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tamamita · 6 months

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how is isis different from hamas?

Gonna make it easy and comprehensible:

ISIS or DA'ISH is a transnational terror organization consisting of Iraqi Baathists, former Syrian rebels or moderates, recruited fighters from all over the world, former US captives in Iraq, and oppressed and disenfranchised Sunnis. Wahhabi in nature, ISIS subscribes to the literalist tradition of Islam, based on a strict adherence to Tawhid (Islamic monotheism), rejecting the concept of intercession and saint venerations, seeing them as an act of idolatry. Their religious verdicts are based on the literal interpretation of the Qur'an and Sunnah, rejecting metaphorical exegesis. They aim to establish a global caliphate, seeking to eliminate anyone who opposses it regardless of religious or ideological differences. They see their cause as a hastening of various Islamic end time prophecies in their interpretation of Islamic eschatology. Like many Salafis, they reject Taqlid, which is to conform to one of the four schools of thought in Sunni Islam. On top of that, they reject religious innovations (Bid'ah), which is the idea that anything introduced to the religion without any religious basis is heresy. Whether it be practical or theological, they deem any Muslim who engage in Bid'ah to be an apostate or heretic. They are notorious for their intolerance of non-Muslims and application of Takfirism (excommunication) on Muslims, whether Sunni or Shi'a. Christians had to pay the Jizya (poll tax) in their territories, while in other cases, they were murdered, expelled and had their churches destroyed or converted. They have no tolerance for Shi'a Muslims and will kill them on the spot (see: Speicher Massacre), and have often targeted them with IEDs or suicide bombers. Non-Muslims, like the Ezidis or Ahlul Haqq, were often subjected to execution whereas their women and children were either married away, converted or used as sex slaves. DAESH is not interested in national liberation, seeing it as a blasphemous innovation. DAESH does not consider Hamas to be Muslims due to struggle for national liberation which is supported by Iran and various Shi'i proxies.

Hamas is a political and military resistance group that consists of Palestinians. After the failures of the Oslo accord, Hamas broke away from PLO and formed their own political party. They either subscribe to the Shafi'i school of thought or some form of Ikhwani Salafism (Salafism as envisioned by the Muslim Brotherhood). They're a semi-governmental power in Gaza and are responsible for upholding the social and civil institutions, such as hospitals, schools and etc. Hamas' specific aim is localized and seeks to destroy the Zionist entity in order to form a one-state solution under an Islamic emirate or Islamic democracy. Their only enemy is Israel and any of its allies. As of the Hamas charter of 2017, they do not have an intolerance for non-Muslims or people of different religious and ideological comportments, as seen by them holding ties with both Shi'a and Socialist militias, such as Hezbollah and the PFLP/DFLP. Hamas is concerned with the national liberation of Palestine and the Palestinians. Being an entirely localized resistance group, they do not engage in global jihadism like ISIS nor do they carry out attacks internationally.

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contact-guy · 20 days

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(pt 1) (pt 2) (pt 3) (pt 4) (pt 5) (pt 6) (pt 7)

HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES pt 5 (read the other parts first!)

(this is part of the Watson's sketchbook series)

letter text under the cut because SOMEONE'S handwriting is atrocious:

My dear

Dear Watson,

I have solved a mystery lately, the one concerning my distressing levels of distraction + poor humour (refer to yr. notes on NORBURY). I would like to present my thoughts to you as tidily as though this were any other case (a little ritual which, I must admit, has become one of my chief pleasures in this work). (omit; overly sentimental)

The truth is thus: over the seven years of our acquaintance, I have come to care for you beyond friendship or brotherhood. Poetically, I care for you in the Grecian way (has W. read Plato's Symposium?) ; plainly, most would consider it unwholesome.

I am aware that you are tolerant of this vice in your friends, an admirable attitude. Whether you yourself indulge remains stubbornly beyond my sight, for I find when I desire a certain outcome, logical deduction of the truth becomes impossible.

I occasionally seek to amuse and dazzle you by seeming to read your thoughts; but it is a simple trick, and I can only peer into the shallowest corners of your mind. Because of my abiding personal interest, your depths are hidden. (excessive)

I find your presence and this unspoken dialogue to be unsettling in the extreme. I am in need of resolution. Will you please tell me I require data and it must come from you. I await a response urgently at your convenience. If you desire to end our personal and professional relationship, a word to Mrs. Hudson will send me away from Baker St. for as long as you require to gather your belongings.

Yours,

S.H.

p-s- you need no reminding of propriety, but do be sure to destroy this humble note.

p-p-s- of course I could leave the rooms to you, but yr. pension would not cover the cost

#sherlock holmes #john watson #acd holmes #my art #watsons sketchbook

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whumperer-86 · 1 year

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Caring big brother is everything and he's not even his big brother but he became one , he saved him too many times and held him when he couldn't walk

Missing the other side season two finale

#Bromance #male friendship #friends #concerned caretaker #concerned friend #whump #whumper #whumpee #whump blog #whumpblr #whump stuff #whump drabble #whump tropes #whump list #family #care taker #brotherhood #whump community

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izuke-the-zombie · 7 months

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This is a little head cannon/What if Macaque had more original powers, a little more Starry Night dreamlike powers leaning into the more nurturing kind, you know, the moon and sun kind of powers? 🌙☀️

Maybe in the past, he was like a therapy friend to Wukong, someone he could really be himself with, vent, and tell his secrets without being judged in the safety of his own dreams. Someone he can truly trust, and that was Macaque.

Skip to Redemption Ark for Mac

Now he's a therapy friend to the whole MK team! (Against his will) They cuddle, pet, and vent to him with their problems. He's like one of Sandy's therapy cats, just bigger and grumpier.😾💕✨ he just has this way with people I guess

Okay, this is how it starts: Macaque and Wukong's first encounter was in a dream.

Wukong would not shut up about the pretty demon in his crazy dreams, often to his sworn brothers; he talked about all the fun and crazy adventures he'd have, the long meaningful conversations and jokes, and the occasionally moving pictures of otherworldly strong magical humans with sparkly eyes and spiky hair who wield giant weapons that shoots Fire called anime, and that this had been going on for a few months now.

This annoyed and concerned them; they think it's a demon trying to take over the Monkey King's mind or trying to brainwash him somehow, so Azure Lion and the Sworn Brothers all brainstormed together to devise a plan to somehow confront this tricky dream demon. Wukong doesn't want the fun dreams to end or scare off this other celestial monkey, so he decides to talk to his friend in his dreams. Wukong casually brings up the idea that the macaque should visit Flower Fruit and meet his sworn brothers! Macaque of course hesitates, not sure of the idea of traveling to an unknown island and meeting The Monkey King's questionable choice of sworn brothers, but of course, Wukong, sad and a bit offended, but he doesn't give up.

He decides to bring upon the Ultimate Weapon, begging and whining until Macaque crumbles and gives in, which eventually does. Mac reluctantly agrees to travel over to FFM in disguise, just to be safe he tells Wukong he'll be there. Within a month, Wukong couldn't be more excited; he was like a little kid waiting for Christmas day!

So this is what kinds of powers I think he should have.

😴 the first pic is crossing over to other people's dreams and making their experience life-like he has illusion magic so this makes sense to me. Wukong and macaque would prank the Brotherhood or play tags and hide and seek in their brother's dreams. 🌸The second pic is the soothing ability to calm one's nerves if they pet or cuddle him like a therapy cat,🐈 Wukong would groom him for hours to calm his nerves. now come copes with food🍑🍔🍭

🌸🎶I saved the best one for last the cute/sad little head Cannon I have

At the end of every dream Mac visits they would end it by dancing to music Mac would bring from the future laughing and stumbling while wukong slowly wakes up, wukong has always gone to bed early But now he goes even earlier to bed. Wukong always thought he was the luckiest monkey in the world he gets to have two Adventure and one of them is with his prettiest best friend Macaque 😚✨the monkey of his dreams.

🌸 Wukong couldn't truly dream of a world without his bestest friend🥰✨

#monkie kid #lego monkie kid #lmk #sun wukong #six eared macaque #doodle #monkey king #macaque #shadowpeach #third idea of power: creating little stars out of his hands that float around like for his shadow play or a night light for the baby monkey #cute right!?#originally I was going to write a short fanfic about Wukong having nightmares and not being able to sleep because of that Mac notices #and decides to visit Wukong in his dreams #Hong Kong wakes up in his dream within a dream to a beautiful breathtaking flower field and seeing the beautiful sky it looks super Galaxy #and Mac just pops up out of nowhere and tries to start up a conversation #at first he's like cocky and stuff and then he gets little awkward #fumbling with his words and he gets a little bit more flustered wukong is like super confused and surprise to see him here #Mac gives up on trying to talk and just attacks wukong after a while we'll come figures out he's just play fighting they pretty much #just play tag and wukong slowly he gets into it but Mac starts cheating a little bit and this Riles up The Monkey King and they're just #having a blast now and at the end of it they start talking eating a few peaches just joking around it's awkward but it's nice wukongs #grooming him and he's just feeling a whole lot better Mac wants to know what's bothering him but he feels like can wait until Monkey King #Monkey King is ready for that macaque gets up extensive hand to Wukong they try to dance #and they're both terribly out of practice they keep going until they're tumbling and laughing and will come slowly gets up #with a smile on the face and super well-rested all thanks to macaque the monkey of his dreams #seriously if anybody wants to make a fanfic about this you have my full permission I don't know I think you guys can do way better than me😫

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cupid-styles · 6 months

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mates

in which harry is a frat boy alpha, y/n is a sleepy omega, and some weird feelings occur.

word count: 1.7k

content warnings: abo dynamics, frat!harry

masterlist | talk to me

fall/halloween blurb masterlist

. . .

Y/N feels stupid.

Unfortunately, it's not because of the whole matching Playboy bunny costume charade her friends wrangled her into to. She does feel ridiculous standing in the middle of a party in glorified lingerie, getting drooled over by the frat boy alphas that apparently own this house (Y/N would have never agreed to this if she knew this is where they were spending Halloween night. It makes her feel like the perfect embodiment of an omega, and that in turn makes her uncomfortable).

Her friends are all but licking up their praise, flirting and batting their eyelashes at them, and that's fine — really, she's been there before, where she's just wanted some random alpha to stick his dick in her and call it a night — but she's feeling... weird, and she can't quite explain why.

With her drink in hand, Y/N quietly removes herself from the kitchen, Lea and Paige too tipsy and occupied with whatever-their-names-are to care. She meanders through the rooms of the party, passing by the smokers lounge that's clouded with thick smoke, followed by the makeout room that's oddly reminiscent of a middle school party, and then, finally, a bit of quiet.

She finds herself in a long hallway with doors on either side, and she assumes this is where the bedrooms are. She's not naive enough to jiggle the doorknobs to look for an empty room (besides, there probably aren't any), so she just slides down against the length of the wall, sitting down on the gross carpeted floor. A long sigh leaves her mouth as she closes her eyes; an attempt to ground herself and figure out why she's feeling this way.

And even without her wandering eyes, she smells him before she knows he's there. The weird primal part of her that she never quite understood is suddenly awake, threatening to claw out of her body and take over her normally subdued persona. So she peeks an eye open to see him standing over her — towering, really, and it's slightly intimidating — all long, curly brown hair and an oversized leather jacket thrown over his shoulders.

"Are you okay?"

She realizes what this looks like; a Playboy bunny sitting alone in an uncharted part of a Halloween party, red solo cup in hand, and figures he's probably concerned she's going to puke on the carpet at any point.

"I'm fine," she answers, clearing her throat as she stands from her spot, swaying slightly from the platform heels Lea convinced her to wear, "My friends ditched me. Well, actually, I ditched them 'cos they're up some alpha's asses and I didn't wanna deal with all that. Sorry."

In any other instance, she'd turn on her heel and walk away. Standing in the middle of an empty hallway with a man she's never met before at a party sounds like a recipe for disaster, and she doesn't even have her pepper spray on her (there wasn't any room in this stupid black satin bodysuit). Instead, there's something in her body that's causing her feet to stay firmly planted in their spot.

"Oh. Those are probably my friends, so I'm sorry about that." He replies, and Y/N's eyebrows shoot up.

"Oh fuck, I'm such an idiot," she clasps her hand around her forehead in embarrassment, "You're part of this frat, aren't you? And those are like your brothers, or whatever?"

He chuckles, a lopsided grin wiggling its way onto his face, and it makes her nerves calm some.

"Yeah, I am. It's fine, though. They're dumbasses, I don't mind you insulting thousands of years of brotherhood straight to my face."

She can tell he's teasing based on his body language; the way he's leaning his shoulder against the wall now and his eyes are slightly squinted, his lips upturned in a mocking smile.

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head, "I'm sorry, I just didn't realize this is where we'd be tonight and I would've mentally prepared myself more. And maybe worn pants."

His eyes wander down the length of her legs, zeroing in on the fishnets covering her skin and the chunky heels on her feet. She warms under his gaze as he makes his way up to her head, pointing to the floppy bunny ears tucked into her hair.

"Where's your Hugh Hefner, then?"

"Didn't you hear? He was a total perv."

"Ah, you speak ill of the dead, too?"

Y/N huffs as he grins, and she crosses her arms over her chest.

"I'm Harry," he says when she doesn't reply, then points to the door they're standing in front of, "And you're actually blocking my bedroom."

"You should've led with that!" Y/N exclaims, stepping away from the door, sweat prickling at her armpits when he lets out an amused cackle. "God, instead you just entertained yourself with talking to the weird half-naked omega in front of it!"

He's still laughing as he takes out a key from his jeans to unlock the door, walking inside. She figures that's it — in classic university fashion, a one-off interaction with someone at a party that she'll never speak to again — but instead, Harry peeks back out from his bedroom with furrowed eyebrows.

"Aren't you coming in? I have sweats you can borrow if you want."

And again, everything about this situation is so unlike Y/N, but she doesn't even allow her brain to contemplate it as her feet automatically carry her inside. The second he closes the door behind them, she's overwhelmed with the most comforting, musky and warm scent she's ever smelled, her eyes nearly fluttering shut at the way it wraps around her, akin to a tender, tight embrace.

Harry occupies himself with digging in his dresser, pulling out a pair of gray joggers and handing them to her.

"Why are you doing this?" she suddenly asks, gently placing her cup on his nightstand before shimmying the sweatpants up and over her bottom, "You don't even know me and you're being so nice to me."

He shrugs. "Do you want the real answer or some bullshit alpha frat boy answer?"

She scoffs at that, "You tell me."

She's anticipating an equally sarcastic answer (it seems to be that that's their dynamic), but instead he rolls his lips into his mouth, a look of contemplation on his face.

"I don't wanna get all... weird and primal on you since we literally just met, but I, um... smelled you. Your scent. I was down in the basement but I knew there was someone standing outside my door and I, uh... I knew I needed to come see you."

Y/N wrinkles her nose. "I was feeling really weird before I came up here. I couldn't really figure out what it was."

"Did you... like, did you feel particularly drawn to this room?" he asks, pushing his bottom lip together between his fingers.

"Yeah, actually."

"And... can I ask, did you feel any less weird when you came in, maybe?"

She thinks for a moment. "I... actually felt better when you showed up."

"Huh."

They're quiet then, each in their own cycle of thinking as they process what they've just revealed to one another. They're strangers, and yet— yet, they both know what this means.

"Do you think...?"

Y/N snaps her head up with parted lips, slightly surprised that he's bringing up the obvious. She sighs — she never really bought into the whole binding mate thing, and even though she presented as an omega as an early teen, she doesn't think those labels mean much. Yeah, she experiences heats and the pesky biological traits of it all, but she's never spent much time daydreaming about the perfect alpha that'll bite her neck and knot her, filling her up and breeding her until she can't even remember her own name.

But that was before she met Harry.

Now, Harry's sitting in front of her and she realizes she's never felt so calm before, a sense of belonging enveloping her every cell... and well, it's kind of difficult to ignore.

(It's also hard to pretend like the omega tendencies deep in her body — like the way her core is wound up tight, all but begging Harry to fuck his knot into her — didn't just turn on the second they made eye contact.)

"I think it could be a possibility." She finally admits, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

"Hey, don't stress over this," Harry replies with concerned eyes, "It's no big deal. There's no pressure to figure anything out right now."

"I've never really believed in this before. So, it's kind of weird to be... possibly experiencing it."

He nods understandingly as she sits down next to him on the edge of the bed. They both keep their gazes low, the only audible sound the low thumping bass of the music blasting downstairs.

"Do you feel anything?" she asks, turning her head to look at him. "Like, between us?"

He clears his throat. He doesn't want to make her uncomfortable, because his honest answer is something along the lines of, yes, and I actually can't stand to look at your neck because all I want to do is bite it and give you a pretty little mark to wear for the rest of your life.

"I think so," he settles, "I do feel... some physical attraction, yeah."

"Are you just saying that because you're trying to get laid on Halloween?"

Harry scoffs and bumps his shoulder against hers, a giggle sounding from her lips.

"You're an absolute menace, y'know that?" he teases with a shake of his head, "I hope you aren't my mate, 'cos if I have to put up with this, I might have to toss myself out the window."

She cackles loudly, "Oh, and you're any better? You're dressed as a greaser for Halloween! That's the least original costume ever!"

"You're a Playboy bunny!"

They both erupt into laughs, a thankful and necessary break in the seriousness of the situation. When their giggling does finally die down, Y/N swallows, her heart speeding up slightly as she turns her body to face his.

"Can we at least... try something?" she asks softly, and Harry doesn't even need to think before he's already nodding his head. She leans in and he meets her halfway, quiet and nervous breaths ghosting over each other's lips as their mouths meet, plush and sweet and — Y/N really, truly hates to be so cliche, but it's true — it feels so right, that it's like her body chemistry is morphing into something more as they kiss.

It's meant to be a quick and soft peck, but neither of them want to part as their lips move against one another's, Harry hesitantly reaching out to press his hand against her cheek. She wraps her arms around his shoulders, tugging her body closer to his until she's almost in his lap. They're slightly disappointed when they realize they need to break for air, Y/N's eyes blinking open to take in the man sitting there, watching her with a knowing look.

"Yeah," she says, and he nods. "Yeah, this is..."

She doesn't need to say it because they both already know — it's the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, a greater one, because it turns out mates do exist, and sometimes they appear in the form of a Playboy bunny sitting outside your frat house bedroom.

#writing #harry styles #harry styles writing #harry styles blurb #harry styles fan fic #harry styles fic #harry styles fanfic #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles imagine #harry styles one shot #harry styles oneshot #harry styles smut #harry styles fluff #harry styles angst #harry styles x reader #harry styles x yn #harry styles x you #one direction

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norman-fucking-reedus · 28 days

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Guys I’m thinking about Rick and Daryl fighting, like Daryl is definitely a professional little brother and spends all day wrecking havoc upon Rick (and maybe a few others)

also I know Daryl is a hardcore hair puller. In the bed and in fights. When he and Merle would fight, it was like a second nature for his hands to latch onto to curly hair, yanking the strands and on one occasion knocking his head into a wall

me when rickyl but also brotherhood

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

On the outside, Daryl Dixon was quiet, dark, and mysterious. He was a dusty book that had been closed and locked tight for decades, never opening up no matter who or what tried to pry. Most people would think that he was just one of the ones that never expressed any type of concern or emotion, but really, Daryl’s just a silent person. Until someone he knows pops into the picture.

“Get tha’ fuck off me! Get tha’ fuck off of me!” His voice rang out through the community alongside side Dogs chaotic barking.

People rushed out of their homes at what they thought were very distressed cries, Carol’s bow loaded and almost aimmed as he stepped out onto hers, only frowning deeply when she saw what all the ruckus was.

Daryl and Rick were wrestling in the dirt, the huntersman pinned down underneath the officer in a very uncomfortable looking position. Dog was barking at the two of them, tail wagging in the air as he stood in a playful position, standing over his defeated owner.

“Blah blah blah. You’re just a sore fucking loser” Rick laughed at him, pointing a finger in Daryl’s face, and pulling it away when his sharp teeth clamped down. “Gon’ make mah dog eat you alive” The man grumbled and squirmed.

“Gonna make the walkers eat you both alive” You sighed from where you had approached behind Rick, Dog now eagerly lapping and jumping around you as you too stood over your defeated hunter. “Seriously?” You shook your head and pushed Rick off the man, watching the way he dramatically fell over. “He started it! I was bein’ nice” Daryl frowns, and so does Rick, sitting up to face Daryl who had childishly wrapped himself around your leg. “Nuh uh, no! This asshole tried sticking mud down my pants!” Daryl cackled at the sentence and you knew he was gulity.

“You two are grown ass men” You huffed, shaking your leg slightly only for Daryl’s to tighten his grip. Absolutely wonderful.

“He needs to be put in time out” Rick grumbled, and you wondered if you were getting paid for this. “Time out?”

“Time out?” Carol approached, bow and arrow no longer in hand.

Daryl pointed at Rick, while Rick pointed at him, both men staring daggers at each other. “Him! He fucking started this!”

You share a look with Carol as the men bicker, and it’s quite funny untill you feel a sudden emptiness at your leg, and Daryl is hurling a ball of mud at Rick, who unfortunately catches it with his face. “Now I can really call ya ‘shitface grimes’” Daryl laughed as he climbed to his feet, standing behind you as Rick wiped his eyes clear, immediately locking them on his target.

Daryl doesn’t wanna admit that he didn’t think Rick would just go right around you, yelling when the officer took a swipe at him. “Stop it yew shit eater!” Daryl ran away with Rick hot on his heels, Dog sprinting right alongside them and barking excitedly.

“Can you imagine a small mini version of all that?” You shake your head, smiling softly at Carol. “You have got quite the character on your hands. Clinging to your leg? He must love you” You laughed, peering up the street where they had run off too, a cloud of dirt forming as they tussled, and from Daryl’s very loud screams he was probably getting what he deserved. “Dealing with him? He better love me” You scoff, knowing that your giant manchild loves you more than life itself.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

Each press of the cotton to his skin makes him hiss, and he winces at the burning sting of alcohol. “No more fights” You frown softly, tilting Daryl’s head as you cleaned his wounds, gingerly placing bandaids over them. “But he-“ “Yes I know he started it, he also finished it” Daryl pouts, legs swinging off the countertop. You stick a bandage over his nose, and kiss his forehead. “All better. I want you in this house before it’s too dark, okay?” Daryl drops onto his feet, and plants a quick but eager kiss on your lips. “Yes mama” He tosses over his shoulder as he snatches his crossbow off the floor, barreling out the door with Dog. You watched them go, a smile tugging your lips. It faded at the sound of a Rick’s high pitched scream.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

looks around because I dont know what happened and because I really like childish Daryl now and wanna write more

#the walking dead #daryl dixon #norman fucking reedus #the walking dead daryl #daryl fanfiction #daryl x reader #twd #daryl dixion imagine #daryl x female reader #twd daryl #twd daryl dixon #daryl twd #daryl dixon smut #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl imagines #daryl x y/n #daryl x you

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mutfruit-salad · 10 days

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read your criticism and have a genuine question about your thoughts on the branding scene. i completely understand how max's branding is inherently tied to a racist history, and it always will be, but i dont feel like the scene itself was written with that bias/intent. thaddeus also gets branded in later episodes and it's implied to happen to every aspirant upon their promotion. at what point in writing are black characters morally barred from specific story points because of their similarities to a history that's not directly related? sort of similar with barb, at what point can black characters not do bad things at all, especially in a story where there are near a dozen non-black characters who do worse things? also considering it's implied (at least, i understood it as) she's sticking to vault-tec to protect her family?

I am not in the best position to comment on this, because I am not black. I will do my best to add what I can, but this is a space for others to chime in.

Barb is interesting because she's essentially become the person who did the most heinous crime in the entire setting- by far and away worse than anything anyone has ever done. There really aren't white characters who did worse things- because all the crimes of Caesar or the Enclave or whoever else pale in comparison to being the one who literally set into motion the total annihilation of all nations on Earth. (This is setting aside her willing participation in the inception of the vault experiments- which is an entirely separate also horrific crime.)

The issue is they've created a setting that is, as presented, colorblind. Race is invisible to the writers, who did not consider it meaningfully while producing the show- as is often the case with white creatives putting characters of color into their stories. Colorblindness does not always produce entirely racist results- and when done with tact and intentionality it can even be revolutionary. Look at the relative inclusivity of star trek as an example, and the radical depiction of Uhura in the original series.

The thing that makes Fallout different from Star Trek however is that it is not depicting its colorblind future with tact and intentionality. This is a show that is intensely concerned with depicting the specific brand of nationalistic American politics of the 1950s and the Cold War- and they've reproduced that system for the show but with a black woman at the head. That's where the issue comes up.

This was a system that had racism baked into it by design. It still does. American Nationalism and corporate violence are built on racism against black people and other minorities. And this show desperately wants to depict these things, but they've decided to put a black woman at the head of them. They're depicting systems that are, by their nature, violently racist- but they've decided to portray them as being run by a black housewife.

Fallout 3 does a similar thing with how it depicts every major slaver as a black person. Eulogy Jones, the slave buyer at Paradise Falls, the head slaver in the Abe Lincoln memorial, Ashur in The Pitt. Hell Mothership Zeta adds in a black woman from the wasteland and even SHE'S revealed to have been a slaver. This is something Bethesda consistently does- depicting ideologies and practices with a deep history of racialized violence- and then showing black people at the head of them, seemingly to try to avoid actually addressing any aspect of racism in their stories outside of hamfisted metaphors like synths and ghouls. (I use Fallout 3 as an example but Fallout 4 does many of these same things.)

Thaddeus does also get branded, and he does also get treated to the same demeaning servanthood as Maximus. The difference, quite frankly, is that Thaddeus is white. There are just some things that are straight up inappropriate to depict happening to black characters without appropriate thoughtfulness and context. Never before this series has the Brotherhood ever done brandings- and yet this show opens with it in the first episode and introduces this brand new jarring concept with the visceral image of a black man being branded by faceless fascist cultists.

It's also important to note that even if they didn't intend the scene as racist, it still is. Like I don't think the scriptwriter sat down and said "oh I'm gonna do a racism" cuz intent just doesn't matter here. The scene was intended as a way of showing the severity of the brotherhood- but it also thoughtlessly reproduces images of historic black violence.

@orange-coloredsky I know you've been talking about this stuff all day, and your initial posts about the antiblack racism in the series were what prompted me to write my thoughts today- which is what this ask is in response to. I was curious if you have any other input with all this.

I'd also be more than happy to have any additional input from people better suited to answer these questions.

#fallout #fallout show #fallout 3

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