#I also take requests for pride flag colored objects | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

theextendedzodiacas · 2 months

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Would it be weird to ask how you pick images for your moodboards?

not at all! here is my process:

-color-coding: obviously, at least some images in the board must be the blood color of the sign caste

-lunar sway "mood": prospit signs are lighter/happier, derse signs are darker/angstier. very rarely derse/prospit color coding will creep in

-visual reference to the aspect of the sign: this is a little more abstract, but: sky/birds/lungs for breath, clockwork for time, frogs or space for . space . bones/graves for doom, empty space or fog for void, angels for hope, lightning/shattered glass/broken objects for rage, blood or blood-like imagery for blood (or images of holding hands, physical connection to other people), brains/webs/computers for mind, plants for life, hearts for heart, and "light" (sun, gold things, northern lights, reflections, celestial phenomena) as well as dice or books for light. sometimes color-coded woth the aspect color

-relevant additional themes: here i look for images with text relevant to the request, animals, fashion, pictures of couples for relationship boards (if necessary), any image which could give the "feel" of my understandings of each class or internal state meant to be reflected in the board, or images pertaining to a specific aesthetic vibe/theme like whimsigoth or what have you

-texture images: these support the color-coding, provide associative transitions from one image to the next, and generally serve to make the disparate elements of a given request cohere into an aesthetically unified whole.

then, of course, arrangement. once i have selected the images, i spend time laying them out in a way that is pleasing to the eye and draws the focus to other images in the board. this means flipping images so that their focus points "inward" or "outward," shifting them around so that images that are cut off in certain areas are on the edges or corners, and occasionally editing the images to, again, assert color-coding in cases where the additional themes leave little room to affirm a given unique sign. many requests are so heavy with additional themes that the only reference i can devote to the sign itself is color-coding, with maybe one or two visual nods to the aspect.

i prioritize photographs over drawings and graphics---if my board includes a pride flag, it's a photograph of a physical flag, meaning that i have to get creative for labels which do not have photos of physical flags. i also never include a graphic of the sign itself, to devote more space to the symbolism of the board i'm working on. i do not use anime screencaps or images from cartoons, though i do use movie stills.

i know for most people, moodboards are just "a vibe." some people don't seem to understand that while yes, i am working towards the depiction of an emotional vibe, i am doing so using a specific visual language in a limited amount of space, and straight up . . . it's extremely difficult to find usable photos of non-physical, temporally bounded things like ambivalence towards a relationship or nuanced inner feelings. ("unusable photos" being things like shutterstock images of "couples quarreling" or "woman thinking over salad".) if a requester wants an abstract state represented visually, it's helpful if they provide their own symbols for the theme they're trying to actualize . . . but if every single one of the nine images is dictated to me in the form of symbol-themes, it's like . . . where is the room for the actual sign in all this, and why are you coming to me if your vision is strong enough for you to just make your own board? (i do put a decent amount of time and effort into each board and rely on a large stockpile of saved photos, but . . . even just starting out, it did not take me long to make a decent board.)

i use pixlr to arrange and edit my moodboards and gather my images from tumblr, google images, unsplash, pexels, and when i was starting out i did use pinterest (but i don't have an account lol)

i hope this was understandable & enlightening!

-mod 8ean

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kouvei-art-writing · 3 years

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Added some eldritch eye pride designs on my redbubble!

Redbubble Pride Shop

#just ask if I missed a pride flag you want me to add!#I also take requests for pride flag colored objects #shameless self plug #pride #redbubble #self promo #but I am also a broke college student #lbgtq

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themogaidragon · 2 years

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Requests are curently closed!

[pt: Requests are curently closed! /end pt]

I can do for you:

Pronoun, gender, orientation coining (no flag)

Help you find terms that fits you

Coin jewish exclusive terms (still no flag)

What I won't do for you (DNR):

Any request that isn't related to what's listed above

Create pride flags

Coin terms for ethnicity I'm not part of because I'd be overstepping

Personal questions (ex: what's your name?)

Flags for harmful labels (rapesexual, z0osexual...)

Anything other than flags, symbols, etc (moonboards for ex)

Pride flags from which colors were picked from a random character, object, etc.

Paraphilia terms/flags, I'm not confortable doing so

PLEASE NO DISCOURSE OF ANY KIND

Additional informations:

I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason at any time, without notice.

I only accept requests on Tumblr and in my request box.

Please only one request at a time so I don't feel overwelmed.

Be clear as possible when you send an ask, so I can easily understand you and be sure to not make any errors.

If you want a specific design, flag, meaning of stripes, etc, please specify it.

I can sometime only take a few hours for me to do your ask but it may also take a few days or even weeks/months. I’m a spoonie, please be patient. If you can't wait for any reasons, I would recommand you to send your ask somewhere else.

#dnr list #ask rules #ask

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mahousensory · 4 years

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Request status: Busy

💌 stimboard requests: 16

❤️ self care kit requests: 0

❣️icon requests: 1

💖 last updated: 10/03/23

please ✨read the rules✨ before requesting! ♡

Request rules

I only do requests related to magical girls! (characters, ships, ocs, aesthetic, etc.) Please send unrelated requests to @donutsquishy or one of my other stim blogs.

Please search my blog to see if I’ve already made a board for a character. I can do repeats, but it might be harder for me to make another board. However, if you want a board with a theme feel free to request it! (i.e. Sakura + lovecore.)

Let me know if there’s anything you don’t want on a board. (trypophobia, sharp objects, etc.)

It helps if you add what series a character is from, as I’m not always familiar with a source. (I’ll google the name if I’m unsure ofc, but it makes things easier for me.)

You can request a specific flag if you want a pride board. (moon lesbian, etc.) Please submit the flag if it’s a more obscure one!

For OC boards, tell me what colors and themes fit your character. Also, submit a picture if you have one!

You can send in multiple characters from the same series at the same time.

I try to finish requests asap, however I am an adult with adult responsibilities. 😅 Don’t be afraid to ask if I got your request, because sometimes either a) I forget about them or b) Tumblr ate the ask.

There’s 3 statuses: open, busy and closed. If I’m busy it will take longer than usual to fulfill requests, however you’re free to send them in! If they’re closed, please wait until I open them again, as I’m either swamped with requests or taking a break.

I won’t make boards of the following:

p*rn

Mahou Shoujo Site (not a fan of it, most other edgy series are okay tho!)

anything that would get me yelled at tbh

#donuts.txt

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crittern · 5 years

Photo

So! I’m gonna start taking commissions. I’ve never done commissions before and I’m still getting used to my new tablet, but now that I have the tools so I really want to see if I can take a few slots! All money is going to me so I can use it to afford food for myself and my animals, as well as paying for my animation degree and any of the materials I need for my classes. You can contact me online by emailing [email protected] or you may message me on tumblr for more details on how the commissions work!

You don’t have to reblog or anything unless you want to, though I definitely would appreciate the extra boost so I can get more commissions. I’m only going to be taking 3 at the start, and I’ll reblog to update when these slots are closed and when I’m going to be open for commissions again.

Most of the information is up above, but I’m going to transcribe it under a read more just in case it’s too hard to read.

Visual references are preferred for all commissions, though I will take written descriptions if you also provide other images or examples to help me visualize what you’re thinking. You can also provide color palettes or specific expressions! If you don’t tell me the specifics of what you’re looking for, such as pose/emotion/background of the characters, then I may have to decide for myself how to present it, so it’ll save us both time the more information you have for me to refer to. All commissioners will receive the flat image and the transparent variant(the background being cut away so there’s only the character themselves), along with the possibility of multiple wip images as the commission progresses. Payment is upfront and in full over paypal, just to make things easier for everyone. Most commissions will take around a week or less to finish, though there could be some exceptions depending on school work or life factors.

I’m willing to do:

- fandom characters/scenes

- ships

- oc x canon

- furry/anthro

- animals

- mild body horror

I’m not willing to do:

- nsfw content

- discriminatory content(hate speech, anti lgbt+, racism, etc.)

- fetish art (there are two-ish exceptions to this, but those aren’t really fetishes in that case. So...just. Ask ahead of time and I’ll tell you what is acceptable)

- pedophilia

- incest (including adoptive relationships)

- heavy topics (suicide, self harm, abuse, etc.)

I reserve the right to decline any commission requests that make me uncomfortable. There WILL be some “specials”, such as holiday events or fun openings for new types of commissions, so keep an eye out for updates with those!

The image above has both a biped and quadruped example to make it easier for you to visualize what these sizes mean, so I suggest looking at that for further explanation. The four styles of art I’ll be doing are sketches(a cleaned up traditional sketch that is color shaded and in black in white), flats(a digitally lined piece with colors but no shading), cell shading(digitally lined piece with color and hard shading, sort of like a cartoon style of shade), and soft shading(digitally lined piece with a painting style of shading. this one takes less time than cell shading so it’s typically less expensive).

The sizes I’ll be taking are:

1. HEADSHOT

Sketch - $10

Flats - $15

Cell Shading - $20

Soft Shading - $18

2. HALFBODY

Sketch - $15

Flats - $20

Cell Shading - $25

Soft Shading - $23

3. FULLBODY

Sketch - $20

Flats - $25

Cell Shading - $30

Soft Shading - $28

All prices are for single character pieces. +$10 will be added per additional character.

I’ve included some examples of these types of drawings that I’ve done in the past, along with a breakdown of how much they would be priced so it’s a little bit easier to visualize. If you’d like more clarification on prices or examples, please let me know while discussing the commission and I can send them to you!

For backgrounds, I’m not comfortable enough to say that I can do full scenes and backgrounds yet. I CAN do them but I don’t want to give people mediocre work when they’re paying me for it, so I’ve only included a few smaller options for backgrounds. I may open up full backgrounds in the future, so look out for that so you can grab a slot if that’s what you’re looking for!

The current background options are:

No Background - Free

Blank background with no added shapes or textures behind the main piece. You will receive one copy with white in the background and one copy with a transparent background.

Simple Background - Free

Flat color background. This could include pride flag colors, simple shapes, and/or patterns like paint splatters. They can be added on request, but you need to ask for them or I’ll assume you just want no background.

Specific Background - +$5

This can include icons, logos, or more complicated designs to be places behind characters.

Object Background - +$10

Full objects, such as food or important items to the character could be used as a background as well!

That’s all for now. If you’re interested, contact me and we’ll work out details of the commission! I’m,, very excited for this and I can’t wait to see what I can do!

#critter drawns #commissions #digital art #requests #pricing #I DON'T actually know how to tag this. but. uhhh. it's!! here!#I'm gonna reblog it to the other blog once I finish making the special options for it

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the-hound-of-new-vegas · 7 years

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We All Stand Together

Fandom: Mass Effect Rating: Teen for brief language. Characters: Female Shepard, Samantha Traynor Relationships: Fem!Shep/Samantha Traynor Warnings: None. Notes: Done for LGBTQ+ Shepard Week, for the prompt: Pride. Also posted on my AO3, here:

Summary: Though no one really knows where she goes, Commander Shepard takes a week off every year. Until the Reapers invade, that is. When the time for her to take a vacation comes around, she starts acting strangely, and it's up to Samantha Traynor to figure out why...

Once a year, without fail, Commander Shepard requested approximately two weeks off. And every year, no matter what, her main vacation ended up being during the same time of year. Her reasons tended to be vague, but never questionable enough for anyone to be concerned. Of course, considering her reputation for overworking herself, most of her superiors likely would have been fine with things even if Shepard submitted no justifications for her request. Whatever she took a break for was something she had more than earned. Few were privy to her life outside of work (made evident by the fact that even Cerberus hasn't been aware of her twin’s existence), and even those who were didn't know where she went during her annual leave.

Not until the Reapers arrived, at least.

In the year of their invasion, Earth was occupied during the time Shepard always requested a few days off. When she made no attempt to ask for such, most assumed it was because of her focus on the war, but others caught the strangeness that plagued her gaze. They didn't ask for fear of worsening her wounds- seeing as she was so often uncomfortable with speaking of her own ailments. Generally, it was safer to wait for her to initiate a conversation about such things than to bring up the topic yourself. Of course, there were rare exceptions…. as well as individuals who were unaware of this ‘rule of thumb’. Take the young Samantha Traynor, for example, who felt a mighty need to try to help her commander, but kept quiet mainly due to anxiety.

There came a day, however, where the opportunity to speak arose in an unusually natural fashion. The Normandy was approaching the Citadel for restocking, and Shepard had requested someone inform her of their arrival. To Traynor’s surprise, the Commander had muted her comm, forcing someone to deliver the news in person. Being the communications specialist… she decided to do such. Although it certainly wouldn’t be the first time she went to Shepard’s personal quarters, it would perhaps be the time that made her the most nervous. She had noted the woman’s unusual behavior, as well as the tension perpetually wrapped around her shoulders, and honestly wasn’t sure how well talking to her would go- regardless of whether or not the issue of her health was brought up. But despite her worries, she made her way to the top of the Normandy.

Knock knock. Her hand graced the panel, a soft touch still allowing sound to fill the small space. Inside her chest her heart pounded, blood rushing to and fro, breath locked in her lungs. When no reply came she hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. It’s okay, Samantha, she thought to herself, she asked me to let her know when we started our approach. Definitely won’t get mad at me for coming up here. After a slight pause, as well as a deep breath, she lifted her hand and knocked once more, this time a fair bit louder. It took a moment, but shuffling noises started coming from Shepard’s room. They were quiet, akin to the rustling of fabric, and it sparked another spike of panic in Traynor��s chest. Is she…? The comms specialist thought, not entirely sure where exactly her worries were going. Luckily the sounds stopped just a few seconds later, followed by a quiet voice.

“Yeah?... Come on in, I guess…” It was the softest she had ever heard Shepard talk. Her voice was as low as ever, but there was no pain, nor harshness, nor hint of air scraping past gravel-covered lungs. There was a blankness to it, yes, but a clean slate could be wondrous when one was used to red ledgers. “Just… don’t mind the mess, yeah?” The commander added, tone now displaying a bit of embarrassment. Completely unsure of what to expect, Samantha opened the door, peeking in slowly. To her surprise she saw… well, everything in a completely orderly fashion. There were no dead fish in the tank, no clothes thrown messily in a pile, and no scraps of paper scattered around a trash bin. Perhaps the only thing ‘out of place’ was the Commander herself. Shepard was sitting still upon her bed, a cardboard box lying half-closed next to her. The sullenness of her expression stood out- so vastly different from the vibrancy of her surroundings.

“Ahem, Commander?... We’ve started our approach to the Citadel. Joker estimates we’ll be there within the hour,” Traynor said, leaning slightly against the wall. For a few moments Shepard didn’t respond, her gaze locked on something within the box next to her, a tint of sadness creeping into her expression. Eventually she looked up with a tight frown, nodding swiftly before returning her attention to the container’s contents. I wonder what’s in there, Samantha thought, concern collecting in her chest. Knowing that she didn’t get many chance to speak to the Commander in private, she quickly decided to press the issue. If there’s any way I can help her… “Are… are you feeling alright, Shepard? Do you need me to get anything for you?” She asked, eyebrows knitted, eyes filled to the brim with a genuine sense of worry. To her utter surprise, the Commander replied immediately.

“You could find me a way to get the Reapers off of Earth.” There was no softness left in her voice, just a firmness, one paired with an evident ache. Although it had always been clear that Shepard cared deeply about her homeworld, and hated those who now threatened it, there seemed to be something extra in the way she now expressed those feelings. Clearly there was more to the situation than a simple bout of anger or misery. Maybe I should try to call up Chambers?... Samantha wondered, desperately unsure if she could handle this herself- or even if the soldier would let her help. No, at least not yet. I’ve got to do what I can when I can.

“I… I know you miss Earth, Commander. All of us do. But there’s…” She started to say, tripping over her own tongue, trying hard to form sentences that were both coherent and comforting, “I’m not sure there’s much else we can do at this moment. We’re all fighting as hard as we can, Shepard. If I could think of anything else to further things- I mean, anything, I… I swear I’d let you know. I’m trying-”

“It’s alright, Traynor,” Shepard interjected, raising her volume a bit. There wasn’t any anger in her voice, surprisingly, nor any disappointment. “I know for a fact you’re doing your best. I know every member of my crew is trying their damndest to finish this, to drive those sorry fuckin’ bastards off our planet. I can see it in your eyes- their eyes, I can feel it in the air, see it in the way their bones shake, their bodies tense up every time the reports come in… I know everyone is giving it their all, and I couldn’t be prouder,” she continued, turning the situation on its head. The comforted was now doing the comforting. I get the feeling there’s a ‘but’ coming, though, Samantha thought, waiting for the Commander to speak again. “There’s just… something that usually happens around this time of year. I’ve only ever missed it twice, and both times it was because I was quite literally dead, as well as locked up in a Cerberus lab, taking a not-so-casual nap on a presumably uncomfortable slab.”

That… definitely hadn’t been what Samantha was expecting. It made sense, however, and was enough for her to work off of. She could pry a little further into the situation, find a way to either help Shepard go without the event, whatever it was, or recreate it somehow, probably, and- she paused her thoughts for a moment, noticing the Commander reopening the box by her side. Both of her hands reached in slowly, cradling something just out of Samantha’s view. The soldier glanced up quietly, conflict clear in her eyes, before slowly lifting something up. Only a split second passed before understanding dawned on Traynor, who let out a soft ‘oh’. Part of her had wondered why Shepard trusted her with this, but everything made a lot more sense at that point. Held carefully in the Commander’s hands was what could only be a flag, adorned with rainbow colors, folded up as neatly as possible.

“I… guess there’s no harm in letting you know,” she said, gently placing the object to her left, then reaching back into the box. Slowly, while her companion watched with curiosity clear in her eyes, she removed a few more items. Most were pictures, but there were a few mementos from past parades as well. “Every year I go back to Earth. I go back to my hometown, donned in civies, and march with people like me. No one ever recognizes me- ‘m just another face in the crowd, another person unafraid to be myself. But this year…” Shepard trailed off quietly. There seemed to be a sort of lump in her throat, based on the way she struggled to swallow her words. The sight felt unnatural, almost artificial, the very idea of the Commander left vulnerable being nigh impossible to digest. It worried Samantha at first, before lighting a fire in her soul. Somehow, someway, she was going to fix this. She was going to make Shepard smile if it was the last thing she did.

“This has to be hard for you, Commander, but… but what if we could, well, have Pride here? On the Citadel, I mean?” She started to say, ideas rushing madly through her brain. Immediately she piqued her friend’s interest, and so she continued, mouth barely able to keep up with her mind. All the while she pulled out her tablet, starting to run searches. “There are thousands and thousands of refugees, right? Plenty of them are from Earth or other human colonies. There are bound to be hundreds who fall within the spectrum, considering the percentage of the overall population who do, and surely some of them would be interested in getting together, right? I know it wouldn’t be the same, but it’s worth a shot, isn’t it?” Samantha asked, taking a breath for what felt like the first time in several minutes. More ideas popped into her head a second later, making her gasp quietly, and she doubled her typing speed. “We could invite Steve, if you wanted. I don’t think he mentioned having any plans for today. He might know some others who would be interested, too.”

“You know, Traynor, I had… given up. On going to pride this year, I mean. I…” The Commander started, softly, taking a moment to wipe a few tears away. “Thank you. This is… If we can do this, if this happens, it’ll be exactly what I need. I mean, I can’t say no to a good pick-me-up, right?” She added, letting herself chuckle a bit. More tears trickled down her cheeks, but she made no note of it.

“Well, it looks like we’re in luck, Commander. According to the holonet, there are already people arranging a Pride event today. Guess you weren’t the only one missing Earth,” Samantha said, passing the tablet to Shepard with a grin. “So, do you want to go?” She asked. Without a moment of hesitation she received a frantic nod in return, followed by something she hadn’t expected: A hug. The Commander wasn’t often one to show affection in such an open way, but she wasn’t about to complain (especially not when their height difference let her rest her head perfectly in the crook of Shepard’s neck). Smiling softly she returned the embrace, one of her hands rubbing the other woman’s back, the quietest of sighs escaping her lips. “It’s alright, Shep,” she murmured, “everything is going to be just fine. Now c’mon, we have Pride to get ready for.”

#lgbtqshep #shaynor #female shepard/samantha traynor #mass effect fanfiction #my writing #mass effect #commander shepard #samantha traynor #i'm incredibly tired #pls forgive mistakes #i meant to finish this yesterday #but i got a migraine #again #oops

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citizentruth-blog · 6 years

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The Iconography of Outrage - PEER NEWS

New Post has been published on https://citizentruth.org/the-iconography-of-outrage/

The Iconography of Outrage

Some people upset with Nike’s 30th anniversary “Just Do It” campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick, in their outrage, replaced Kaepernick’s image with that of Pat Tillman. In doing so, however, they most likely are politicizing Tillman’s sacrifice and service in a way he wouldn’t have endorsed. (Photo Credit: Bethany J. Brady/Flickr/CC BY 2.0)

Chances are someone you know has given up on using Facebook, Twitter, or both because he or she regards it as a haven for discord and stupidity. Personally, my biggest gripe is there are too many Nazis and far-righters milling about, but I sympathize with the position of those who have forsaken these outlets. After all, when you write a post about how whiteness is a distinction that merits no pride, and the first comment you receive is from someone you don’t know living across the country who suggests you should pick a fight with a “real white man” and find out, you tend to want to roll your eyes, throw your computer in the garbage, and call it a day.

Suffice it to say, though, that outrage isn’t just plentiful in the Twitterverse and within the blogosphere—it may as well be a type of currency for social media. In the era of President Donald Trump, it seemingly has spiked the way bitcoin’s price shot up amid its initial surge.

Liberals are upset with the Trump presidency because, well, it’s a shit show. Conservatives are upset with liberals who are upset with Trump. Progressives are upset with liberals for hewing too close to center. Ultra-conservatives are upset with conservatives for spending too much on war and other things. Trump, on top of all this, tweets in frustration all the time, and most of us will be damned if we can figure out why exactly. In all, it’s an exhausting maelstrom of deprecation and fury.

The demand for outrage-inducing content is such that, in the haste to provide it, people, works of art, etc. can be exploited as icons of this outrage. Often times, this purpose will be served against the express wishes of those whose images or work is being usurped.

A recent salient example of this was when Mollie Tibbetts’ murder at the hands of an undocumented immigrant became a rallying cry for border security and immigration enforcement. Trump and other xenophobes like him once again began beating the drum of immigration “reform,” sounding a call for building a wall and for addressing the alleged flood of dangerous immigrants crossing into the United States.

One person who isn’t joining in with pitchforks and torches, meanwhile, is Ron Tibbetts, Mollie’s father, echoing a position other family members have espoused. In an op-ed piece in the Des Moines Register, he urged people not to “distort her death to advance racist views.” From the piece:

Ten days ago, we learned that Mollie would not be coming home. Shattered, my family set out to celebrate Mollie’s extraordinary life and chose to share our sorrow in private. At the outset, politicians and pundits used Mollie’s death to promote various political agendas. We appealed to them and they graciously stopped. For that, we are grateful.

Sadly, others have ignored our request. They have instead chosen to callously distort and corrupt Mollie’s tragic death to advance a cause she vehemently opposed. I encourage the debate on immigration; there is great merit in its reasonable outcome. But do not appropriate Mollie’s soul in advancing views she believed were profoundly racist. The act grievously extends the crime that stole Mollie from our family and is, to quote Donald Trump Jr., “heartless” and “despicable.”

Make no mistake, Mollie was my daughter and my best friend. At her eulogy, I said Mollie was nobody’s victim. Nor is she a pawn in others’ debate. She may not be able to speak for herself, but I can and will. Please leave us out of your debate. Allow us to grieve in privacy and with dignity. At long last, show some decency. On behalf of my family and Mollie’s memory, I’m imploring you to stop.

It is hard to imagine the heartbreak I would feel having a member of my immediate family die in such a gruesome way, and on top of this, to have people like Candace Owens invoke the racist trope of the white woman attacked by a man of color to further their agenda amid my grief. For that matter, I’m not sure I wouldn’t be angry at the individual who killed someone I love.

Keeping this in mind, I consider it a testament of Ron Tibbetts’ character and of Mollie’s that he would argue against messages of division and hate in the aftermath of learning that she had died. As such, his appeals to not “knowingly foment discord among races” as a “disgrace to our flag” and to “build bridges, not walls” carry much weight. As does his notion that the divisive rhetoric of Trump et al. does not leadership make.

“The Lonesome Death of Mollie Tibbetts” isn’t the only event in recent memory by which Americans, flying a flag of pseudo-patriotism, have taken an idea and run with it despite the explicit objection of its originator. The forthcoming movie First Man, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, has garnered criticism for not showing the planting of the flag on the moon as part of Apollo 11, a perceived slight against America about which Buzz Aldrin helped kindle outrage. The movie reportedly focuses on Neil Armstrong’s personal journey leading up to the moonwalk, and on that walk, the visit to Little West Crater.

As Neil’s sons Rick and Mark Armstrong have interceded to emphasize, though they believe otherwise, the famed astronaut did not consider himself an “American hero,” a point actor Ryan Gosling, who stars in the film, also stressed. Thus, they defend director Damien Chazelle’s choice. Chazelle himself also explained that he wanted to portray the events of the Apollo 11 moon landing from a different perspective, highlighting the humanity behind Armstrong’s experience and the universality of his achievement. One small step for a man, and one giant leap for mankind, no? Besides, as Armstrong’s sons and others have reasoned, most people nitpicking First Man haven’t actually seen it to tear it asunder.

Then there’s the whole matter of Colin Kaepernick as the face of Nike’s 30th-anniversary advertisement for their “Just Do It” campaign. The print ad, which shows Kaepernick’s face up close and personal, features the tagline, “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.” As self-styled arbiters of patriotism and what is good and right would aver, however, Kaepernick hasn’t sacrificed anything, and featuring a non-patriot like him is grounds for divorce.

Consequently, the hashtag #NikeBoycott was trending on Labor Day and into Tuesday, replete with videos of indignant Nike owners burning their sneakers and other apparel, cutting/ripping the telltale “swooshes” out of their clothing, or otherwise vowing to never shop Nike again. I suppose on some level I appreciate their enthusiasm, though I submit there are any number of reasons why this is folly, including:

First of all, if you never planned on buying Nike products in the first place, don’t front like your “boycott” means anything. It’s like people who complained about the Starbucks red nondenominational “holiday” cup controversy. Come on—you know y’all were only getting your coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts.

Assuming you did actually buy Nike sneakers and apparel, burning things doesn’t take the money back. As far as the company is concerned, you can eat the shoes when you’re done with them. The transaction is done.

Though it seems like a lost point by now, Colin Kaepernick consulted Nate Boyer, a former long snapper in the NFL and U.S. Army Green Beret, about how to protest respectfully. They eventually decided on kneeling rather than sitting as a sort of compromise, evoking the image of the serviceperson kneeling at the grave of a fallen comrade. At any rate, it’s not America or the military that Kaepernick and others have protested—it’s the treatment of people of color at the hands of law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and other rigged institutions.

A more meaningful boycott directed at Nike would be recognizing the company’s questionable commitment to worker rights here and abroad over the past few decades, including more recent allegations of a corporate culture that discriminates against women. Just saying.

As I’m sure numerous veterans would agree, regardless of what you think about Kaepernick and his playing ability, fighting overseas for inalienable human rights just to see players deprived of the right to protest—that is, able to enjoy fewer freedoms—does not indicate progress.

The financial fallout from Nike’s taking a stand, of course, still needs to be measured. There’s also the notion that aligning with Colin Kaepernick will ruffle feathers of NFL executives and team owners. Still, one reasons Nike would not make such a potentially controversial move without knowing what it was doing, or at least figuring it was a gamble worth taking.

Going back to social media and expression of outrage, people unhappy about Nike’s decision to celebrate a figure in Kaepernick they perceive to be a spoiled rich athlete who doesn’t know the meaning of the word sacrifice also have been active in creating and sharing parodies of Nike’s advertisement with the late Pat Tillman, another NFL player/serviceperson, swapped in for Kaepernick. While Tillman is certainly worth the admiration, it appears doubtful he would want his image used in this way.

In fact, as many would suggest, based on his political views, it’s Kaepernick he would support, not the other way around. Marie Tillman, Pat’s wife, while not specifically endorsing player protests, nonetheless publicly rebuked Trump for retweeting a post using her husband’s image. As she put it, “The very action of self expression and the freedom to speak from one’s heart—no matter those views—is what Pat and so many other Americans have given their lives for. Even if they don’t always agree with those views.” As with Ron Tibbetts’s pleas not to exploit or capitalize his daughter’s death, Marie’s desire not to see her husband’s sacrifice and service politicized is one worth honoring.

There’s any number of examples of people’s art and memories being used without their permission (assuming they can give it) despite requests to the contrary. Recently, Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler sent a cease-and-desist letter to President Trump warning him not to use his (Tyler’s) music without his (Tyler’s) permission at his (Trump’s) political rallies. As Tyler insists, this is strictly about copyright protection—not about politics. As Trump insists, he already has the rights to use Aerosmith’s songs. If I’m believing one or the other, I’ll opt for the one who isn’t a serial liar, cheater, predator, and fraud, but you may do with these examples as you wish.

The larger point here, however, is that in the zeal for sparking outrage about political and social issues, there too frequently seems to be a failure to appreciate context—if not a blatant disregard for it. Mollie Tibbetts didn’t believe in an immigration policy which vilifies Latinx immigrants and other people of color. Neil Armstrong, in all likelihood, wouldn’t have balked at choosing not to show the planting of the U.S. flag on the moon. Pat Tillman probably would’ve backed the ability of Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players to protest during the playing of the National Anthem.

In all cases, a politically-motivated counternarrative threatens to derail meaningful discussion on the underlying subject matter. The outrage builds, as does the mistrust. The few issues upon which we disagree potentially overshadow the larger consensus we share on important topics. Sadly, this also seems to be the way many representatives of the major political parties like it.

I’ve highlighted examples in which people of a conservative mindset have co-opted other people’s memories and works amid their expression of anger and resentment. This is not to say, mind you, that there aren’t occurrences on the other end of the political spectrum.

Not long ago, actor Peter Dinklage had to intervene to defray a controversy surrounding his casting as Hervé Villechaize in a forthcoming biopic about the late actor and painter. The charge was that this casting was a case of Hollywood “whitewashing.” As Dinklage explained in an interview, however, Villechaize is not Asian, as some people believe or claim, but suffered from a particular form of dwarfism that explains why they might assume this ethnicity. From the interview:

There’s this term “whitewashing.” I completely understand that. But Hervé wasn’t Filipino. Dwarfism manifests physically in many different ways. I have a very different type of dwarfism than Hervé had. I’ve met his brother and other members of his family. He was French, and of German and English descent. So it’s strange these people are saying he’s Filipino. They kind of don’t have any information. I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes or sense of justice because I feel the exact same way when there’s some weird racial profile. But these people think they’re doing the right thing politically and morally and it’s actually getting flipped because what they’re doing is judging and assuming what he is ethnically based on his looks alone. He has a very unique face and people have to be very careful about this stuff. This [movie] isn’t Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Personally, I would never do that, and I haven’t done that, because he wasn’t. People are jumping to conclusions based on a man’s appearance alone and that saddens me.

Jumping to conclusions—on the Internet? Well, I never! Dinklage seems to take this in stride along the lines of folks meaning well, but not necessarily being well informed. In this instance, the error is fairly innocuous, but the rush to judgment in today’s climate of information sharing can have serious consequences. There’s a lesson here, no matter what your political inclinations.

As for the Nike/Colin Kaepernick business which Donald Trump may very well be tweeting about right now, Drew Magary, writing for GQ, insists that something is “hopelessly broken” when people feel compelled to champion the company synonymous with the swoosh for taking a stand. He writes:

Corporations already control so much in America that people are compelled—happy, even—to depend on them as beacons of social change, because they are now the ONLY possible drivers of it. I shouldn’t need Nike to get police departments to stop being violent and corrupt. Making decent shoes is hard enough for them, you know what I mean? But I’m forced to applaud their efforts here only because I live in a world where people cannot effect anywhere near the level of change that a billion-dollar corporation can. The social compact of this nation was meant to be between its citizens, but brands have essentially hijacked that compact, driving all meaningful conversation within. A great many brands have performed a great many acts of evil thanks to this. Others have talked up a big game while still being evil (that’s you, Silicon Valley). Only rarely do brands use their ownership of the social compact for good and genuine ends, and even then it accomplishes far less than what actual PEOPLE could accomplish if they had that compact to themselves once more. Politically speaking, one Colin Kaepernick ought to be worth a million Nikes.

Instead, as Magary tells it, “we live in a country where causes only to get to see daylight if they have a sponsor attached.” It’s a particularly bad phenomenon because corporations like Nike exist for their own benefit and have no “obligation to society.” Thus, if we need an athletic apparel company to lecture us on the virtues of sacrifice and of protesting police brutality, or if we need a pizza company to fill in potholes that municipalities can’t or won’t address, you know we’re in pretty bad shape.

While we contemplate our eroding civic virtue and crumbling infrastructure—a contemplation none too heartening, at that—we might also consider what we can do to end the “internet outrage cycle,” as Spencer Kornhaber, staff writer at The Atlantic, put it. Certainly, much as discretion may be deemed the better part of valor, discretion about what to post or tweet and whether to do so seems fundamental to limiting the reactionary culture of outrage, and outrage about others’ outrage that plagues much of interaction on contentious topics. Besides, while we’re dabbling in truisms, if one doesn’t have anything nice to say, perhaps one shouldn’t say anything at all.

Social media giants like Facebook and Twitter aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, and their ability to organize for meritorious purposes is too profound to ignore. If we’re going to use them constructively, we will need to resist the iconography of outrage, specifically that which distorts images and people to serve a new agenda. At a time when ownership of creative works can get lost in the ability to share them, and when public figures can become buried under an avalanche of negativity, it’s best to do our homework and to pick our battles when choosing a cause to fight for.

Kanye West Explains How He Came To Support President Trump

#Colin Kaepernick #donald trump #Facebook #First Man movie #Internet outrage #Mollie Tibbetts #Nike #Pat Tillman #Peter Dinklage #Social Media #Steven Tyler #Twitter

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amtushinfosolutionspage · 6 years

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Five Cheerleaders Kneeled for the Anthem: ‘The Scariest Thing I’ve Ever Done’

It began like any other football game. On the last day of September, just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, the Kennesaw State University Owls were hoping to build on a two-game win streak.

Before kickoff, the band tuned up for the national anthem. The crowd at Fifth Third Bank Stadium rose to its feet. Then, just as the band hit the first note of the Star Spangled Banner, five Kennesaw State cheerleaders dropped to a knee.

Right before the big moment, the cheerleaders had prayed together. They were Michaelyn Wright, Tommia Dean, Taylor Mclver, Kennedy Town, and Shlondra Young. They said they had put a lot of thought into the possible reactions they may face. They had all consulted with their parents.

“It was the scariest thing I’ve ever done,” said Wright. “I was shaking.”

In a video posted to Instagram, you can hear an audible gasp come from the crowd. But the loudest reactions came much later.

When former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began protesting during the national anthem in the 2016 NFL preseason, he was objecting to unchecked police violence against people of color. He made this extremely clear.

“I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” Kaepernick told NFL Media at the time. “To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

It has been more than a year, and many football fans (and owners) still refuse to hear his message. However, other athletes have heard it—including those five college cheerleaders at Kennesaw State University.

For weeks before the September 30 game, the five women talked about what they could do. They each had their own reasons, but all five knew they needed to make a statement. Something public. As cheerleaders, taking a knee seemed like the appropriate action, given that their protest would take place within the context of a football game.

In the weeks that have passed since their demonstration, the Kennesaw Five, as they have come to be known, have learned that kneeling in protest during the national anthem can bring resentment and anger, media obsession, and a surprising amount of support.

On the day of their first protest, Young posted a message on Facebook:

“Today, I kneel for equality, I kneel for social injustice and I kneel for those who unjustly lost their lives and are no longer here to kneel for themselves I kneel in a city where a Confederate culture still exists among some and issues such as this are often placed on the back burner. I kneel in a city where I am a minority. But most importantly, I kneel for unity in a country that needs it the most right now.”

Other members of the group had specific instances of police violence or racism in mind when they acted.

“I just don’t think people deserve to die like that. I have watched all these events and they touch me,” said Dean. “Alton Sterling was killed in my home state of Louisiana. That was close.”

Sterling, 37, was shot in the chest and back while two police officers pinned him to the ground. The July 2016 incident caused public outcry from the Baton Rouge community.

“We go to school in Cobb County and this is where a white cop said we only shoot black people,” said Town. “That told me I have to do something in Cobb County to make a change.”

Town was referring to an incident outside of Atlanta, Georgia last July when during a traffic stop a Cobb County police officer jokingly tried to assure a white motorist not to be scared by saying, “But you’re not black. Remember, we only kill black people.”

The interaction was caught on the officer’s dashcam, which was leaked to the public at the end of August.

Wright said that it was simply her inability to imagine what it was like for a mother to lose her child to police violence that drove her to take part.

“I know if I was a parent and that happened to my child I would be highly upset,” she said. “Even though I am not, I can feel that pain. That’s not the way you should lose a child, or someone should die. That’s why it speaks to my heart.”

Kennesaw State, which boasts the third largest campus in Georgia, fielded its first official football team in 2015. The Owls play in the Division 1 Big South Conference. Even without the added attention of protesting cheerleaders, this has shaped up to be a landmark year for the fledgling football program. After losing the season opener, they have won eight straight games and are at the top of their conference with just two games left in the season.

In Kennesaw, a town that just saw its first black City Council member elected in 2016, and has an unusual city law requiring gun ownership, the negative response to the cheerleaders came swiftly, with numerous comments on social media claiming that the five were disrespecting the flag and the country.

So far, the football team’s head coach and the cheerleading coach have publically remained quiet in response to the protest, but the Kennesaw Five said that their fellow cheerleaders have been supportive, even as those outside of the school’s sports programs have been less so.

Cobb County Sheriff Neil Warren and state Rep. Earl Ehrhart bragged about pressuring Kennesaw State University President Sam Olens to take action against the quintet, according to a report from the Atlanta Journal Constitution, which featured text messages between the three.

At football games after the protest, the entire cheerleading squad was made to wait in the tunnel that leads to the field during the anthem. The administration repeatedly claimed that the decision to keep the cheerleaders off the field was part of a series of changes that had already been planned. Other changes included adding metal detectors at the stadium entrances and painting the school’s logo at midfield, according to a statement released by the university’s athletic department.

In the wake of their protest, the cheerleaders were inundated with media requests. News crews repeatedly showed up to their practices. “It’s tiring, I didn’t realize so many people want to talk to us. I run out of things to say,” said Dean. “Glad, my brother has been there to help.” Once the maelstrom hit, Dean’s older brother, Davante Lewis, stepped in to help deal with members of the media.

“The media has asked many questions. However, we are getting the story out there and starting the conversation,”said Young. “I don’t focus on nothing negative. There is too much positive going on for me to do that.”

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The five women were surprised by how much positive feedback they received. Young posted on Facebook that a member of the Army handed her a challenge coin. In the military there is a tradition of giving challenge coins to fellow soldiers for brave acts of courage.

Meanwhile, Dean mentioned another veteran who emailed them, emphasizing that he fought overseas to protect the right to protest and praising them for exercising that freedom.

“He stressed for us to ignore those who say we were being disrespectful,” Dean said.

More recently, the five women were also presented with plaques from the families of victims of police violence, including Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin.

“She gave us all one, and the love we have seen blows my mind sometimes,” said McIver. “To receive this plaque from a mother in the movement is an amazing gift and I will cherish it forever.”

Martin’s death at the hands of a self-styled neighborhood watchman who was subsequently acquitted of murder was one of the first major sparks for the Black Lives Matter movement.

“This family and their case was among the many that started building my passion for the issue of police brutality and social injustice,” Young wrote on Facebook after receiving the plaque.

After the cheerleaders were removed from the field during the anthem, the student body rose up to support them. Just over two weeks after the cheerleaders first took a knee, dozens of students marched on campus. The school’s mascot even made an unsanctioned appearance. Wright was shocked by the show of support from her fellow students.

“I just didn’t think we would have all these protest on campus and reaction from faculty and students would be that big,” she said. “We all talked to our family first hand to make sure we got their support.”

Since then, the cheerleaders have continued to take a knee (albeit in the tunnel), and in many ways the furor on campus has died down.

“I tend to tune out the negative, and look at the amount of support we have gotten. We have been so blessed to have so many people all over the country support us. I have seen nothing but love from those close to me,” said Young, who, as the eldest member of the quintet, is closest to graduation. She said she hopes to pursue a law degree.

Although there were rumors that the women were in danger of losing their scholarships, they never received official word that it was even considered and, the Georgia Board of Regents recently announced that it plans to investigate whether or not university president Olens was coerced into retaliating against them.

“I would do it all over again,” said Wright. “While I wasn’t expecting this reaction, we wouldn’t be having this conversation without this action.”

On November 8, the school announced that it would rescind the policy change that cloistered the cheerleaders during the anthem.

Five Cheerleaders Kneeled for the Anthem: ‘The Scariest Thing I’ve Ever Done’ syndicated from http://ift.tt/2ug2Ns6

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flauntpage · 6 years

Text

Five Cheerleaders Kneeled for the Anthem: 'The Scariest Thing I've Ever Done'

It began like any other football game. On the last day of September, just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, the Kennesaw State University Owls were hoping to build on a two-game win streak.

“It was the scariest thing I've ever done,” said Wright. “I was shaking.”

In a video posted to Instagram, you can hear an audible gasp come from the crowd. But the loudest reactions came much later.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told NFL Media at the time. "To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder."

On the day of their first protest, Young posted a message on Facebook:

Other members of the group had specific instances of police violence or racism in mind when they acted.

“I just don't think people deserve to die like that. I have watched all these events and they touch me,” said Dean. “Alton Sterling was killed in my home state of Louisiana. That was close.”

Sterling, 37, was shot in the chest and back while two police officers pinned him to the ground. The July 2016 incident caused public outcry from the Baton Rouge community.

“We go to school in Cobb County and this is where a white cop said we only shoot black people,” said Town. “That told me I have to do something in Cobb County to make a change.”

Town was referring to an incident outside of Atlanta, Georgia last July when during a traffic stop a Cobb County police officer jokingly tried to assure a white motorist not to be scared by saying, “But you're not black. Remember, we only kill black people.”

The interaction was caught on the officer’s dashcam, which was leaked to the public at the end of August.

Wright said that it was simply her inability to imagine what it was like for a mother to lose her child to police violence that drove her to take part.

“I know if I was a parent and that happened to my child I would be highly upset,” she said. “Even though I am not, I can feel that pain. That's not the way you should lose a child, or someone should die. That's why it speaks to my heart.”

In the wake of their protest, the cheerleaders were inundated with media requests. News crews repeatedly showed up to their practices. “It's tiring, I didn't realize so many people want to talk to us. I run out of things to say,” said Dean. “Glad, my brother has been there to help.” Once the maelstrom hit, Dean’s older brother, Davante Lewis, stepped in to help deal with members of the media.

“The media has asked many questions. However, we are getting the story out there and starting the conversation,”said Young. “I don't focus on nothing negative. There is too much positive going on for me to do that.”

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Meanwhile, Dean mentioned another veteran who emailed them, emphasizing that he fought overseas to protect the right to protest and praising them for exercising that freedom.

“He stressed for us to ignore those who say we were being disrespectful,” Dean said.

More recently, the five women were also presented with plaques from the families of victims of police violence, including Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin.

“She gave us all one, and the love we have seen blows my mind sometimes,” said McIver. “To receive this plaque from a mother in the movement is an amazing gift and I will cherish it forever.”

Martin’s death at the hands of a self-styled neighborhood watchman who was subsequently acquitted of murder was one of the first major sparks for the Black Lives Matter movement.

“This family and their case was among the many that started building my passion for the issue of police brutality and social injustice,” Young wrote on Facebook after receiving the plaque.

“I just didn't think we would have all these protest on campus and reaction from faculty and students would be that big,” she said. “We all talked to our family first hand to make sure we got their support.”

Since then, the cheerleaders have continued to take a knee (albeit in the tunnel), and in many ways the furor on campus has died down.

“I would do it all over again,” said Wright. “While I wasn't expecting this reaction, we wouldn't be having this conversation without this action.”

On November 8, the school announced that it would rescind the policy change that cloistered the cheerleaders during the anthem.

Five Cheerleaders Kneeled for the Anthem: 'The Scariest Thing I've Ever Done' published first on http://ift.tt/2pLTmlv

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