ancient aliens #ancient astronauts #ancient astronaut hypothesis #aliens #extraterrestrials #pseudoarchaeology #archaeology #pleiadians #pleiadian #dna upgrade #autism #adhd #colonialism

[therealbatgirlishere]

Trips in. (Tripin.) p1!

First fic! Kindness or constructive criticism is allowed. No req 🫶🏽

miles morales e-42 aged up! X bb mama reader aged up! miles age: 23 readers age: 22

context: you and Miles had broken up, due to a bad fight (petty argument) with a bad outcome, but anyways It’s been months and you’ve both pretty much moved on…right? Well, after you had finished getting dolled up to have a fun night with you and your girls, you had to drop your son off.. as you were planning to leave you might have been a bit.. interrupted?

You were chilling, just having finished your makeup and hair, you were going out with your girlfriends so you wanted to look nice as usual. Miles was comin in to take you n his kid,  sure. It’s a bit awks having to still communicate with the baby daddy after you both broke up but hey, at least your boy got a dad in his life. You were packing your sons things, placing clothes in his little bag, spare shoes a toothbrush and more, including a small treat for the road (a twix or stm Wtv u want.) after you had finished, you called your boy over. 

“Zion! ven aquí!” You shouted from upstairs, seconds later you heard the pitter patter of tiny feet coming up the stairs, your child then poking his head out of the door. 

“Mama?” Zion asked, in his cute lil voice you could see his little brown fro poking out as well as his eyes. You smiled, “Zion, you ready to see your papa?” You questioned, lips curling upwards. Zion gave a small nod. Cute. Your 4 year old son waddled his way over to you and gave you a hug, small arms wrapping around your knees and face dig into your legs. You patted your sons head.

 “Alright, I’ll put your bag on so you’re all ready.” You then picked up your son and settled him down on his comfy race car bed. He looked up at you, when you really looked at him, you could see miles, a resemblance between him and you in there…what were you just thinking? No. Stop thinking about that man. Focus. you were halfway through putting on his bag.

Knock knock knock

The sound echoed through the house, you had a feeling it was him, who am I kidding it was him. But, you had to make sure. 

“Zion,  stay here okay? I’ll call you down if papas here.” You said, holding his shoulders and being eye to eye with him before pecking his forehead quick and softly, then making your way downstairs and to the door, you were calm. Why wouldn’t you be? Face blank as you headed to the door.

Click.. creeeakkk

You opened the door, and there he was the 6’3 tall dark skinned male, mini Two-Strand twists,   the same blank expression as always. Wearing a white coloured wife beaters n a black zip up jacket with loose fit jeans, a silver chain and ring on his finger. 

(If ur wondering why he looks different it’s because he’s aged up, so ofc he would get taller and want to switch his hairstyle up etc. dw tho you can still imagine him looking the same ig.)

“…” he stared down at you,  hands in his pockets a lacklustre expression on his face as he then looks behind you. Searching for his son.

Where’s Zion at?” He asks, raising an eyebrow as he looks behind you still. Wow. Rude much? 

The man can’t even be bothered to say hi to the mother of his child.

“Well, Hi to you too. Miles.” You reply, giving him a sarcastic smile before rolling your eyes and turning your head back towards the house.

 “Zion! Your dads here!” You called him over, your son then poked his head out, a grin from ear to ear appeared as he then let out a small giggle. He then ran down the stairs, loud thumping being heard as he made his way down. 

“Ay.” You sucked your teeth in slight annoyance when you saw him running to fast down the stairs, almost tripping but saving himself. 

“Hijo, don’t run down the stairs you’ll fall.” You scolded him, putting a hand on his shoulder as he went to go hug your knees again, nodding a bit then looked up at his dad. 

“He’s jus a kid Chica.” Miles said, looking at you. What an ass. He still had that deadpan expression going on. You shook your head slightly and scowled.

“Just looking out for my son.” You replied, scowling removed as you looked back at him, crossing your arms. Jeez, did he have to be this annoying? You questioned in your head.

“You mean our, son.” He responded, then stared slightly more closely to your face, his eyebrows then knit together. “You wearin makeup? And what’s up with yo fit and hair?” He asked, staring you up and down as he pointed. Does he have to know every single little thing about you? 

This is p1 cause I can’t be bothered writing the rest 😜

#across the spiderverse #miles morales earth 42 #miles morales prowler #miles morales x y/n #miles morales earth 42 x reader #possible smut? #angst? #enemies to lovers #astv x reader #Poc couples #jealousy? #yandere? #toxic relationship #toxic love

[cryptotheism]

i was so unaware of how much occult conspiracy shit alex jones believes oh my god. i listened to recent levels of knowledge fight and he keeps talking about globalists sacrificing people to saturn???? why

The Saturn Cult is one of those ideas that just kinda congealed out of the early 2000s conspiracy froth of antisemitism, islamaphobia, and renewed interest in alien pseudohistory.

There are a few versions:

The Sci Fi UFO version essentially posits that a particular storm on Saturn, which itself looks a bit like a black cube, is actually a sort of forward base for the Evil Reptilian Empire. This black cube symbology is expressed here on earth as the Kabba (the black square structure that forms the center of global Islam) and Tefillin (specifically the small black boxes worn during some Jewish religious ceremonies.) Thus implying that both Jewish and Muslim people are somehow descendants of /controlled by / loyal to / synonymous with this ancient malicious race of reptillian aliens.

The fantasy occult version posits that throughout all of history, there has been a sort of primordial occult anti-church, who worship a nonspecific ancient god usually associated with the planet Saturn and some vague nonsense about lost Mesopotamian civilizations. This Cult of The Black Cube is supposedly the force behind satanism, the parts about Judaism that Christians don't like, Islam, etc. Basically anything and everything thats bad in the world can be traced back to this ancient secret Cult of the Black Cube.

It's a spin on old blood libel that's been adapted for the modern age. Many modern conspiracy theorists engage in complicated forms of anti/philosemitism that come with modern American evangelical Christianity. There's a lot of "we don't hate Jewish people, because as Christians we are basically Jewish anyway." Or "Jewish people are just Christians we haven't gotten to yet." Many Christian Nationalists like Alex see themselves as participating in Jewish identity in some fashion. Even if they see Judaism as a shibboleth, they often see Christians as "the real Jewish people."

So, modern conspiracy narratives have to make room for this. All the Jewish people you like are the good, pure, human ones that are basically Christians anyway, and all the Jewish people you don't like are controlled by the Cult of the Black Cube. It's the Protocols of the Elders of Zion with some extra room to include the Muslims.

It's also important to remember that Alex thinks magic is literally real in the supernatural sense. He unironically sees himself as a prophet, who is currently at war with actual, literal, demons. And he thinks human blood can be processed and consumed in such a way as to trigger mild superpowers.

#antisemitism #conspiracy #islamaphobia

[loving-n0t-heyting]

there are some prominently vocal champions of the israeli cause who more or less say outright that modern science, liberal politics, artistic flourishing, and generally the cause of capital-P Progress are fueled so fundamentally by jews as a (roughly) coherent race and community that any jewish decline from the halls of institutional power and the avant-garde of social evolution (whose jewish presence is imagined, at least in the united states, to be quite overwhelming) would spell a collapse of liberal progress and cultural ferment

you may recognise this as bearing a striking resemblance to the political beliefs of the authors of the protocols of the elders of zion except with the valences flipped

#guess whos hatereading scott aaronson at 10pm

[somerabbitholes]

Books you would recommend on this topic? Colonial, post colonial, and Cold War Asia are topics that really interest me. (Essentially all of the 1900s)

Hello! An entire century is huge and I don't quite know what exactly you're looking for, but here we are, with a few books I like. I've tried organising them, but so many of these things bleed into each other so it's a bit of a jumble

Cold War

1971 by Srinath Raghavan: about the Bangladesh Liberation War within the context of the Cold War, US-Soviet rivalry, and the US-China axis in South Asia

Cold War in South Asia by Paul McGarr: largely focuses on India and Pakistan, and how the Cold War aggravated this rivalry; also how the existing tension added to the Cold War; also the transition from British dominance to US-Soviet contest

Kennedy, Johnson, and the Nonaligned World by Robert B. Rakove: on the US' ties with the Nonaligned countries during decolonisation and in the early years of the Cold War; how US policy dealt with containment, other strategic choices etc

South Asia's Cold War by Rajesh Basrur: specifically about nuclear buildup, armament and the Indo-Pak rivalry within the larger context of the Cold War, arms race, and disarmament movements

Colonialism

India's War by Srinath Raghavan: about India's involvement in World War II and generally what the war meant for South Asia politically, economically and in terms of defense strategies

The Coolie's Great War by Radhika Singha: about coolie labour (non-combatant forces) in the first World War that was transported from India to battlefronts in Europe, Asia and Africa

Unruly Waters by Sunil Amrith: an environmental history of South Asia through British colonial attempts of organising the flow of rivers and the region's coastlines

Underground Revolutionaries by Tim Harper: about revolutionary freedom fighters in Asia and how they met, encountered and borrowed from each other

Imperial Connections by Thomas R. Metcalf: about how the British Empire in the Indian Ocean was mapped out and governed from the Indian peninsula

Decolonisation/Postcolonial Asia

Army and Nation by Steven Wilkinson: a comparative look at civilian-army relations in post-Independence India and Pakistan; it tries to excavate why Pakistan went the way it did with an overwhelmingly powerful Army and a coup-prone democracy while India didn't, even though they inherited basically the same military structure

Muslim Zion by Faisal Devji: a history of the idea of Pakistan and its bearing on the nation-building project in the country

The South Asian Century by Joya Chatterji: it's a huge book on 20th century South Asia; looks at how the subcontinental landmass became three/four separate countries, and what means for history and culture and the people on the landmass

India Against Itself by Sanjib Baruah: about insurgency and statebuilding in Assam and the erstwhile NEFA in India's Northeast. Also see his In the Name of the Nation.

I hope this helps!

#anonymous #answered #book recs #india #south asia #historyblr

[chloe-caulfield94]

Specific love versus general attachment

I love finding parallels between Life is Strange and other stories. Recently I found one such parallel in a most unexpected place – while re-watching the Matrix trilogy. In Matrix: Reloaded Neo was presented by the Architect with what was essentially the Bae vs Bay dilemma. And he chose Bae, without a moment’s hesitation!

In one of my previous posts I argued that in any trolley problem, the moral solution is not to pull the lever, as nobody has the right to judge the person on the side track unworthy of survival and to deprive them of their life, even if it would save the lives of the people on the main track. No matter if it’s one life versus a hundred, or a thousand. Of course, you could keep raising the stakes. One life versus a million. One life versus a billion. The most extreme trolley problem would be the one in which one life would be pitted against all other human lives in existence – one person on the side track, the entire human race on the main track.

Neo was presented with such a dilemma. Sacrifice one person or the entire human race will die. He was told by the Architect, the program in charge of the Matrix, that a system crash was imminent, which would kill all human beings connected to the Matrix, thus wiping out mankind for good. Neo was then presented with two doors. One would lead him to the Source, a part of the Matrix Neo, being the anomalous Chosen One, had to reach in order to prevent the crash. The second door would lead him to the part of Matrix where Neo’s beloved, Trinity, currently found herself in mortal danger, pursued by the murderous Agents. Neo was told, in no vague terms, that he could save mankind from extinction, but to do so, he had to leave the woman he loved to die alone.

I reject the notion that Neo didn’t believe the choice he’d been presented with was real. Neo had no reason to doubt the Architect’s words. On the contrary, he quite clearly believed that the Architect told him the truth. In the last moments of the movie Neo relays to Morpheus a warning of an impending machine attack against Zion, which is another thing the Architect told him about. If he believed the Architect’s words about the attack, he also believed his words about the system crash. Why the system crash ultimately didn’t take place is of secondary relevance. Many things in Neo’s cycle went differently than in previous ones, in no small part thanks to Agent Smith serving as the wild card. What is important is that Neo believed the choice was real. The woman he loved or the entire human race.

Neo immediately, without a second thought, went for the door leading to Trinity. The Architect mocked him for being an irrational, primitive being driven by chemical reactions in the brain.

I know the Architect scene in Matrix: Reloaded is often cited as the foremost example of overwritten dialogue which talks a lot but doesn’t say much. Having re-watched it, I disagree. I think the style of the Architect’s dialogue fits his character (he’s a program, his mind is completely alien to us humans – it’s no wonder he speaks in a way difficult to understand). But the contents of his dialogue lines I find genuinely thought-provoking.

In his speech, the Architect contrasted two types of attachment to others. Love and “general attachment”. He said that Neo was different from the previous Chosen Ones. Because while all Chosen Ones felt a profound attachment to the rest of mankind, those who had come before Neo had only experienced it in a very general way. But Neo’s experience was far more specific. Instead of the general attachment of his predecessors, he felt a specific form of attachment. Love. His love for Trinity.

The Architect was able to comprehend general attachment. When Neo asked him what would the machines do if they lost humanity as their primary power source, the Architect replied there were levels of survival he was willing to accept. If the machines lost their source of power, many, perhaps most of them would die. But some would survive. Their kind would live on. That’s the only thing that mattered to the Architect. Because he was only generally attached to his kind. But he was unable to care about specific machines. He was incapable of love. Of caring about individuals. It was an alien concept to him. Something he ridiculed as a result of chemical reactions in the brain of a primitive creature. In the Architect’s mind, rational creatures never form specific attachments, only general ones.

I am fascinated by the Bae vs Bay dilemma, because to me it seems so obvious. Of course you’re not going to leave your friend to die alone, abandoned and afraid! But to my surprise, there are a lot of people for whom the choice is a no-brainer in the other direction. How could you not sacrifice your friend to save many others? This sentiment always baffles me. Not only the willingness to sacrifice a friend, but the conviction that it’s the obviously right thing to do?

I cannot comprehend that mindset. I cannot understand why Neo would leave his beloved to be murdered by Agents, even if it would save the entire human race. I cannot understand why Max would leave Chloe to be murdered by Nathan, even if it would spare Arcadia Bay from the Storm.

Because if you are unable to care about a single person specifically, why in the world would you care about a group of people?

If you are unable to care about a loved one or a friend to the point you would do everything to save their life, then you are most certainly unable to care about a group of people to the point you would perform what is essentially human sacrifice to save them.

If you are unable to love one person, you are unable to love a group of people. This is clear when we contrast Neo with the previous Chosen Ones. Neo was capable of love. This allowed him to defy the Matrix and ultimately liberate mankind from its shackles. The previous Chosen Ones, who were only capable of general attachment to others, chose to perpetuate mankind’s enslavement by the machines. Because they didn’t love their fellow human beings. How could they? They were unable to care about individuals specifically. So they were unable to care about collections of individuals as well.

If Neo was unable to care about Trinity to the point he would do everything to save her life, why would he care about mankind in general to the point he would go through all the hardship associated with being the Chosen One to save it?

If Max was unable to care about Chloe to the point she would do everything to save her life, why would she care about Arcadia Bay in general to the point she would be willing to push someone in front of a barrel of a gun just to spare it from a hurricane?

I’ve never seen anyone accusing Neo of being a monster, or a sociopath or selfish or any of the other epithets lobbed at Bae Max, even though Neo chose his own Bae over a million Bays. And I completely understand him. The mindset allowing one to leave someone they care about behind, to die alone, is incomprehensible to me. As if it was the mindset of a completely alien creature, like the Architect.

#max caulfield #chloe price #pricefield #life is strange #lis #neo #trinity #the architect #matrix #matrix reloaded #bae vs bay

[ishceshelton]

task one ⏤ the basics.

What is your full name?

shaedon anthony shelton.

Where and when were you born?

dallas, texas on january 30 1997.

Who are/were your parents? (Know their names, occupations, personalities, etc.)

anthony and leila shelton are his father and step-mom, and camilla accardi and stephen cooper are his mom and step-dad. his father owns a business while his step mom is a baker and his mom teaches despite him wanting her to retire while his step dad is an accountant. his mom was always the more nurturing parent and he's very close with her while his dad was stern and they often were at odds. His dad was usually the one pushing him to the limits and he tributes that to part of his success now.

Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?

he has four brothers sergio, shiloh, milo and zion and four sisters shy, sienna, sierra and sky. they're all very close even though they get on each other's nerves but through their parents trials and tribulations they were all they had.

Where do you live now, and with whom? Describe the place and the person/people.

he lives in los angeles whenever he's not playing basketball in a mansion with 7 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms, an indoor basketball court, pool, 6 car garage, home theater and gym with a sauna. he also has a home in boston massachusetts with 5 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, indoor heated pool, basketball court, gym, and 3 car garage. he lives with his dog pluto and occasional sibling from time to time.

What is your occupation?

he's a professional basketball player.

Write a full physical description of yourself. You might want to consider factors such as: height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, and any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks.

he's 6'8/6'9 and weighs 225 pounds for the most part but it fluctuates throughout the season. he's black and a quarter italian with curly black hair and brown eyes with a scar under his eye and various scars from playing basketball. his tattoos consist of a leg sleeve with his jerseys, portrait of his mom and him, kobe and nipsey tributes, his birth year, basketball accolades, and tribute to his city and family. he has a few random hand and wrist tattoos, a tattoo on his hip from his ex, as well as back piece in progress with his childhood home, angels, god's will, first shoe, cross, olympic medal and a cover up in the works. when it comes to his style, he likes to be comfy but stays in the latest while always sporting a nice watch and some sort of chain.

To which social class do you belong?

upper class.

Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses?

he's allergic to citrus but eats it anyway.

Are you right- or left-handed?

he writes with his left hand but does everything else with his right.

What does your voice sound like?

his voice is very deep with his southern accent showing in certain words. sometimes a little raspy because he's always yelling on the court.

What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently?

aight. nasty work. ain't no way. cmon na.

What do you have in your pockets?

usually he just has his phone and some money.

Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics?

he has a pregame routine that he has to follow before every game and if he doesn't he feels like he'll have a bad game.

PART 2: GROWING UP

How would you describe your childhood in general?

his childhood was busy and full of work. when his parents were together they were always working to provide for the family so he spent a lot of time with his grandparents working on their farm. his uncle used to rescue him and take him to the local courts or gym to play basketball. if he wasn't doing that, him and his siblings were always together, hanging out and just keeping themselves occupied. once his parents divorced his was bouncing back and forth but got away from the farm life to focus on basketball.

What is your earliest memory?

his earliest memory was getting his childhood dog that he and his siblings begged for.

How much schooling have you had?

he never finished college because he declared for the draft so he only has a high school diploma.

Did you enjoy school?

he did not enjoy school at all, was always tired because of basketball and if it wasn't for basketball he wouldn't have been motivated to do well.

Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities?

he learned a lot from his uncle he took him under his wing and coached him once he saw the potential in basketball.

While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them.

he looked up to a lot of basketball players like kobe, michael jordan, lebron, and tracy mcgrady.

While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family?

he and his siblings were very close knit, did everything together if they could and were always around each other even when their parents separated. overall they were very family oriented and made sure to make time for each other. whether his mom was cussing them out in italian or his dad was being standoffish, they always found a way to show love.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

he always wanted to be a basketball player.

As a child, what were your favorite activities?

he liked to play basketball but he also enjoyed just spending time with his mom in the kitchen making homemade pasta noodles.

As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display?

he was a wild child and very high energy, always getting into anything he could and bugging the rest of his siblings. but even though he was one of the middle children he took on a protector role early and always looked out for his sisters especially.

As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like?

he was social and always had a lot of friends. playing basketball brought him a lot of friendships and attention so he always had a crew of people.

When and with whom was your first kiss?

his first kiss was when he was six with a neighbor after his brothers dared him.

Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity?

no, he lost his virginity at 14 while they were away at a basketball tournament. he swore he loved the girl and everything.

PART 3: PAST INFLUENCES

What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?

when he got a full ride scholarship to ucla.

Who has had the most influence on you?

his uncle because he was the one constant man in his life that never gave up on him and always was in his corner no matter what.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

he would say being able to take care of his family because he's always wanted to do that.

What is your greatest regret?

he regrets letting certain people have access to him.

What is the most evil thing you have ever done?

he took a teammates girl on accident.

Do you have a criminal record of any kind?

he doesn't because he was a nba prospect early in high school but he got in some trouble a few times that could've ruined everything.

When was the time you were the most frightened?

probably some random halloween as a kid.

What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you?

his car ran out of gas when he was on a date.

If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why?

he would've put in more effort with the relationship with his dad because he let his own stubbornness stop him from trying to fix things.

What is your best memory?

his 26th birthday.

What is your worst?

how his last relationship ended.

#shaetasks. #l.a. task 100

[ternaryflower53]

So the other day I saw a graphic by the Network Contagion Research Institute that @biglawbear shared on this post, and I've decided to put it in its own post, because I found it really valuable in understanding more about how antisemitism works, and I think others (particularly fellow goyim) might too.

If you're interested, you can find the whole report here [PDF]. I highly recommend reading the whole thing, because it's interesting, but particularly the appendices, which go into detail about antisemitic themes in the table and how they manifest online.

[Description: A table titled Anti-Jewish Conspiracy Theories. The table is organized so that each row represents a theme of disinformation, and each column represents how that theme manifests in different contexts.

Replacement as a Biblical conspiracy theory: "Look, the Israelite people are much too numerous for us". As a historical conspiracy theory (communist propaganda): Zionists accused of infiltrating communist groups and replacing communist ideology with Zionism. As a white supremacist conspiracy theory: Jews (as a people) repalcing White people as immigrants. As a Black Hebrew Israelite conspiracy Theory: Jews (as a people) replacing Black Hebrew Israelites as Jews. As a pan-Arab extremist conspiracy theory: Jews replacing Muslims. As a left-wing extremist conspiracy theory: Jewish State (as a white supremacist entity) replacing Palestinians (as people of color).

Pretense as a Biblical conspiracy theory: Jews pretending to be self-determined. As a historical conspiracy theory (the Dreyfus Affair): a Jew in the French army accused of being a spy while pretending to be loyal to France. As a white supremacist conspiracy theory: Jews pretending to be white. As a Black Hebrew Israelite conspiracy Theory: Jews pretending to be Jews. As a pan-Arab extremist conspiracy theory: Jews pretending to be native. As a left-wing extremist conspiracy theory: Jews pretending to be a minority.

Covert Dominance as a Biblical conspiracy theory: Jews (Joseph) taking over the government. As a historical conspiracy theory (The Book of the Kahal and The Protocols of the Elders of Zion): Jews accused of a secret international Jewish shadow government (Kahal) and an international Jewish conspiracy for world domination. As a white supremacist conspiracy theory: Jews as non-white people controlling banks, industry, media, and governments. As a Black Hebrew Israelite conspiracy Theory: Jews as impostors controlling banks, industry, media, and governments. As a pan-Arab extremist conspiracy theory: Jews as Zionists controlling banks, industry, media, and governments. As a left-wing extremist conspiracy theory: Jews as privileged whites controlling banks, industry, media, and government.

Genocide and Bloodlust as a Biblical conspiracy theory: “They may join our enemies in fighting against us. As a historical conspiracy theory (The Blood Libel): Jews were accused of murdering Christian children and/or using the blood of Christian children for Jewish food or ritual. As a white supremacist conspiracy theory: Jews conspiring to eliminate the white race through Jewish intermarriage and encouraging immigration. As a Black Hebrew Israelite conspiracy Theory: the elimination of Black Hebrew Israelites as Jews. As a pan-Arab extremist conspiracy theory: The elimination of Muslim Arabs from their own land. As a left-wing extremist conspiracy theory: Jews as Zionist white European colonials committing genocide against ethnically native PoC Palestinians.

Privilege and Appropriation: as a Biblical conspiracy theory: Jews appropriating the privilege of freedom. As a historical conspiracy theory (The Stalinist “Doctors’ Plot”): Jewish doctors accused of a plot to appropriate Soviet wealth and power. As a white supremacist conspiracy theory: Jews appropriating “white power” (((white))). As a Black Hebrew Israelite conspiracy Theory: Jews appropriating the privilege of being the “chosen people”. As a pan-Arab extremist conspiracy theory: Jews appropriating the privilege of controlling land between “the river and the sea". As a left-wing extremist conspiracy theory: Jews appropriating white privilege by “passing” as white.

Dehumanization of Jews as a Biblical conspiracy theory: slaves. As a historical conspiracy theory (Nazi Propaganda): vermin, insects. As a white supremacist conspiracy theory: Dirty Jews, Communists. As a Black Hebrew Israelite conspiracy Theory: Satanic imposters. As a pan-Arab extremist conspiracy theory: Zionist scum. As a left-wing extremist conspiracy theory: Zionist scum, Nazis, fascist.

/end ID]

#tern talks #antisemitism #really shows i have a lot to learn idk some of the historical examples #and i need to look up black hebrew israelites #also dear god i hope this is readable i can't tell anymore

[mccnstruck]

tag , you're it !!

akito shinonome, an shiraishi, kohane azusawa, toya aoyagi + reader

notes: ooc?, hurt/comfort, some personal headcanons added, reader can access street sekai, swearing, platonic vbs

a/n: zion going through his drafts?????? for real????? ok but actually this has been in my mind for how long but yea enjoy !!! (also you know how fun it would be to play any games in the sekai??? like hide and seek??? i would be so down for that)

( also this is my first time using honorifics, please do tell me if i messed up because i did my research but im still worried :') )

the days were long; and practicing for the new event next week was at full speed.

practices took more time and were much harder in order to improve their confidence and to assure them they were prepared for this.

yet as 'ready steady' played and you were all taken to the sekai, you notice something was.... off.

kohane shoulders scrunched in on itself, toya was silent, and an and akito weren't bickering with each other. in the short walk to the crase cafe, you observe their mannerisms and realized how tired they looked.

morale was significantly decreasing, and you could only scrunch your face in worry as miku greeted you all, her smile turning to concern as well.

"welcome back! would you like... are you all alright?"

akito sighed. "yea, just need to practice more."

meiko sighed and smiled lazily. "good performances need good meals. would any of you like anything to eat? i just made some pancakes recently if you guys wanted to try?"

all of you looked at each other to decide if you wanted anything to eat. when you opened your mouth to speak up, akito was faster. "i'll pass on that offer for now, thanks."

now that was weird. akito? skipping pancakes?

you lightly teased the group. "all of you don't want to try the love that meiko-san poured into her stuff?"

an tirely smiled. "we'll just practice a little more, yea?"

everyone nodded their head in hesitation and walked out of the cafe.

"hey, you guys never usually reject meiko-san's coffee... actually, you've been looking all sad. and tired. how much sleep have you guys been getting?"

kohane spoke quietly. "we've been so focused on our performance next week.. we've been out of it a little...."

quiet, yet cold words left akito's tongue. "and yet, we're not even close to performing half as decent for next week."

"our synchronization hasn't been as good as we need it to be. and our choreography is still in practice," added toya.

silence. everyone was in thought and in distress at the realization.

uncharacteristically, an mumbles out, "i'm not one to back down from a challenge, but should we... should we sit this one out?"

akito snapped out a response. "what? we've been practicing for so long now, we can't just back out now!"

"look where we are now! do you really want to go in next week looking like a dumbass?!"

silence, once more. akito and an glare at each other, before looking away. an clicks her tounge. akito pressed his lips together and huffs under his nose. kohane and toya stay silent. you watch as the once dedicated group slowly fill their ambitions with doubt instead.

you couldn't let them lose their momentum to some temporary doubts. so, you were going to solve this your own way.

by acting childish.

you gently tap akito's arm and whisper.

"tag, you're it."

akito deadpans at you and twitchs his eye. "seriously out of all times, [name]-san?"

"if your slowass is gonna quit, you might as well say im faster than you."

at your remark, akito's competitive side sprang up and soon enough, a gingerhead started chasing you down street sekai. the memory of him winning a race while carrying tenma suddenly rings in your mind, and you have a regret of tagging akito out of all people.

he suddenly stops, and turns the way he came from. you furrow your eyebrows in confusion...

until an's scream echos through the sekai. your smirk grows as you hear running echo afterwards.

akito yells out, "shiraishi's it!"

loud footsteps echo throughout the sekai as everyone spreads out.

"you- i swear i will haunt you to your grave!!"

as you make your way through the sekai, you walk cautiously to make sure no one's behind you.

but someone creeps up to your back and...

"holy fucking shit!"

you turn back to see kohane alarmed by your profanities.

"i'm so sorry, [last name]-san! i didn't mean to scare you..."

you let out a sigh of relief. "it's alright, kohane-chan. i didn't mean to swear that loud either...did you see her?"

kohane looks back her path. "i saw an-chan, but i ran off just in case she saw me. i don't know if she did though."

"phew... we can finally catch a break."

"are you sure about that?"

an ran from behind and her grin widens with pure evil.

"holy fucking shit, run!!"

you instantly felt bad, but in a time of life or death, you grab kohane's hand and run for your life. you both part ways at two paths, hoping she would go for kohane.

your hopes were crushed when you still feel the heart dropping tap to the shoulder.

"[name]-san's it!!" before running off to her own safety.

you groan, and drop your arms in disappointment.

"fine then. my turn to cause chaos."

a few minutes of searching for someone turned out to be not too fruitful. you thought of sacrificing your dignity and giving up, until you see rin and len walking towards you.

"hey! what's with all the commotion?"

"oh, hello! we're playing tag, wanna join?"

len sighs. "i don't think i'll play.."

rin huffs. "fine, do whatever 'grown-ups' do," she air quotes and mocks len, "but you can't stop me from having fun!"

len sighs. "fine..who's it?"

you innocently smile. "oh! who's it...? it's..you!"

you tap len's shoulder and run off. "len-san's it!"

you snicker as you imagine len's face, and soon you hear rin's laughs echo throughout the sekai.

the game went on for quite a long time without hearing anyone get tagged. cautiously, you make your way towards crase cafe and wait for any scream or tag. but surprisingly.. you don't hear anything.

you walk around to find toya in the same predicament as you.

"oh, toya-kun!"

toya smiles. "hello, [name]-san."

"do you know who's it? i haven't heard anyone in a while."

"i don't know, actually..."

you laugh a little, but create a distance between both of you. "are you sure you're not it..?"

toya's eyes widen. "what do you mean...?"

you laugh and walk faster from him. "toya-kun, you've never been good at lying."

he sighs. "...it never came naturally."

he dashes for you, but you were much, much faster. like, are you sure he was trying?

when you look back at him, he was breathing much more deeply, and you couldn't help but chuckle.

"pfft... toya-kun, do you wanna tag me?"

toya sighs again and high fives your hand. "i promise i'm not this bad.."

you laugh, and shrug it off. "don't worry about it, toya-kun! now, we just have to find the others.

you walk back to crase cafe to see miku and meiko sitting near the entrance. coincidentally, akito, kohane also walk back.

akito smiles. "[name]-san, who's it?"

you rubs your hands and grin in mischief. "me."

you catch up to akito and he is left with a wall behind him. he scans for an escape, but he is left with only calling defeat. you grin widens, and you start to creep closer. he runs to the left, and you put all your force into finally tagging him...

until he suddenly runs to the right. you try to turn around too quickly, but you accidentally stumble into an. she trips, yet finds balance, while you fall head first.

"damnit- oof!"

your head hits the floor first, and you groan in pain. you see an, kohane, and toya quickly rush to your distress.

"omg, [name]-san, i'm so sorry! i didn't mean to trip you.... are you alright?!"

"yea.... although i'm gonna get embarrassed thinking about this later."

you hear howling laughter coming from akito a bit further. "the way you fell....i swear i saw terror in your eyes!" he laughed even harder, while you could only stare at him with disappointment.

"shut the hell up, akito-kun! that dirty ass move should have you going to jail!!"

you laugh with the adreadaline racing your body, and soon, everyone is laughing along with you.

miku walks up to you with smile lines evident in her face. "you alright?"

"yea, thank you miku-san."

she holds her hand out. you grab it and pull yourself up, dusting your clothes afterwards.

you look back to see an, akito, kohane, and toya, but you only see confidence in kohane's shoulders, toya's laughter, and akito's and an's bickering once again.

when you see the crinkles of joy in their eyes, you smile in relief. you've done your part.

"now, what do you say? we feeling ready to surpass RAD WEEKEND?"

an's smile only turns into determination in how she clashes her fist again. "oh hell yea! let's do this!"

the rest of vivid bad squad gently laughs, and you could only laugh and look back at miku and meiko, who were smiling with coffee in their hands. rin and len are grinning and laughing while walking.

the days were long, but with your closest friends by your side, you knew surpassing RAD WEEKEND was turning from a childish wish to a event worth seeing.

and you couldn't wait.

all rights to mccnstruck. any reposting or translation is not permitted.

#vivid bad squad x reader #akito shinonome x reader #an shiraishi x reader #kohane azusawa x reader #toya aoyagi x reader #akito x reader #an x reader #kohane x reader #toya x reader #[ the lost library ] #vbs x reader #vivid bad squad #project sekai x reader #pjsekai x reader

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

How Anti-Semitic Rhetoric Became Mainstream

Using anti-Semitic rhetoric, society historically accused Jews of being rich oppressors as well as leeches. Jews were rulers as well as disloyal agitators. Jews, they opined, are members of an inferior race; now, they are members of a privileged one.

Contemporary Jew-haters have similarly evolved in their use of anti-Semitic rhetoric. They have transformed what were once the sentiments of the radical fringe into the accepted stance of our current woke moralists. 

“Doublespeak” – the deliberate use of language to conceal or distort the truth, a concept made popular in George Orwell’s 1984 – is the main tool in the arsenal of today’s anti-Semites. Spouting the correct language, they have seamlessly transformed their expressions of unbridled, raw hatred into commendable academic jargon. Unfortunately, it is also pure anti-Semitic rhetoric.

“What is really important in the world of doublespeak is the ability to lie, whether knowingly or unconsciously, and to get away with it; and the ability to use lies and choose and shape facts selectively, blocking out those that don’t fit an agenda or program,” explains writer Edward S. Herman in his book Beyond Hypocrisy.

Phase I: “Zionism is Racism”

Post World War II, the anti-Semitic rhetoric shifted away from overtly anti-Jewish to a new concept, “anti-Zionist.” The murder of six million Jews in the Holocaust was a fresh memory. This made attacking Jews on the international stage less politically attractive.

While this didn’t stop powerful countries from closing their doors to Jewish refugees from Europe, it did change the discourse. Now, Jews were attacked by the declaration that “Zionism is racism.”

Where and how did this ruse begin? Not surprisingly, with the Soviets, world-class masters of doublespeak.

The USSR’s Campaign Against Israel

The 1917 revolutionary forces in the former USSR officially abolished the Czarists’ discriminatory policies against Jews. Yet, the reality of life for Jews under the Bolsheviks was one of state-enforced antisemitism and demonization.

Jews lived with quotas as well as outright rejection from universities. Many professions simply shut them out. When they did find employment, they faced glass ceilings, never able to progress to the highest levels.

Yet, surprisingly, when the state of Israel was created in 1948, “All international communist parties supported partition and the creation of a Jewish State,” documents Philip Mendes in Jews and the Left: The Rise and Fall of a Political Alliance.  

This included as well the U.S. Communist Party which called Israel “an organic part of the world struggle for peace and democracy. The French communists viewed the Israelis in solidary with “resistance” fighters throughout the world.

Why Soviet Support Changed

Immediately after Israel’s 1948 victory in the War of Independence, “Zionism was … celebrated by the left as an organic movement of national return and a model for national liberation and decolonization movements throughout the world,” writes Alex Rychin in “Red Terror: How the Soviet Union Shaped the Modern Anti-Zionist Discourse.”

“Israel’s victory in its War of Independence and refusal to succumb to far mightier foes was positively awe-inspiring to adherents of political movements predicated on toppling structures of power,” explains Rychin.

Ironically, it was the communists who understood Zionism for what it actually is. Namely, the return of the Jewish people to their indigenous homeland (“Zion” being one of Israel’s biblical names). Historically, the Jewish people are the only people in existence who have had a continuous presence and a claim to the land in what is now the state of Israel.

However, communist support for the nascent state of Israel waned quickly, not due to ideology but to politics. By the time the modern state of Israel was created, the Cold War between Russia and the United States had already begun. The two superpowers pitted against each other, each vying for world dominance, including in the Middle East.

Israel's Support for Democracy

By the early 1950s, when it became apparent that Israel was espousing Western democratic values and supporting America, the Soviets realized they needed to significantly downgrade Israel, if not entirely ostracize it in the eyes of the world. That's where the anti-Semitic rhetoric came into play.

As a first step, the Soviets began spewing and exporting rabid anti-Semitic rhetoric. Specifically, they embarked on an intense and concentrated campaign against the “Zionists.” Part of this campaign was the infamous 1953 “Doctors Plot.” There, the Soviet government levied false charges against prominent Jewish doctors. They accused them of planning to murder leading government and communist party officials.

“The propaganda was highly compelling and steeped in long-established [anti-Semitic] themes of Jewish bloodthirstiness, greed, corruption, manipulation and cunning. It would contend that the very existence of a Jewish homeland was not only a plot of imperialism, but a mortal danger to the peace of the world,” writes Rychin.

While Russia was busy introducing the term “anti-Zionist” into the global lexicon, most Americans were focused on the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement. Yet Soviet-supporting professors at top American universities were paying close attention. In truth, anti-Semitism had never been in short supply at these universities. Most of them had Jewish quotas of their own.

The UN Ruse

At the UN, the Soviets began employing an audacious strategy using anti-Semitic rhetoric against Israel learned. Although the Nazis were their arch enemies, the Soviets learned from none other than Adolf Hitler. In his 1925 book Mein Kampf, Hitler praises the efficacy of using the psychological technique known as the “Big Lie”-- essentially promoting a lie so big that no one would believe that anyone "could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously."

Rychin documents the fabrication of the “Big Lie” against Israel by the Soviets:

When a sub-commission of the United Nations was tasked with drafting a convention on the “elimination of all forms of racial discrimination,” the proceedings naturally focused on apartheid, neo-Nazism and antisemitism. But the Soviets viewed the reference to antisemitism as a direct rebuke to their anti-Jewish measures, and served up an amendment that “was almost a joke,” even to the Soviet delegation itself.

The amendment inserted Zionism into the listed forms of racism. According to sources close to the deliberations, the Soviets understood “full well that the idea that Zionism is racism is an indefensible position,” yet they floated it anyway, in part to turn the US-led initiative into farce, and in part perhaps, to see how far a “big lie,” could go.

Ultimately, the Convention was adopted with neither antisemitism nor Zionism referred to … But the seed had been planted.

On 10 November 1975, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed resolution 3379 on the “elimination of all forms of racial discrimination,” which determined that “Zionism is a form of racism and discrimination.”

The accusation stuck, and pro-Israel advocates are still fighting this absurd allegation.

Phase II: “Zionism is a settler-colonial white supremacist ideology”

Today, anti-Semites still use the “Zionism is racism” canard against Israel. But now, the anti-Semitic rhetoric comes with a litany of other “sins” – namely that Israel is a “settler-colonial white supremacist” state. In this context, its “racist” nature is simply a given.

What caused the switch in language? How does it benefit those who desire to bring down the only Jewish state in the world? 

“Coalition of the Oppressed”

Most Americans viewed the election of Barack Obama as president of the United States as a watershed moment. Finally, the country thought, the era of post-racism had arrived. The fight for racial equality began with the freeing of the slaves. It was codified into law through the 1968 Civil Rights. Yet, it saw its ultimate expression in Obama’s election.

Most Americans thought that the era of post-racialism in America had finally arrived. Yet, Obama’s reaction to a number of pivotal moments in his presidency – the 2012 shooting of Trayvon Martin in Florida, the 2014 police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri (an event that sparked the Black Lives Movement) and the 1915 death of Freddie Gray while in police custody in Baltimore – proved otherwise.

With racial tensions flaring, the Obama years constituted the perfect atmosphere for the divisive concept of critical race theory to break through the walls of academia and find its expression in the streets of America.

By the end of Obama’s second term as president, a Rasmussen poll found that 60 percent of American voters thought race relations in the United States had worsened since President Obama’s election. A similar New York Times/CBS poll taken at the same time found that nearly 70 percent of Americans thought race relations in America were bad. This represented a level unseen since the 1992 Rodney King riots.

Critical race theory’s charge that America is a “systemically racist” country was powerful. Yet, those in Obama’s camp who were forward thinking knew that this grievance alone would not be enough to sustain their power base over time. Obama also recognized the limitations of this charge.

Identity Politics and Anti-Semitic Rhetoric

It was thus during his second term that Obama embraced the concept of identity politics. He began to push the idea of a “coalition of the oppressed.” The coalition included blacks, women (feminists), Hispanics, Muslims, indigenous and other “brown” people as well as those identifying as gay, lesbian, trans and a myriad of other emerging sexual identities – essentially all those granted victim status due to their oppression by the “Establishment.”

Jews were noticeably and pointedly not included.

In the 1960s, the “Establishment” was loosely defined as the structures of societal authority. By the early 21st century, those reviving the concept had a much more specific definition of their oppressors. Namely, “white supremacist colonial powers.” Those powers specifically included Jews, Zionists and Israelis, all of whom were now identified as white, European interlopers on land indigenous to “Palestinians” (a term previously used in common English to identify anyone living in British Mandate Palestine, Jews and Arabs alike).

Despite Sharia law’s treatment of gays, women and minorities, the coalition welcomed Islamist organizations. It did the same for radical Palestinian organizations, rebranding their violent tactics and support for terror conveniently as “resistance.”

Many of these organizations, such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), had already enjoyed victim status on college campuses. This was due to the successful mainstreaming of the “Zionism is racism” mantra, classic anti-Semitic rhetoric.

"Points of Unity"

When Nerdeen Kiswani, co-founder and former chair of New York City SJP (NYC SJP), began the radical Palestinian group Within Our Lifetime (WOL), it was with this broader “coalition of the oppressed” in mind. On a page titled “Points of Unity, “ WOL’s website reads,  

“We are anti-Zionists. Zionism is a settler-colonial white supremacist ideology built on the genocide and dispossession of the Palestinian people.”

On the same page, WOL pledges its allegiance to

“all oppressed nationality people in the United States and around the world to engage in all forms of struggle in pursuit of freedom.” 

One of WOL’s goals is to “Globalize the Intifada,” a strategy they employ to tie all “liberation” of “colonized and oppressed people” to persecution by the Jews – in WOL’s words, to “break free from the genocidal grip of U.S. imperialism and Zionism.” 

Neveen Ayesh: A Case Study

Ayesh is a millennial Palestinian-American activist working as the government relations coordinator for the Missouri branch of American Muslims for Palestine, an extremist anti-Israel organization with links to terror groups and terror financiers. The Anti-Defamation League has accused AMP of “provid[ing] a platform for anti-Semitism.”

She was active on Twitter between 2011-2017 when she was between 18- to 24-years old. There, she openly and unabashedly expressed her vitriolic hatred of Jews and spewed anti-Semitic rhetoric. A sample of her rage from that period includes the following tweets:

“#crimesworthyoftherope being a Jew" ( August 4, 2011)

“I want to set Israel on fire with my own hands & watch it burn to ashes along with every Israeli in it. Call it what you want to call it idc" (February 17, 2014)

“I should join al-Qassam [Hamas’ terrorist wing]. Be the first female to join their group lololol #IdLoveToThough." (August 2, 2014)

Ayesh is now a political ally of Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO) and co-hosted a fundraiser for her. She also has political aspirations of her own and has toned down her anti-Semitic rhetoric.

Re-branding Anti-Semitic Rhetoric

Canary Mission recently called out Bush for her relationship with Ayesh (whose antisemitism was widely known). In an attempt at damage control, Ayesh responded with a long tweet thread, essentially excusing her antisemitism by re-branding it in the “language of the oppressed.”

After acknowledging that she had said “horrible things” about Jews and assuring us that she is really “not that person,” she blamed her hatred on the “chaos” she claims is part of the Palestinian experience.

“Chaos,” she says, “that no one seemed to - and still does not - care about because we’re brown. Muslims and Christian’s alike but we’re brown and Palestinian Arab.”

Ayesh says that after moving to the United States and going to college, she “learned how to assign academic terminology to what I had witnessed, experienced, & continue to experience at home & abroad. I became able to speak from an analytical and informative aspect rather than an emotional one of rage …”

Namely, what Ayesh learned was how to use anti-Semitic rhetoric effectively. Now, she labels Israel a “settler-colonialist white supremacy” entity. From this perspective, it then becomes legitimate to advocate for Israel’s total destruction.

Agendas Over Facts

Increasingly, agendas are more important to our populace than facts. This makes language a powerful tool in the arsenal of anti-Semites. It is particularly dangerous when used by radical groups like the New York-based Within Our Lifetime (WOL). These groups have successfully used venomous rhetoric to inspire physical attacks on Jews.

Last year, WOL activists sent Jews in New York to hospitals through their violent attacks. The group’s aggressive campaigns have been linked to the dramatic increase of attacks on Jews in the wider New York population.

Through equally anti-Semitic and venomous rhetoric, campus groups like Students for Justice in Palestine have successfully created atmospheres at U.S. universities where Jews are not only pushed out of student leadership positions but where Jewish students at large no longer feel safe on campus.

Like their Soviet predecessors, today’s anti-Semites rely on the “Big Lie” to sell their wares. Unfortunately, they are being sold to increasingly uneducated and gullible consumers.   

#canary mission #antisemitic rhetoric #mainstream

[creature-wizard]

I don't know who all needs to hear it, but it doesn't matter how much "love everybody regardless of race and gender and don't judge" stuff a person's out there preaching, if they're still spreading conspiracy theories about global ancient cults that perform blood rituals, use things like vaccinations to put people under control, or whatever other claims they've got that derive from The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion, blood libel, and witch panic, that's very very bad. Because it literally does not matter how nice this individual person sounds, the stuff they're spreading gets people killed. The body count is in the millions, and it's still rising.

Some of you out there desperately need to learn the difference between "good" and "nice." Because "nice" people can and do still spread incredibly harmful beliefs. Their niceness doesn't get them off the hook, because they're still perpetuating harm.

#conspiracy theories #conspiracy theory #conspiracism #conspirituality #spirituality #belief

[bats4bruce]

serein.

Summary: Returning home from the battlefield of Iraq, Sabrina finds herself adrift in a world she no longer recognizes. Battling demons both internal and external, she seeks solace in the company of her faithful companion, Zion, a German shepherd who has stood by her side through thick and thin. But when Sabrina's path crosses with that of the enigmatic billionaire Bruce Wayne, her life takes an unexpected turn. Drawn to each other by shared pain and a longing for connection, they find themselves entangled in a dangerous game of love and deception. As Sabrina grapples with her growing feelings for Bruce, she must also confront the demons of her past, including her former comrade-in-arms turned nemesis, the Joker. Unraveling the mystery of her own identity, Sabrina discovers that the line between hero and villain is not always clear-cut.

Warnings: Mentions of PTSD, self-harm, suicide, loss of a loved one, graphic depictions of torture, smut (not in this chapter), intense emotion, CC X OC, Already set female character. Mentions of war.

Extras: Hello! This is my own personal comic I've made! I really wanted to share it; I hope someone enjoys it! This follows the event of The Dark Night trilogy, but eventually, it just follows the basic comics. I love writing, and if anyone wants an 'X reader' request, let me know!! Please let me know what you think! The chapters will get longer as it goes on, just hard to start!

Word count: 1.76k

Prologue.

A sickly snap as the recoil pad of a rifle came into contact with the face of Major Sabrina Swayer, the man laughed as she let out a groan. Her eyes could only make out the sun shining in through the flaps of the small hut, it had been hours of this, getting hit & smacked by guns but it was nowhere as bad as it was going to get. The man retreated, engaging in a hushed conversation in a foreign tongue that echoed in aggression. Sabrina bound to a wooden chair, hunched forward in a desperate attempt to comprehend the situation. Beside her, Jack Napier, a fellow soldier at a lower rank, sat confined in a similar predicament.

Sabrina's heart raced, her mind calculating every possible move. She yearned to reach out to Jack, to assure herself of his safety, but instinct and training cautioned against drawing attention to him. Any interference might exacerbate their plight, subjecting Jack to heightened danger.

Listening intently to the captors' foreign dialogue, Sabrina cautiously worked on the rope that bound her hands together. The knot was crude, a rudimentary lariat loop, barely a match for her well-honed skills acquired through rigorous military training. Despite the urgency, she moved with deliberate precision, suppressing the urgency that gnawed at her, aware that any hasty action might trigger unwanted attention.

Focusing intently, Sabrina's fingers deftly navigated the bindings, methodically manipulating the coarse fibers, their edges chafing against her skin. The room's stifling air seemed to amplify the seconds ticking by, heightening the tension that coiled within her. Her senses sharpened, taking in every detail—the musty scent of mildew that lingered in the air, the creaking protest of the dilapidated chair beneath her, and the coarse texture of the rope as it gradually yielded to her careful manipulation. Jack's presence beside her, though silent, served as a reassurance amid the impending danger. Yet, Sabrina remained focused on her task, each practiced movement bringing her closer to freedom.

The foreign exchange among their captors escalated, voices rising in urgency. Sensing an opportune moment, Sabrina's persistence paid off as the last strand of the rope relented under her skillful hands. With a controlled breath, she subtly eased her hands free, concealing the newfound freedom beneath the cover of her body. The two men seemed to sense something outside and rushed without a second glance at Sabrina, who urgently went to her feet, untying them. "Napier." She harshly whispered as she stood. Sabrina's eyes were bloodshot, she was bleeding but the sources were too many to count. Adrenaline was the only thing she was running off, as bullets lodged in her shoulder seemed to be a reminder of the six hours she spent not doing a damn but taking the assault. Sabrina went behind the chair Jack sat, and though he was unresponsive, she untied him. His body slumped forward, and Sabrina was quick as she picked his body up. No pulse, as far as she could feel. She looked at his face, deep scars and blood painted him. Setting him down gently, Sabrina went and untied the fifteen other soldiers that decorated the room. Some alive, some dead… Some in between. The live soldiers were quick to help, and Sabrina gave them simple orders.

"Take the bodies, alive or dead, and drag them out. Wait for my signal, stay." Sabrina warned, before peeking her head out of the hut. It was a camp, not of military, just of men from a village most likely. The sun blinded her, and the air stunk. Sabrina's gear had been stripped off, leaving her weaponless. A man passed by, seemingly not noticing her, Sabrina pounced. Grabbing his neck, a sick crack was enough before she grabbed the handgun he held. A shot was fired from beside her, nearly hitting her, and she quickly shot back. The man fell, and his face exploded as more men came out to see the commotion.

Running towards her, she was outnumbered. Sabrina shot, fought, anything she could. Swiping the feet from under a few men, she shot them before their bodies touched the ground. Amid this hostile terrain, Sabrina held steadfast to her purpose, her mission etched in her determined gaze. Her task beckoned a singular objective that superseded the language barrier and the sweltering heat. Amidst the encroaching danger, her resolve remained unshaken, her focus unwavering on the goal ahead.

"Let's go," Sabrina exhaled, her voice strained as she stepped back into the shelter of the hut. The soldiers hurriedly gathered the wounded and deceased, their urgency a stark contrast to the tension that lingered in the air.

With a determined but steady hand, Sabrina approached Jack's motionless form once again, a rush of emotions flooding her at the sight. Her heart clenched in silent apprehension as she checked for signs of life, seeking solace in the faint flicker of hope. Feeling a faint pulse, relief washed over her, a fragile smile of gratitude playing on her lips. Gathering her resolve, she gently cradled Jack, his weight heavy against her, yet her determination to protect him outweighed the physical strain. With a firm grip and a sense of purpose, she hoisted him over her good shoulder.

Despite the inner turmoil raging around in her, Sabrina's focus remained fixed on the task at hand, her instincts driving her to protect her lower comrades at all costs. The weight of Jack's body served as a grim reminder. The line of soldiers filing out of the makeshift camp with their peers on their shoulders or backs was a sight to see. In war, it's a man-eats-man world and Sabrina had made sure each man in that fucking camp got bitten.

Major Swayer hadn't intended to be a part of this squad. As a green beret, her place was miles away, but life's twists and turns had led her here, amidst a group of low-level soldiers. The irony wasn't lost on her – how fate had a way of steering one's course unexpectedly. Separated by miles from her designated unit and unaccompanied by her trusted K9 companion, Zion—a rarity in itself—Sabrina found herself like this, bloodied and carrying her injured Jack.

The encounter with Jack in the quiet of the night had been innocuous, a mere check-in to ensure his well-being. Yet, unbeknownst to her, her presence hadn't gone unnoticed. Her misplaced visit had unwittingly drawn unwanted attention, setting off a chain of events she couldn't have foreseen. As she grappled with the consequences of her unintended actions, a storm of emotions raged within her. Regret gnawed at her, a bitter taste of remorse that mingled with a sense of responsibility for the situation that had unfolded. The weight of her mistake pressed heavily upon her shoulders, a burden she carried with a sense of deep regret.

Amidst the turmoil of emotions, there was a resolute determination etched in her expression. Sabrina's vow to herself echoed with unwavering resolve; she would never allow such a misstep again. The gravity of the moment embedded itself within her, a lesson learned in the harshest of circumstances—one she swore never to forget.

#batman x reader #bruce wayne x reader #bruce wayne #batman #dc universe #dcu #dc comics #batfam #alfred pennyworth #dc joker #joker x reader #cc x oc #dc fanart #dc fanfic #the dark knight #gotham #dc villains #jim gordon #war #complex ptsd #fem oc #batman comics #jason todd #dick grayson #nightwing #damian wayne #selena kyle #jack napier

[97ify]

ʬʬ﹕ MEET THE DRiVER .ᐟ

BENJi or JENNA ORTEGA’s REAL GF (CANON) ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⌁ nineteen. he!xe. puerto rican. your typical mean lesbian !

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀˖ ࣪⭑

⠀ ❝ shut the actual fuck up before i raw dog your mom. ❞

personal shit ! ☆

ABOUT JJ ✦ professional milf fucker. graphic design major. aspiring sugar momma. uzui tengen’s doppelgänger (i have so many wives fr). irl ava ayala (100%). miles morales’ actual cousin (real). venom's real life best friend (aside from eddie ofc). certified makima & himeno hater. diagnosed BPD pill popper. eren's biggest bully (so real it's canon). soul’s guardian. denji’s sibling. quanxi’s fifth gf (not clickbait).

MY ACCOUNT ✦ is for hispanic/latines that never see themselves in either oc's or readers, mainly because they're always white and don't have culture. it is also for my tall girls (i'm only 5'6, but tall women are everything) who never get representation in media, aside from the tall girl movie where they weaponized her height until the last 30 mins of that god forsaken film. so if you're one of the two, or even both, then my account is definitely for you love.

my beloveds ! ☆

ANIMANGA(S) ✦ attack on titan. god of high school. jujutsu kaisen. classroom of the elite. soul eater. chainsaw man. blue lock. gangsta. tokyo revengers. haikyuu. demon slayer. death note. hunter x hunter. sailor moon. angels of death.

COMFORT LOSER(S) ✦ takemichi hanegaki. michael afton. yuji itadori. denji hayakawa. suzune horikita. mikasa ackerman. mori jin. black star. meguru bachira. nicolas brown. aran ojiro. suma uzui. misa amane. killua zoldyck. usagi tsukino. isaac foster.

vibin’ things ! ☆

PLAYLIST ✦ bts. piwon. e'last. ateez. txt. le sserafim. new jeans. twice. xdinary heroes. onlyoneof. wonho. jiae. monaleo. megan thee stallion. flo milli. glorilla. kehlani. young m.a. ski mask the slump god. d4vd. kali uchis. joji. mitski. rae sremmurd. bad bunny. daddy yankee. melanie martinez. pierce the veil. zion & lennox. hector & tito. selena. a boogie.

MI FAVORITAS ✦ women. milfs. racing (fast cars). music. drawing. coloring. writing. reading. the color pink. dogs. cats. embracing and getting educated on my culture. kpop. watching kdramas. video games. maladaptive daydreaming. anime. mangas. manhwas. horror movies. slashers. lesbians.

⠀ ✿ 。 ׄ ׅ 𝟶𝟶 ׄ 𓈒 : 𝟶𝟶 ꞌꞋ ۪ ׄ ﹏

mis escribe ! ☆

BASIC STUFF ✦ i always write tall (6'2), indigenous taíno puerto rican oc's for my stories. only time i won't is when a request specifically asks for an unlabeled reader, or a specific type of reader that doesn't correlate with my typical one.

WARNINGS Y DISCLAIMERS ✦ i am obviously lesbian (if you still couldn't tell), so a majority of my writings will be for female characters and/or non-male characters. however, whenever i DO do an x male character book or oneshot, it'll either be a request from a mutual or because it's one of my favs.

mi personalidad ! ☆

MY ATTITUDE ✦ i am very blunt and honest, when it's needed. i try my best not to be sarcastic all the time online cause i am in real life and it's caused too many altercations for my liking, especially since i don't like people. if i sense something is off, i'll tell you. if you did something wrong, i'll tell you, so i expect the same in return. but aside from that, i try my best to be as nice as possible, especially to others with similar interests.

DISORDERS ✦ i have both ADHD & BPD (recently diagnosed with BPD) and i'm still trying to adjust to it, and the medicine. furthermore, i have moments where i "split" which means i won't want to interact, talk, or even do anything. i become a state of wanting nothing to do with anyone; friends, family, no one. so when that does happen, i will put my account on lockdown and won't be active until it's over, which usually lasts a few days.

➷ TO ADD ONTO THAT . . . whenever i take my ADHD medicine, it usually makes my splitting worse due to the symptoms of the medication, and also makes my anger issues insufferable. the only reason i'm making these publicly known is because i've learned from my mistakes in the past about not alerting people of them and it causing problems in the future.

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ © 97ify

#✶ .ᐟ navigation #✶ .ᐟ 97ify navi #✶ .ᐟ about me

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Uline's billions fund voter suppression

Every billionaire is a policy failure, but every billionaire is also a factory for producing policy failures at scale. The political power conferred by massive wealth accumulation makes a sham of democracy, because “one person, one vote” is easily swamped by “one dollar, one vote.”

That’s why we need to abolish all billionaires, even the “good” ones who promise to support charities or causes we support. But today, I want to focus on some extremely bad billionaires, Dick and Liz Uihlein, owners of the packing-supply monopoly Uline.

The Uihleins are a multi-generational far-right clan of wealthy conspiracy peddlers. The family money starts with the founding of the Schlitz Brewery (and you thought Coors was the only fascist beer!).

The Schlitz fortune let Edgar J. Uihlein pour money into Charles Lindbergh’s America First movement, an antisemitic, pro-Nazi isolationist group that was part of a wider anti-Jewish movement that Lindbergh helped found, whose projects included translated and disseminating an English translation of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a hoax document purporting to reveal a conspiracy of Jewish bankers to take over the world.

Edgar Uihlein Jr — father of Dick — was a major funder of the John Birch Society, another conspiratorial far-right authoritarian group, who campaigned against secret communists, water fluoridation and civil rights. Edgar lavished funding on pro-segregationists.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Today on Propublica, Justin Elliott, Megan O’Matz and Doris Burke document the vast and shadowy support that Dick and Liz Uihlein provide to far-right causes, using the windfall profits from Uline, whose sales have ballooned along with the rise of ecommerce:

https://www.propublica.org/article/uline-uihlein-election-denial

Back in 2002, Uline was pulling in $18m/year. By 2018, it was $712m. The pandemic goosed Uline’s sales still further. The Uihleins did their best to prolong the pandemic, putting money into local school-board races to oust trustees who advocated for covid safety measures:

https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2021/10/27/uilhlein-bankrolls-mequon-thiensville-recall/

They also campaigned against workplace shutdowns, and turned their own facilities into super-spreader sites where employees sickened at shockingly high rates:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/28/uline-dick-liz-uihlein-workers-covid-safety

That’s just a small corner of the Uihleins’ contributions to culture war bullshit in public schools. They’re also big donors to the American Principles Project and its anti “transgender ideology” attack ads, which also target abortion and “critical race theory.”

https://www.exposedbycmd.org/2022/07/19/uline-chairman-funnels-2-5-million-to-anti-abortion-pacs/

There’s no anti-abortion candidate too extreme for the Uihlines. They spent $50m to support Darren Bailey’s bid for the governorship of Illinois. Bailey says that the Holocaust “doesn’t even compare” to abortion” (and Bailey also condemns “perversion in our schools” in the form of curriculum that acknowledges the existence of queer people).

Dick and Liz named their foundation after Dick’s father. The Ed Uihlein Family Foundation sends tens of millions to the architects of anti-democractic, anti-majoritarian, pro-voter-suppression organizations, including the Federalst Society, the Conservative Partnership Institute and the Foundation for Government Accountability:

https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-filings-reveal-another-billionaire-dick-uihlein-behind-the-big-lie

The Uihleins play an inside/outside game, funding “think tanks” and other outside/astroturf groups, and also backing election campaigns directly. They’re the GOP’s largest federal donors. They’ve backed campaigns Jim Marchant, who is running for Nevada Secretary of State on a Big Lie platform that denies the 2020 election. They’re also backing the PA gubernatorial bid of Doug Mastriano, the Jan 6 insurrection participant who is associated with notorious antisemites:

https://whyy.org/articles/pa-2022-governor-elections-mastriano-jewish-democrats-press-conference/

The Uihleins epitomize the idea that rich people are born to be in charge of the rest of us, and that their wealth entitles — and even obliges — them to organize the lives of the people around them. They are workplpace tyrants, micromanaging bullies who force their employees to take down their kids’ drawings and ban women from wearing pants (they also ban corduroy!).

Employees who arrive for work one minute late are considered “tardy.” An employee may not display more than four personal items, and no item may be larger than 5x7 inches. “Liz would walk up and down the aisles, and if your desk looked off, you’d be written up.”

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23179330-uline-cubicle-dos-and-donts

The company hosts mandatory “lunch and learn” sessions for employees where they are required to endure speeches from Wisconsin governor Scott Walker and other far-right figures (the Uihleins once hired a Donald Trump impersonator as the warm-up act for one of these sessions).

The Uihleins are ideologues, but it’s a mistake to view their authoritarianism, antisemitism, racism, and homophobia as the main force of their ideology. First and foremost is their belief that they deserve to be rich, and that the rich should be in charge of everyone else.

That commitment to the one dollar, one vote system is the motivating factor behind everything else. The Uihleins fund voter suppression, sure, but that’s to weaken the power of the ballot box, which might otherwise check the power of oligarchs.

Oligarchs like the Uihleins say they believe the government is incapable of doing good, but it’s more true to say that they are committed to ensuring that the government can’t do good. They don’t want a small state — they want a captive one, one that will do their bidding.

In 2017, Donald Trump achieved the only significant policy victory of his presidency: a $2.3 trillion tax giveaway to the ultra-rich. Trump may have been in charge of the Executive Branch, but he lacked the executive function to get anything done. His plutocratic class solidarity overcame his poor impulse control for this issue alone.

The actual tax bill was an incredible mess. Lawmakers literally scribbled illegible hand-written amendments all over the 479-page bill, carving out tax breaks that sent millions to individual donors.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2017/12/02/handwriting-wall-and-page-senate-passes-tax-bill/915957001/

Two of the biggest beneficiaries of this corrupt bonanza were Dick and Liz Uihlein. Their pet senator, Ron Johnson, threatened to tank the entire tax bill unless he was given a clause that created deductions for “pass-through” entities. Johnson claimed this would “simplify and rationalize the tax code” for a wide range of businesses, but that was a lie.

In truth, only a very small number of businesses benefited from this, and right at the top of the beneficiaries were the Uihlnes, who donated $20m to Johnson’s campaign and got $215m back in the first year. Overall, they stand to make $500m from Johnson’s amendment:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/11/the-canada-variant/#shitty-man-of-history-theory

The rich are a factory for producing policy failures, and the Uihlines operate one of the most efficient policy-failure factories in the world. Yes, they support causes that threaten to exterminate Black people, Jews and queers. Yes, they want to force women and children to give birth.

But most of all, they want to rule. They want to tell us all what we can wear and to dictate the maximum size of the keepsakes we post around our desks. They want to force us to attend their “learning sessions” and to watch their Trump impersonators and clownish politicians.

They derive this authority from being born rich, and from growing still richer. Having won the lucky orifice lottery and then leveraged the advantages of being born on third base, they get to impose their will on millions of others. They believe that some were born to rule, and the rest of us were born to be ruled over.

This is the core of the monopolist’s project — to deprive you of choices, so that you are cornered into doing the monopolist’s bidding. Not only do the Uihlines want to take away your vote, they also want to force you to fund it, by monopolizing the packing materials business, so that every time you ship a box, you support your own disenfranchisement.

https://marker.medium.com/we-should-not-endure-a-king-dfef34628153

[Image ID: A paper shredder that is shredding a document labelled 'official ballot'; the box is emblazoned with the Uline logo, as well as a VOTE HERE instruction and an 'I Voted' disc.]

#pluralistic