#because if we think Genocide Is Bad then we should not be afraid to say We Think Genocide Is Bad | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

decolonize-the-left · 1 month

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I saw your post about the leopards eating faces and democrats and if you think the us is bad under biden have a good look through project 2025 and please fucking realize that queer people, those that can get pregnant, and people of color are going to be absolutely fucked if trump wins in November.

Sigh

If you ACTUALLY read it then you'd know Biden is ALREADY carrying out the goals outlined in project2025. You'd also know that his administration is even using the SAME exact language that's found in the Mandate for Leadership. Such as "protecting the freedom of navigation in the Suez Canal"

I literally have a post floating around somewhere where I said he was gonna escalate the genocide and smoke out all the rebel groups because guess what? Project2025 outlined that too. Literally listed them as targets that the administration should focus on.

Another part of it says they should continue to protect and support Israel's "right to defend itself" at any cost.

So yeah that thing you're afraid of? It's here. And it's here because you thought the fascist with a blue tie was less scary than a fascist than a red tie so you stopped paying attention when Blue Tie Man was around. And that blue Fascism that's allowing book bans and abortion bans and making trans people illegal is going to stay here and grow because you don't fucking care to address it unless the tie is red.

Maybe fucking read the thing you're trying to fearmonger me about because I guarantee I've read more of it than you.

And it's not that I find the realities in it less scary, it's that I'm not such a privileged shithead that I would prioritize my own comfort over lives being lost in a literal fucking genocide.

Yeah shit sucks for queer people and trans people and trust me, I know that, but we aren't being killed in broad fucking daylight and having people go into denial about it so maybe instead of barking up MY blog about how fucked up everything is you go and send the DNC and your representatives some emails and tell them to give Democrats a candidate that doesnt commit genocide?

How about instead of yelling at me to lower my standards cuz things MIGHT get scarier for you if Blue Tie Man doesn't beat trump (and he won't) you ACCEPT that reality and DO SOMETHING USEFUL about it. How about you and your party just BE BETTER????

There's seven months before the elections and Biden is tanking every poll and Democrats are voting uncommited in swing states and what's Biden doing? Doubling down on every single policy that he's losing voters over (like supporting Israel). If he loses that's not my fault or anyone else's.

Maybe stop asking people to vote for a warmongering white supremacist.

"think of the queers and pregnant people and PoC"

I Am.

They live in Palestine and Sudan and the DRC.

Or did you mean I should prioritize different queers and pregnant people and PoC?

Don't be shy. Did you mean I should prioritize you?

Cuz yeah. Fuck that.

(white) USamerican citizens prioritizing ourselves over everyone else is exactly how the world got so fucked up.

I'm NOT voting for Biden under any fucking circumstances, don't waste my time with another bullshit uninformed scare mongering ask like this again just cuz YOU lack the solidarity to care about any community but your own.

The fuck?

Do you think the queer community only counts Americans? What an ignorant thing to say. "Think of minority communites but only from this specific part of the world"

You wouldn't know community if it hit you in the fucking face.

#asked #answered #project2025 #queer #lgbt #poc #reproductive rights #bodily autonomy #the fact you separated PoC from queer and pregnant people is Weird As Fuck also btw like just say youre a white supremacist ffs #biden #2024 #vote

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thedrunkenreadersreviews · 3 months

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Regarding Alastor's Hallway Scene in Episode 5 of "Hazbin Hotel"

Good day, folks! As sweet Mimzy said, "...pour a few fingers of rye and he turns into a kitten" so let's do that. Let me set up my Redemption, and let's get into this.

*Sip, sip*

Now, this is quite an interesting thing; the phenomenon of the reactions I have been seeing particularly regarding Alastor in episode 5 of Hazbin Hotel has been ... curiouser and curiouser.

*Sip, sip*

The big question that I think we should be asking after this episode is who Alastor is leashed to---but there seems to be something else on people's minds and that is the interaction Alastor had with Husk in the hallway of the hotel. I mean, every great character needs an epic hallway scene. For Star Wars it was Vader and Luke. For Hazbin, it is Alastor. Let's explore this.

*Sip, sip*

As a society, feasting on entertainment, whether it be through books or films or a series, fans often say that they enjoy the "villain" or "morally grey" character as opposed to those who are set on their compass of goodness. I find this to be a lie that we often tell ourselves and believe completely.

Sure, we find them more entertaining and thus we favor them, but then we try to find excuses for their behavior, make it a despicable act that is done for righteous reasons. Or because we desire to see someone who is tremendously struggling or has a rather horrid reputation overcome this and prove to be a fantastic character underneath all the layers of darkness. We don't like them because they are bad. We may pity them for they often have the most tragic backstories, or we see the potential of their goodness. But we like them because we believe that everyone in their universe has the wrong perspective of their wickedness while we, outsiders looking in, see the potential of their heroics. What they can do despite everything.

That is not liking a character because they are the villain. That is liking a character because of why they are the villain and how they can overcome it.

A few examples:

Rhysand dressing Feyre up like a whore and tattooing her without her consent: well, he was doing that to protect her and help her.

Darth Vader: Mass murderer and second in command of an empire built on absolute control; but he fulfilled the prophecy of the Chosen One and had originally fallen because he wanted to save the love of his life and his unborn children.

Loki: Yeah, he slaughtered 80 people in 2 days, attacked NYC with an alien army killing hundreds if not thousands in the process, and committed genocide prior to that, BUT that's because he was severely broken and now he sits all alone at the end of time, saving an infinite amount of people.

Granted, I love 2/3 of those characters because of the reasons provided. But also because in their prime they were WICKED!

*Sip, sip*

Now let's look at Alastor.

Alastor, the Radio Demon, and one of the most feared overlords of Hell ... threatened one of the souls he owns. And now, I see people comparing him to Val or saying they hated him at that moment or now have a poor taste for him in their mouths. But ... this is exactly what you asked for from him.

*Sip, sip*

Val, who ACTIVELY tortures Angel Dust, is being used as the comparison for Alastor because he THREATENED and scared Husk after Husk stepped over the line.

*Sip, sip*

Alastor, when alive, was a serial killer. Alastor in Hell captured overlords, tortured them, broadcasted the torture throughout Hell, and became one of the most feared overlords.

He didn't do that by being "nice" or "charming." He did that by being vile and not for a greater good. He did it because, as far as we know, he wanted power. And, damn, he got it.

Demons KNOW to be afraid of Alastor. Granted, his reputation may have faltered because he has been away for 7 years but before his departure and even upon his return, for the most part, demons avoid Alastor as though he were death incarnate.

*Sip, sip*

Now, let's examine him in episode 5. Only the scene that is getting the most traction; I'll talk about Alastor and Lucifer in another post. But let's look at this scene:

Alastor and Husk in the hallway.

*Sip, sip*

Let me put some quotes here real quick:

From the Pilot:

Husk to Alastor: "Don't you [Alastor, the owner of my soul] 'Husker' me, you son of a bitch!"

Husk to Alastor: "Are you [Alastor, the owner of my soul] shitting me?"

Husk to Alastor: "You [Alastor, owner of my soul whom I have just shoved off of me] think it must be some big fucking riot just to pull me out of nowhere? You think I'm some kind of fucking clown? [even though I am contractually obligated to obey your summons]"

Husk to Alastor: "I [the one contracted to serve you and obey your commands] ain't doing no fucking charity job [even though you told me by your order that I have to]."

Alastor to Husk: "Don't worry my friend [you, who sold your soul to me so that you could keep your power because you almost gambled it all away], I can make this more welcoming [providing you with something that you enjoy even though you are contractually obligated to obey my commands without payment/reward], if you wish."

From episode 5:

Alastor to Husk: "It's nothing I can't handle, don't worry, Husker. [Proceeds to walk away, leaving the conversation] Who in their right mind would cross me? [Continues to walk away, posing the question as rhetorical and not requiring an answer]."

Husk to Alastor: "... You've been gone a while. And it's not like anybody knows why---"

Alastor to Husk: "They don't need to know. [And it does not need to be discussed further, so leave it alone.] And don't you worry your fuzzy head about it. [Drop it. Drop it now. Don't pick it up]"

Husk to Alastor: "You may own my soul, but I ain't your fucking pet!"

[Personally, I think Val would have instantly backhanded AD for that alone.]

Alastor to Husk: "Hmhm. But you are [So stop talking, just let it go, I'm letting a lot slide here]."

Husk to Alastor [the owner of his soul, who has slaughtered overlords of Hell]: "Big talk for someone who is also on a leash."

Alastor to Husk: "Aha. What did you say? [Now you have tested my patience too much!]"

*Sip, sip*

In the pilot, Husk openly and without fear insults and cusses at Alastor. And what does Alastor, the owner of his soul, do? He lets it slide.

In the one scene between them in the hallway, Alastor essentially still does nothing even though it is evident that Husk struck a nerve. At least twice over in this scene alone, Alastor gives subtle hints to Husk that it is best he just stops. And it is not like he even dismisses Husk's worries about Mimzy or even his absence. It's more along the lines of, "Oh, I know she is in trouble and came here for me to clean up her mess, but I am a bit occupied at the moment dealing with the actual King of Hell, so I'll get to it when I get to it. Just keep her busy for now." And in regards to his absence, he makes it abundantly clear that Husk is better off just not mentioning anything about it. He cuts Husk off, and essentially says, "Look, just keep quiet about it. It's no one's business but mine and I'm fine, I can handle it, so let's just leave it alone."

All the talk people say of Alastor having a big ego, oh undoubtedly, but it makes sense why Husk is in pride in this one scene alone. Alastor tells him "let it go," and moves to walk away from the conversation.

But Husk pushes. And pushes. And on that final shove, I think Husk even knows before Alastor got mad that he went TOO far.

*Sip, sip*

And Alastor still, for the most part, does nothing.

He reminds Husker that he owns his soul, pulls on the chain just to knock Husker off-kilter, and then, rather demonically, tells Husk to not EVER mention the fact that he is leashed again. Honestly, with what Alastor COULD do to Husk ... that was letting him off SUPER easy. Like, Husk should be kissing his feet that that threat was the only punishment he received for that comment.

Val? Forget it. AD would probably be filming for 3 days straight. Alastor doesn't even touch Husk.

This move is also a sense of security for Alastor, I think. Husk probably thought this was just another comment that would result in Alastor just ignoring it. But it takes Alastor by surprise and destroys his comfort. He loses himself in a fit of fury and pulls on Husk's leash to remind both Husk and himself, "Yeah, I might be leashed but I still own YOUR soul, Husk! So do not test me!"

*sip, sip*

So, yeah, Husk gets scared, as he should. Alastor is terrifying.

Should this lessen our opinion of Alastor as it seems to have done with so many fans?

No. Absolutely not. If anything, this scene provides balance to that paradox I supplied earlier; how we like the evil characters because of the good they could do but we should also like them because they are evil and should be expected to do evil things.

Alastor IS evil. He owns Husk's soul.

And yet, this evil overlord allows Husk to get away with soooo much. And when Husk oversteps, as he absolutely did, to not even be smacked by Alastor speaks volumes of Alastor's opinion of Husk.

*Sip, sip*

Here is my speculation:

Husk obviously knows more about Alastor than most. But Alastor owns hundreds if not thousands of souls. Husk is someone he calls on often, obviously. Husk knows Alastor is leashed. Faustisse, a former employee of Spindle Horse, and one of the original teammates beside Viv for the Hazbin project said that Alastor regards Husk as one of his closest friends. Perhaps not friend, but maybe one of his closest confidants. Why else would Husk know that Alastor is leashed? Granted, we cannot tell from the dialogue if Husk knows where Alastor was for 7 years or even if he knows who Alastor is leashed to. To some extent, though, Alastor must trust Husk.

In this scene, Husk violates that trust. He deserved to be threatened, reminded, and terrified. I adore Husk. He is one of my favorite characters and when I saw the hallway scene, I thought Husk deserved way worse than what he got.

And Alastor still takes what Husk had to say about Mimzy into consideration. He still tells Mimzy, a friend he has had since he was alive, that she needs to leave.

*sip, sip*

Yes, Alastor is evil. And it is soooooo good to see him BE evil. And not for a good cause but just because someone got under his skin. He owns Husk and he lets Husk off very easy. So to see him lose his temper and not even physically hurt Husk allows the nugget of possible, minuscule glimmer of somewhat kindness to linger.

I loved the hallway scene. It did a fantastic job of showing us what Alastor COULD be if he really wanted to, why you shouldn't mess with him, and how he elicits fear.

Val lords over his souls through physical abuse. Alastor does it mentally when called for. They are two totally different overlords with really no comparison to be made between them save for this: they are both evil.

*Sip, sip*

Alastor ate in episode 5 and left no crumbs. He remains, quite possibly, the most interesting character in the show. I cannot wait to discover more of him and watch him be absolutely wicked towards others.

Cheers to you, Radio Demon. If I were in Hell and had to be leashed to anyone, I would want to be leashed to you.

*Sip, sip*

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel spoilers #hazbin alastor #hazbin husk #hazbin hotel alastor #hazbin hotel husk #hazbin valentino #hazbin hotel valentino #hazbin hotel episode 5 #hazbin hotel pilot

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qqueenofhades · 2 months

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Is it normal that I’m legitimately so scared of saying pretty morally tame things like “I don’t want to talk about genocide because it makes me severely uncomfortable” or in general expressing my political opinion.

Like i’m not even kidding when I say that all my drafts are just my possibly offensive (probably not) political takes i’m just so scared of everyone leaving me it’s not even funny.

Anyway i also think that if you talk about Palestine but not Ukraine you are a victim of Russian Propaganda™️

I’m sorry I don’t know why i did this have a nice day ok baiiiiiii

Here's the thing. You and every other average social media user should not have to masquerade as a sudden in-depth expert on every single social, political, humanitarian, etc. crisis that we are dealing with in this wretchedly miserable excuse for a timeline. It should not be a baseline expectation on you that when you log onto your little social media in your little average life, you have to come up with The Correct Opinions on everything and if you don't, you're "perpetrating oppression" by not vigorously spreading misinformation, instead of simply admitting that you don't know what to do, you as an average citizen are not in a position of making this change and therefore don't actually have to spend every waking minute obsessing about it, and that maybe, just maybe, you'd like to spend more time informing yourself until and/or IF you decide you want to talk about it. This is the same as the Instagram Activists (TM) who traumatize themselves to the point of PTSD by constantly consuming torture and/or war porn and/or graphic content about murdered children because they "don't have the right to look away." Actually, you do. You are able to make choices to control your personal social media use and to set boundaries as to what you do and do not want to do and/or see, rather than insisting that the only moral choice is to literally mentally destroy yourself with all the weight of human suffering in the world and then expected to act as a de facto expert on all of it, on pain of being Cancelled. This is a stupid, irrational, unhealthy, and generally idiotic expectation. You should not have to take part in it. Nobody should.

Likewise, I think that this is a large part of why people are so scared to voice any opinion that goes against the Prevailing Groupthink: they are afraid of losing friends, of having nasty bad-faith internet trolls say mean things about them, being accused of being a "bad person," or otherwise being guilt-tripped, shamed, and blamed for not centering their entire existence around something that they cannot actually do anything about. Once again, people think the only way you can be Known to Oppose Something Problematic (tm) is if you post on social media about it all the time. Forget whatever you might be doing offline, in your real life, or otherwise; it "doesn't count" if you don't make a big virtuous display of your Rightthink, or you will be viciously harassed. Now, look, I am old and/or tired enough that I don't give a shit what stupid internet users say about me, but I can tell you that I sure did when I was younger, it was incredibly painful to be on the end of those kinds of attacks, and it's (again!) not something you should just have to expect as a baseline level of gaslighting and harassment. As I have said. This is Tumblr. It is a stupid blue website mostly for fandom and/or three in-jokes. This is not a platform where we are expected To Do Social Justice all the time, nor should it be. As for Elon Musk's Twitter: yeah. No.

Also: yes, if you do spend all your waking moments obsessing over Palestine, but say nothing whatsoever about Ukraine and/or openly support Russia, you are in fact very much a victim of Russian Propaganda and you 100% support genocide when it's done by an "anti-western" state that you support for that reason alone. You only care because you can use the cause to make yourself look morally superior, and it has nothing whatsoever to do with opposing genocide on a basic, universal, or fundamental level. The end.

(I hope you have a nice day too. The anger in this is not directed at you. I support everything you've said here and hope that you're able to set healthy boundaries and protect yourself.)

#wolfieisacat #ask #politics for ts #apparently i am in a fighting mood today #so i might as well get it all out

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edenfenixblogs · 3 months

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Hi, I have a question and you seem like a really balanced person, so here goes: I want to join a drag king collective, and I’m so excited about it, but the king leading it has some Interesting views. It’s the kind of thing where it’s constant “fuck Zionists” and what feels like extremely performative activism (Palestinian flag in bio but no actual fundraising/peace efforts, posting misinformation/irresponsible rhetoric etc.) I’m scared that if I join it I’ll be treated different, and even more scared that my friends will think the antisemitism justified (they aren’t great at understanding what antisemitism looks like these days). Idk what to do about the fear of someone being antisemitic because I don’t want it to stop me from doing what I want, but I also know it’ll devastate me if it does happen. If you can offer any insight I’ll be very grateful.

Hi friend!

I'm really glad you reached out to me. Not because I pretend to know all the answers, but because I love that we can all rely on each other during this time.

Unfortunately, whether you sign up for this is ultimately a matter of your own personal priorities and how you are prone to handle confrontation.

Personally, if it was me, I would join. I'm not afraid of defending myself (but I very much used to be, so no shame if you're not there yet). If I wanted to explore my gender identity through performance (if indeed that is what you are doing. I've never been personally drawn to perform drag, so I cannot pretend to know exactly why one might start. But I don't think I'm out of line to assume that it involves some kind of exploration or critique of gender both personally and societally) I certainly wouldn't let antisemites be the reasons I didn't go for it.

If the Anti-Zionist jerk starts coming at you, you can simply say "OK, great. Real quick question: What's a Zionist?" And watch him squirm to say anything real or substantive other than "a Jew." He might say, "They're basically Nazis!" or "They're people who want Palestinians to suffer!" or some other confidently incorrect hyperbolic statement. If he does so, you can say, "Oh! Well, then that's definitely not what I am," and move on.

If he says something slightly more substantive, like, "They're people who think Jews should get to take land from Arabs/Palestinians in order to have a Jewish ethnostate!" You can use the same response as above. But you can also say, "Oh, weird. That's definitely not what I thought it was. Which Zionist Jews have said this, exactly? Cuz I heard it was something completely different." Remember, their goal isn't actually to educate you or help anyone or even to provide limited but factual information. The goal is to shame you into aligning with their self-righteous point of view. That is not an effective tactic when you respond with QUESTIONS instead of outright CORRECTIONS. Making people explain themselves is a great way to defang a bad faith accusation like that.

Finally, they might say, "It's someone who supports Israel." In this case, either of the above methods will work. Or you could question even further. Here's an example of a chat:

You: Supports Israel how?

Jerkface: They want Biden to use our tax dollars to fund a genocide!

You: Oh, well then I'm definitely not a Zionist.

Jerkface: No, you don't understand! It's people who think that Jews can only be safe in a settler colonial apartheid ethnostate that justified its existence by crying about the Holocaust.

You: Well then I'm still not a Zionist. I don't know why you're assuming these things about me. But people should generally cry about the Holocaust. It was really bad thing that people did to Jews. Do you not think the Holocaust is a big deal?

Jerkface: Of course I think it was a big deal. That's why we all have to condemn THIS genocide. The Jews are the Nazis now.

You: I don't know. I don't think that' show Nazism works. But I definitely don't like genocide. If liking genocide makes a Zionist, then I'm definitely not whatever you're accusing me of.

Jerkface: No! I'm just saying that Zionists don't want a ceasefire. They're trying to kill all the Palestinians.

You: I don't know what to tell you then. Because that's still not me. Of course I want Hamas and Israel to both stop bombing each other.

Jerkface: No, Palestine is JUSTIFIED in bombing Israelis because of the oppression.

You: I think its weird that you're conflating Palestinians with Hamas. Are you saying that Palestinian civilians are bombing Israel as as a protest tactic? I thought for sure that Hamas, a terrorist organization, was the group responsible for Anti-Israeli violence. Personally, I've always though that most Palestinians just want to live in peace and don't support terrorism and violence. I don't know why it would harm Palestinians to suggest that both Israel and Hamas should end this conflict diplomatically rather than with violence.

Jerkface: Right! That's why we need to tell Biden to call for a ceaseefire!

You: OK, but I still don't know if you're saying Israel should just stop firing or that Israel and Hamas should stop bombing. I definitely want everyone to stop bombing each other. But I'm not really sure why Hamas would care about what Biden says.

etc...

I call this the "Rabbi method," because when you go to a rabbi, they never really give you an answer to your question. They answer with other questions designed to get them to see their own answer.

Either Hamas is a terrorist group unfairly targeting Israeli civilians and launching bombs into civilian territories--something that is clearly bad and which makes average Palestinian civilians innocent victims (this is the truth btw) that require both Hamas and Israel too lay down their arms. OR Palestinians and Hamas are interchangeable terms and the ongoing oppression of Palestinians have driven them to violent, offensive, armed resistance--which you may or may not agree with as a revolutionary tactic (To be clear, this is NOT TRUE OF PALESTINIANS. PALESTINIANS ARE NOT TERRORISTS AND DO NOT DESERVE TO BE BOMBED). Palestine IS NOT HAMAS. Hamas is bombing Israeli civilians.

Israel is retaliating with extreme force and prejudice against a terrorist organization in a way that is devastating the lives and futures of Palestinian Civilians, who very much deserve for all sides to lay down their weapons and address their mutual grievances diplomatically and responsibly. What is occurring right now is a messy, ugly, brutal war that is killing and traumatizing all civilians in the Levant. And a one-sided ceasefire leaves the side that ceases firing dead. A ceasefire means that EVERYONE must cease firing.

Unless Jerkface has a plan for how to ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians from Hamas that also includes Israeli safety from Hamas, asking for Israelis to simply lay down all their weapons without any guarantee of safety is asking for a nation of mostly Jews to die without putting up a fight. And wanting Arab Israelis and also Jews not to die is not what Zionism means. It's not even what pro-Israel means. That's just called not being violently antisemitic, actually.

Israelis aren't mindless Zionist Nazi Monsters who get off on killing Palestinian babies. Palestinians aren't Noble Savages who have never done anything wrong as individual people and who are inherently morally superior to every single Israeli because they were born Palestinian. Both Israelis and Palestinians are complex, global micro-minorities who have both perpetrated tremendous harm to one another over the course of several decades, and neither group is going anywhere. Neither group deserves for its people to die. Neither group is only "worth helping" if western onlookers categorize them as "innocent" and "good." If someone's activism isn't geared toward respecting the inherent dignity of Palestinians and Israelis regardless of either group's history, then that person is not engaging in activism. If someone is asking you to support that cause because their chosen cause involves perfect cinnamon rolls being targeted by pure evil enemies, then they are not asking you to join them in activism. They are not even asking you to join them in a political reality. What they are asking is for you to join their toxic fandom.

And reducing this conflict down to simplistic fandom rhetoric is not going to help anyone and is frankly offensive to all Jews, Israelis, and Palestinians--all of whom deserve to be seen for the traumatized, suffering, imperfect people they are.

People don't earn support by being good. They inherently deserve support, because they are people.

All that said, maybe it's not emotionally useful for you to engage in this group. Maybe this type of conflict is too much for you. That's OK, too.

And while I would never let antisemitism take away an opportunity for me to fulfill a dream, I will say that my experience of Antisemitism during this time is 100000000% responsible for making me realize that the dreams I had before this experience need to evolve. I no longer wish to be in the town where I live. I wish to be home with my family closeby, because when the chips are down, that's who matters. The idea of moving back to my home state was unthinkable to me before October. Now? I cannot get out of here fast enough. There's nothing I want that is exclusive to my current location anymore. The community I thought I'd built for myself is gone. And while antisemitism didn't take them from me, it sure as fuck showed me that I never had it in thee first place.

If you're going to join this collective, be sure its worth the fight. And if it's not worth the fight, then look for a place that is. Exploring your gender identity freely should not come at the cost of living your ethnic and religious identities openly. Ever.

Don't trade one closet for another. You deserve more than that. We all do.

hope that helps @kit-chaos-doodle

#ask me stuff #kit-chaos-doodle #jumblr #advice #antisemitism #leftist antisemitism

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starshipsys · 2 months

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🛰️okay it is kind of concerning that a lot of pro-palestine quickly turns into antisemitism. Like, you guys have to be really vigilant and really pay attention because there’s a lot of people who have a lot to gain from shoehorning antisemitism into pro-palestine messaging. And I’m pretty sure a lot of people do not even understand what Zionism even means when they say they’re antizionist, and honestly if you aren’t super well researched about it then you really should just say you’re pro-palestine without talking about Zionism/antizionism. I mean it really stands to reason that if you don’t know what you’re talking about then you shouldn’t really talk about it, and if you’re not Jewish and aren’t close with any Jewish people and aren’t a historian, you probably don’t really know as much about Zionism and Israel as you think you do. And if you’re not close with any Palestinians then you probably don’t know as much about Palestine as you think you do.

There has been a huge uptick in antisemitism and it’s really scary. If you haven’t seen the uptick in antisemitism, then you are blind, and you are not listening to Jewish people. If you are wishing death upon zionists, that is antisemitic. Wishing death upon any specific group of people is targeted hatred. A lot of the people who say things like “hating deviant behavior will be co-opted to target all queer people” don’t seem to apply that logic to “hating zionists can easily be co-opted to hating all Jews” like. If you’re not constantly examining everything to check for antisemitism, you’re probably being complicit in it, not noticing it, or at worst, spreading antisemitic rhetoric. We say stuff like “it’s not enough to be not racist, you’ve gotta be antiracist” and that applies here, a lot. People are spreading antisemitism under the guise of being pro-Palestine. It is happening. People are trying to turn support for Palestine into hatred for Jews. You need to support Palestine more than you hate zionists, or Israel, or the IDF/IOF, and you need to be wary of anyone who is trying to get you to hate anyone. Hatred is ALWAYS the enemy. Ideas and rhetoric are more dangerous than any person. The pen is mightier than the sword.

To be clear, I do believe Palestine deserves to be free, and I do believe there is a genocide going on in Palestine against the Palestinians. It fits the definition of a genocide. But calling it a second Holocaust, comparing Israel to nazi germany, these things are antisemitic and dangerous. It’s Holocaust inversion. And if you don’t know what that is, you really, really, really need to look up the methods of antisemitism. I’m usually extremely conflict averse and normally I just reblog stuff without saying things, but this is really important. People need to research antisemitism so that they can be pro-Palestine without inadvertently enabling nazi rhetoric. Don’t spread nazi noise. You need to pay attention. I am afraid. I’m afraid for the Palestinians going through this horror, and I’m afraid for the Jews who are being targeted by bad faith actors that are disguising themselves as pro-Palestine activists. If someone is knowingly spreading antisemitism, they don’t care about Palestine. If someone is knowingly spreading antisemitism, they want Jews dead, and they’re not going to stop there. If someone is unknowingly spreading antisemitism, they’re giving Nazis a way in. Nazis want all of us dead or under total and complete control. Including the Palestinians that you’re trying to free! Do not spread nazi noise. The Nazis are still here, and they didn’t go away when ww2 ended. They went into hiding, and they’re trying to use this to make a comeback.

So please, double-check, triple-check, quadruple-check that post before reblogging, before spreading it to other platforms, before using its rhetoric in your arguments. Read up on antisemitic methods. Research the dogwhistles that nazis use. Pay attention to the imagery and symbolism. Follow the antisemitism tag. Make sure you’re following and listening to Jewish people on some platform. At the same time, make sure you’re following and uplifting the voices of Palestinians. And remember, this is not a simple issue, the history is not simple, and you probably don’t know as much as you think you do. I guarantee that unless you’re Israeli or Palestinian, you know next to nothing. So if the people you’re listening to aren’t the Palestinians themselves, and if the people you’re listening to aren’t Jewish people worried about the uptick in antisemitism, then the people that you’re listening to might have an ulterior motive for what they’re saying. Think critically and question everything. Please don’t let anyone trick you into promoting violence against Jewish people.

Free Palestine 🇵🇸

Please donate to Palestinian causes if you can and don’t forget your daily clicks. Keep boycotting and striking and protesting. If you’re American, please join the “uncommitted” voting protest to pressure biden to urge a ceasefire. But, if you’re going to spread messages about freeing Palestine, the Palestinian genocide, and especially antizionism, you need to research antisemitism so that you can catch it, and you need to proactively and very intently make sure your spaces are not antisemitic. And if you’re going to protest, watch out for nazi symbolism, and call it out when you see it.

#antisemitism #free palestine

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fairuzfan · 6 months

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Genuinely curious, because I've seen some people say that one should vote biden because if you vote for trump or desantis their stance on the ongoing genocide and other matters would actually be worse than what we're contending with, and I have no true frame of reference: do you think that's actually true or a likely possibility?

I'm of the opinion that it really doesn't matter who we vote for anyways, the outcomes will still be the same. Biden is enabling 4 different genocides/ethnic cleansing (Palestine, Congo, Armenia, Sudan) and honestly, I don't see how it can get any worse.

They often make the argument that things will happen *here* that is dangerous but speaking as someone who has lived in a very Red state my entire life, it has never been safe or welcoming for me to begin with, along with others who have similar identities to me. Not to mention that bad things have already happened here under Biden, with the Abortion ban, book bans, and ban on critical race theory being taught in schools.

Trump is not great, like I don't want him to win either. He was the person who moved the Israeli embassy to Jerusalem and it was seen as a political slap to the face to Palestinians (click). Don't get me wrong they're both piles of shit. But I refuse to elect people into office that let such flagrantly terrible things happen in the world. These people have no oversight in their actions, are free to do what they want, and no manner of "democratic" intervention will stop them from doing the things they want, especially when they're afraid of losing funding for going against major lobbying organizations like CUFI and AIPAC.

This isn't the first time Biden ignored Palestinians in this term. Remember in 2021 with the settlements in Shiekh Jarrah? He didn't say a word condemning Israel for their forced displacement and their bombardment of Gaza (click). Sure the Abraham Accords sucked and that was brokered by Trump, but Biden could have undone that. He didn't. He just re-approved aid to Palestinians (which, who cares when they're under occupation? No amount of aid will help them attain liberation). Palestinians don't want aid — they want America to stop funding the Zionist Entity.

Everyone in Palestine already knows that the Israel's biggest supporter, America, is also their biggest funder. If they just stopped funding, everything would be cut in half. There is no way the Zionist entity would be able to sustain itself. Even now, their economy is failing because they relied on Palestinians for much of their cheap labor. They cannot support themselves without USAmerica's direct intervention.

I am of the opinion that we should organize to change the way our government operates or else things like these will keep happening. It does not help anyone but the ultrarich and the people in power. Things like Cop City and the genocide in Congo and Sudan and Armenia only happen because the US has a vested monetary interest in oppressing them. This will not change between presidents. Biden will just be quieter about it.

I don't know how to organize stuff like this, or where to go to organize, but if we keep playing in the system they laid out where they always win, then there's no way anything can change.

#palestine #gaza

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a-dinosaur-a-day · 1 year

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Apparently people need to hear this but death as a concept is not a bad thing

Matter and energy cannot be created and destroyed

The entire biosphere is just the flow of energy and matter on earth moving back and forth across as needed

Eventually, we must all return our energy and matter to this cycle, so that more individuals (of all species) can use it and exist

Our own individual existence is not so dramatically important as to require infinite time and, thus, infinite energy and matter and, thus, no return to the ebb and flow

Yes, fear of death is important, because without it we wouldn't be here. But if we didn't have death, we wouldn't be here either.

Things change. Time is a measurement of change. We cannot change if things stay forever.

The biosphere is a constant tweaking machine, slowly over time having each population adapt to its circumstances, and one of these features - one of these extremely important features - is to recycle the nutrients, the matter, the energy, through the ecosystem

Not only is death necessary, but it's good. We should not be trying to eliminate it. And it is not "genocide support" (what) to say that.

It is the height of human narcissim to think that our individual existences are so important that we should try to completely upend the processes of this planet in such a way that would cause untold harm across the biosphere just because we're afraid of the Big Black Nothing

Your Consciousness is an Accident. You do not have a right to it. And you do not have a right to hold onto it after your time has passed. Do not seek death, but do not destroy it.

Without death, we do not have life.

#human hubris will kill us all #we're humans we know everything we can control whatever we want lets control DEATH #like trying to hyper control things hasn't backfired horrifically in the past #GAH #tumblr discourse #I have seen the most unhinged things on this site

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hezuart · 9 months

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Hezu, do you think it's possible to actually redeem the diamonds in Steven universe?

How would you do it?

Or would you not redeem them at all?

Oh well See, when I was watching the series, they made it clear that Blue and Yellow were going to be redeemed pretty early on.

They did a ton of bad stuff and thought in a poor way, but it was all blamed on White Diamond. Yellow and Blue were afraid of her for a reason. Yellow said everything she's done (destroy planets and kill biologics) is because White Diamond asked it of her. But Yellow was never good enough or praised for it. It was just expected, and if she fell out of line, she could be punished. Blue says they used to be close, at least, that's what she thought until she realized Pink Diamond was trying to make them better. Make them happier. She admits they aren't a happy family, maybe they never were. Blue confesses she's miserable, and she doesn't want to enforce White's rules anymore. When Stevonnie fuses in front of the Gala, it's clear that White Diamond is the most upset by this. Blue and Yellow whisper yell at them, in shock at the "inappropriate fusion". But it's clear that White Diamond is the one who enforced all this. She's the one who is constantly talking about "perfection" and "off-color". If you aren't pure white, a collection of every color, then you have a flaw. If you have to fuse, you are flawed and trying to be bigger and better by collecting other gems or colors. If your body is flawed, you must have limb enhancers to meet our standards. It's all White Diamond. Blue and Yellow were so adamant, everything was being pushed on White Diamond. She was the Queen enforcer. AND, if the other Diamonds didn't do what she said, SHE COULD LITERALLY STEAL THEIR FREE WILL FROM THEM AND CONTROL THEM LIKE PUPPETS.

White Diamond, is so genuinely fucked up on so many levels. She's also the one who manipulated Steven's mind, she hurt Pink Diamond and the others immensely, and she also almost killed Steven. Everything bad in Gem society was pushed to be HER fault. She started all of this, even if she herself maybe didn't actively participate. She's the catalyst.

And she gets redeemed because Steven told a joke (that actually, White Diamond shouldn't understand. There is no concept of children in gem society. They burst out of the ground, and that is how they are, they already know what they're supposed to be and do, and they will be like that forever. Calling Steven a "child" doesn't seem like something any gem should ever say except for those who stayed on Earth. White Diamond maybe looked at his memories, but even so, that shouldn't have been the first thing to come to her mind.)

The fact that she thinks she is "flawed" when she turns pink is also strange. Pink is not an official color of light. White says "Pink is a part of me that I must repress" already??? Kind of admitting?? Pink is like/// part of her??? And a flaw?? Her entire wording is really confusing and I don't understand what Rebecca was trying to make her say here. We never really established color importance in gem society until White Diamond. And if you don't understand the current science of it, you'll be pretty lost, and even then, I still don't understand what the hell White Diamond's reasoning is. Shouldn't we have a color-inferior class in society then? If she thinks White Gems are superior for absorbing all colors? Does that mean multi-colored gems are the lowest for being unable to absorb any of the colors? It doesn't make sense to me. You cannot turn back thousands of years of abuse, fusionphobia, colorism(???), mass genocide, and societal oppression with a joke. You can't do that. White Diamond just changes herself at the flip of a coin. She BLUSHES and goes through an existential crisis. And somehow, instead of getting defensive and doubling down like a proper narcissistic person would, she miraculously changes.

But actually, she doesn't. She still thinks biologics are disgusting. She's still awkward around fusions. She still thinks Steven belongs with her despite what she did to him. She thinks she can redeem herself by making people control her instead (and she is big, and beautiful, and perfect, and powerful, so she's just helping people be HER for a day so they can feel CONFIDENT .... wtf is this. Yellow Diamond is slaving away, physically piecing the shattered remains of gems back together to reverse her fucked up experiments one by one. Blue Diamond is offering therapy to those she has mentally affected in the past. White Diamond saying "here, control ME" is like... I don't see how this is supposed to help someone. Especially when we see Steven. Controlling someone who abused you in the past isn't healthy. That's just leaving them open to abuse your abuser. )

Sorry I rambled but long story short

Yellow and Blue's redemption is believable.

White's is not. White Diamond should have either gone insane and been locked up or bubbled away. This show has redeemed everyone, but not everyone WANTS to be redeemed. White has burned every bridge, and I don't think it's fair to rebuild them when she has not truly changed. She hasn't earned a redemption because she doesn't feel like she's actually changed or even really wants to. Steven Universe has erased every consequence to every action. Every single thing is fixable, (except Pink Diamond's death, which, by their logic is ironically ALSO VERY FIXABLE, but they pretend its not. They wanna have their cake and eat it too I guess)

But if you remove consequences and damage to people, you would just have chaos. No one can die. Any quarrels are temporary in the wake of immortals.

White Diamond should not have been redeemed.

#Jaspers redemption is also pathetic #with how badly jaspers character was handled they should have kept her shattered #that would have mattered more overall #that steven did something he cant erase #jasper had so much potential for a great redemption but they didnt do it and it saddens me #jasper deserved one where white didnt #ask #long post #text post #white diamond #steven universe

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eyesanddragons · 1 year

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Gonna, talk a bit more about Blue actually. I try to not talk a lot about Arc 3 cause I don't like it, compared to Arc 1 and Arc 2 where there's elements of it I find enjoyable and I just wish it was done better so it's fun talking about it. Arc 3 is bad and just not as fun to talk about. That and also I haven't read and I'm not planning to read Dangerous Gift and Flames of Hope, but I don't think that's a big deal considering Blue is mainly a "focus" in the first 3 books and then get hivemined. Also it's been a bit since I've read Arc 3, and Also I'm not White or American, putting this here cause I'm sure someone will attack me if I don't. This is my personal opinion as a Not White Not American person.

But anyway I don't think we talk enough about how messed up Blue's writing is, because Blue is the main Silkwing Protagonist, theoretically, really he's a love interest first, character second. He's Cricket's Love Interest and that's really it for him after his book (and even In his book)

Not to say Blue doesn't have any characteristics. He's empathetic and anxious and afraid of being hurt. He's a doormat, he's willing to let people order him around if it means not getting hurt. It's just that after his book he doesn't get much depth outside of that, Blue is not really a well fleshed out character. The thing is...Blue is The Main Silkwing of This Arc, and Silkwings are the oppressed enslaved minority of this Arc. So it bothers me that Blue is mainly Cricket's Love Interest and not a character in his own right, it's bad for any character really to be relegated to just being The Love Interest but it's particularly bad in Blue and Cricket's case.

Because Cricket is a Hivewing and making the main Hivewing-Silkwing relationship be one where the Silkwing is relegated to being the Hivewing's love interest and advance her character development while the Hivewing is trying to save his own race is...a choice alright.

Blue's agency, in telling his own story and saving his own race is ignored to focus on Cricket, a member of the race that is oppressing him, and how great and wonderfully she is for being so kind to him.

(I don't want to call this White Savior because Cricket is not White or Human and it feels wrong to do so but I do think it's important to mention that this emulates a lot of key components of this trope.)

Blue's lack of agency does make sense characterization wise though. Blue has internalized the abuse and horror he suffers as a defense mechanism. He doesn't question the status quo even though he suffers under it because questioning it beckons danger and Blue has already been hurt so much. Blue has no agency because Blue is not a person in Hivewing Society, and Blue has internalize that for his entire life.

Really Blue thinking about how other people's lives and how there doing feels like an attempt to distract himself from the horror of his reality. If he thinks about how other people are doing He can't think about his own life.

Luna's being functionally kidnapped snaps him out because That's His Sister and it became personal. But also because Luna did nothing wrong and yet she got hurt anyway, it forces Blue to confront that no matter what he does there not going to stop Hurting Him. It's the catalyst to Blue theoretically gaining agency in his own situation and confronting that there is Something Wrong with his society.

Except he doesn't, he gets relegated to being Cricket's Love Interest. His story is left untold, left to Cricket who is his savior and Sundew.

Who actually her whole thing makes this even worse. Sundew is portrayed as too violent and while that can be discussed with nuance and has been discussed with nuance by Better Shows. I would like to mention that it's really uncomfortable that the ideas of the Hivewing are considered more reasonable than the Leafwing (who's people who were killed in a genocide) and that same Hivewing gets the agency that the Silkwing (part of the enslaved race) should have and is more important than either of them in there own revolution. I...don't even know how to unpack that.

My point though is that Blue is not just bad writing, it's mishandling the sensitive subjects of racism, colonialism and Slavery in a children's book series.

I...don't have a way to end this, I just really hate Arc 3.

#this one is a bit messy but thats because of the subject matter #wof #wings of fire #wof blue #wof arc 3 #wof meta

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icyxmischief · 6 months

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Been following you for over a decade, but I'm afraid I have to unfollow after that Zionist reblog. Please educate yourself on the history of Palestinian oppression and the reality of Israel being an apartheid, settler state with the blood of millions on its hands.

I respect your decision. I think that you should always curate your dash to be what you are comfortable with, and what your moral alignment is.

I also think the best way for me to respond to this message is minimally: with just the simplest of clarification of what I have learned and am acting upon.

I support Jewish communities across the world. I support recognizing that Jews who are upset by Hamas terrorism and who claim PART of the disputed land in question are not Islamophobic. I support remembering the impact of the Holocaust on the (shockingly small) worldwide Jewish community, and its role in strong emotions about the Holy Land. I support that Muslims who are upset by Israeli military bombings are not antisemitic. I support Muslim communities across the world. I support a cease-fire in Gaza and the restoration of its food, water, and resources. I support Palestinian independence.

I do not support an apartheid state. I do not support the current Israeli Prime Minister or his military. Nor do I support Hamas, or any form of terrorism. Mostly, I do not support the rise of black and white thinking around this issue, or any form of antisemitism or Islamophobia.

You are still welcome to think what you like about me, because no matter how long you have followed me, we don't know each other, and you do not owe me belief in what I say. Honestly, I am at peace with that, and the fact that you have probably already unfollowed me, and won't see this.

---------------

Ultimately, one of the most important parts about being an activist--and one I am only learning as I enter my forties--is that you must allow fellow activists to misunderstand you, in order to do what you think is right. This means that there will be partings of ways, which, while hard, is okay. What I think is right, and what I will stand by, requires an admission of complexity--which is not the same thing as saying "both sides are equally bad"--and a realization that social-media-based social justice cannot always accommodate that necessity. I believe this encounter is a prime example.

I am learning a lot of things. Feel free to walk through these thoughts with me, or to keep scrolling to the bottom, where important links are posted.

A) I have learned that: it's important to support Palestinians who are being murdered (including, in Gaza, mostly children) in ways that violate international human rights (access to food, water, electricity, internet and medicine), that are, indeed, genocidal. This means monetary donations. It means taking and teaching courses on the long history of this region of the world. It means rallying to free the Gaza Strip from Israeli occupation. It means protesting the nconscionable acts of the current Israeli governmment and military. It means asking our national leaders to stop supporting the Israeli government.

B) And I also have learned that: Hamas is unconscionably evil, and must be stopped from further kidnapping, m*tilating, r*ping and m*rdering Israeli families (inluding, again, children), who are no more in charge of the Israeli government than Palestinians are in charge of Hamas.

C) And I also have learned that: many Jews believe Israel should not exist because the Torah forbids a central sovereignty "run by a people in exile"; many other Jews believe that it should and that they have ethnic, cultural, and religious roots in the region. The way that they acquired the "nation" of Israel is still deeply problematic. Most importantly, we must continue to protest the human rights violations being committed by the Israeli government. Bombing and starving unarmed civilians will not root out Hamas; it will only radicalize more people to its numbers. But "Israel = Jewish support" is an over-simplification.

D) And I also have learned that: Hamas does not even remotely represent anything ethno-religiously Islamic, nor Palesininian. There are also Palestinian Jews (and Christians, etc). "Palestine = Muslims" is another dangerous and misleading over-simplification.

E) And I also have learned that: both Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism are on the rise, often under the guise of "activism" and/or "anti-colonialism." This is one reason that Pro-Palestinian Jews in America are protesting under the moving rallying cry, "NOT IN MY NAME." There are still ill-informed people who are running up to American citizens who are wearing Stars of David and screaming, "FREE PALESTINE," as if any Palestinian would want you to persecute someone in a far-off country who happens to be Jewish (or any Jew, for that matter). There are Jewish civilians being assaulted in the doorways of their own homes. There are ALSO mosques being bombed and Muslims being assaulted, having their hijabs ripped off, being treated like terrorists, since 9/11/2001 (and earlier). This is why the way we talk about and look at these issues matters. I teach graduate-level courses in the way that propaganda takes root in societies and leads to these unimaginable tragedies (not a flex of credentials, just saying I'm hyper-aware of these issues thru professional exposure). I just can't uphold any overly-simplified or singular point-of-view, because that is the mentality that gives rise to these unthinkable acts.

F) Nothing is more important than de-centering ourselves and our own (we may often think) virtuous rage. My point--and I truly don't mean this unkindly--is that It doesn't really matter if you follow my Marvel roleplay blog or not. It doesn't matter if you approve of or like me or not. It matters that I (we?) continue to listen and learn about the thousands of people literally dying. For this reason, even though I think you have misread my intentions, I am GRATEFUL that you called me out, so that I can check my sources more closely. But demonizing an entire social group (shy of genocidal governments or genocidal terrorist cells) always lands a person on the wrong side of history. I do not want to use my privilege to do that.

You may be wondering why I reblogged an Israeli Government vs Hamas post to a Loki rp blog in the first place. I have pushing 3,000 followers, which isn't a lot, but is enough to make ripples, so I want to pass along carefully checked educational posts (and donation links) from people who are directly involved in this heartbreaking war. These will always be tagged #World News CW.

If you've read this far, thanks for walking with me. <3 I sincerely appreciate it. This is still not a geo-politics blog, and I am not expert enough to entertain numerous messages about the issue. Thanks for understanding.

-------------

While I have your attention, 3 weeks ago, I contacted my local International Faith Center and asked them for the most reliable place to donate money directly to on-the-ground humanitarian relief for children in Gaza. Here it is. There is also Doctors Without Borders and UNICEF. Please spend some of your time, energy, and resources here. Thanks.

#ooc #Anonymous #World News cw

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macksting · 3 months

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2-12-24 00:33 - Nuances that won't stop annoying me tonight

This is personal opinions and should be taken as potentially garbage. I don't particularly have as a vice that need to always be right about things, much less authoritative. I'm just getting these out in writing because they're bothering me a lot.

The oversexualization of trans women is definitely a thing, we are not sexual just for existing. But as a... non-passing trans woman with moral scrupulosity OCD and a high libido, I don't particularly like being admonished not to... speak really sexily, I guess. It's difficult for me to do so at all, and is not made easier by admonishing me for... for talking about it. I don't... talk a lot about it, especially not here, I figure folks wouldn't necessarily be comfortable with it, so I have this really sparse sideblog devoted to sexy stuff but I just. don't engage with it much because I'm afraid of myself, for no good reasons. ... My dash is full of trans people, women and men and neither and both, sex workers and just plain libertines, who are sexy and allow themselves to be sexy, and I am grateful for that. It's difficult to talk to others about sex for me. I don't think by being openly sexual and horny I am contributing to my own oppression. And I do have transmasc friends who do talk sexy with me, and others who do not, depending in no small part on their interests and our established rapport. Iunno. It just feels bad being admonished for... being horny and wanting to be sexualized a bit. A bit. Respectfully, or a particular kind of disrespectfully with a lotta aftercare. It's hard to come by. uh, so to speak.

Vote, vote, vote, you gotta vote, if you don't vote you're giving up your only power to change things, vote vote vote if you don't vote you're as bad as Hitler, in a race between Mussolini and Hitler I'd be very concerned if you didn't vote for Mussolini, yadda yadda yadda, HOLY SHIT how do you people do it. I get it kinda, the idea that voting for one genocidal piece of work is maybe a little better than voting for the other, but... when you put that pen to paper or however you do it, how do you not feel hesitation? Sickness? How does it not plague you? How do you not feel just a little complicit? I'm not saying don't! I don't actually have an opinion on that. Maybe I should have an opinion on that. But do you just... fill in that arrow or bubble and say "I did a good thing"? or something? That man who still owes me over a thousand dollars that I could really use right now because we are homeless is personally responsible for countless dead Palestinians right now, and I know that Trump would have done the same, perhaps worse, but -- but voting for him makes me feel like I'm condoning it, worse it makes me feel like I am personally a little responsible for him being there to do this. And not just this. The expansion of the pipelines, the -- shit I don't even remember any of the good or bad he's done right now, just the continuing construction of the border wall, just the fuckin' shit he's doing to indigenous peoples all over the world including here in the States. I know, I know, Trump would do it too and prolly worse I don't care because what bothers me is the endorsement, the filling in the little arrow bubble thing that says Yes Daddy Go For It Kill In My Name. It's directly contributing to someone being in that genocidal seat doing genocidal things! It's pulling the lever on the fucking trolley track to hit what I hope is fewer than five people but it never is. It never is. It's five people on either side of the track, and if I don't pull the lever, I am not personally responsible for turning the trolley to kill *those* five people, and it really does take something out of me. It inflicts moral fucking injury on me to ... to say Yeah This One Not The Other One. I'm not doing enough. I don't know how to do enough. I am self-isolating because I may have COVID and be asymptomatic, but I can't really self-isolate because we are in a homeless shelter that consists of little Pallet-branded pods and I am inflicting the same poverty traumas on my kid that I had growing up and they're gonna grow up as fucked up as I am and that may literally kill them. I feel like I am killing my child. I am sending them to school during a fucking pandemic that's killing thousands a day. I just don't know how to do the right thing. I know it involves direct action, but every time I try to do that, my whole brain screams and freezes up because it always goes so wrong, nobody likes me, they see how I fidget and how I speak out against useless gossip (I now know particularly what bothers me is what's called lashon hara), they see me trying to volunteer for tasks like cleaning or bean-counting and call me toxic. I know I must be doing things wrong, I know I must be. But they never agree on what. It's always something different. My presence is disruptive, I can't help anybody, I can't help myself, I can't help my family, I can't I can't talk about sex, I can't talk about how much it hurts to pretend for a moment to support genocide, I can't talk about being so poor that our whole worldly possessions are about to go up for auction including every possession my child owns because it's *venting*, I can't talk about my childhood even when I think I'm telling a funny story because it's *venting*, I can't do anything without causing someone some injury and I don't know what to do about it. Um. Maybe ignore everything I just wrote. I just needed to get it off my chest. Please forgive me for putting this out there. I need to, but you don't need to care. There's an artist in the Philippines I'm rather fond of, maybe go check out his work.

Location: Pallet shelter in the PNW, using mobile hotspot and laptop (Breq)

Music: Blues Run The Game, cover by Simon & Garfunkle

#personal rant #my cruft #i'll try not to make a habit of this #i meant this to be shorter #but also on consideration it's okay to be a little selfish sometimes #especially if you're not very good at it

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decolonize-the-left · 9 months

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(to preface this, i am white. figured i should make that known off the bat) i wanted to come bounce an idea off of you that i've been rolling around in my head for a bit. i have this pet theory that, for the population ill call here "white progressive queers who know very little about poc and racism", a large underpinning of this group's interaction with poc is a Fear of Fucking Up and more generally, moral purity thought. they (maybe even "we"- im still hopefully learning myself) get so paralyzed by this idea and line of thinking that goes something like this: "1) since i know nothing about poc & racism, then 2) clearly in discussions about these topics, i will fuck up and say something wrong or perhaps even Bigoted, which if i did 3) makes me an Irreparable Ontologically Evil Racist, hence 4) i should just be quiet and never ask questions/speak on these topics" which then results in said White Progressive Queer and those around them never learning. i wanted to know what you think abt this and tell me if im on the mark or not

also thank u for the work u do on this blog, ive found so many helpful resources through you

You're right. In my experience that's exactly how it is.

I want to add tho: yes they're uncomfortable that they might fuck up and be considered racists sure, but a huge part of that stems from the massive inability to place the discomfort where it belongs. Which is with their own guilt.

Instead they blame the conversations for making them uncomfortable.

And let's take some worthy notes here: this is not how white people feel all the time. Because white people are not uncomfortable making these fuck ups in front of other white people.

So it's not that the conversation is uncomfortable. They are made uncomfortable. And they are made uncomfortable because even when discussing anti-racism they step into the role of oppressor (the little fuck ups or accidentally bigoted comments) so naturally and God forbid other (not white) people can See how easy it is.

My advice for white people that are like this (that nobody asked for) is

Your fuckups do not define you but how you react to them does

Listen, respect, learn

That's it. That's the whole list. Say something bad? Apologize, but don't over-explain yourself. Ask how to fix it. Google how you fucked up so you understand why it wasn't okay. Google again to get idea of how your fuck up hurts people. Google some more to make sure you don't do it again. Go to some safe space and ask some clarifying questions. Listen, respect, learn.

Maybe the people you fucked up with don't forgive you and that's okay, they don't have to. But YOU won't ever make anyone feel bad or less than in the same way ever again and that's what matters.

Having one less person making racist comments matters even if it's a struggle for that person to get to that point.

I need y'all to understand that none of you are gonna just wake up being suddenly perfect anti-racist allies. And we will literally never ever have allies like that if y'all refuse to even sit with your own discomfort.

•°•°•

This weird morality issue white people have over looking racist is also just such a non-problem. Like if y'all want a PoC perspective: white people are already being racist ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ ....we Already see y'all as racists. And also I'm gonna experience racism anyway so I'd rather it be because someone was just being ignorant on the path to anti-racism.

Y'all are so worried about how shit Looks that you can't be bothered how really things are? Like you're so afraid of looking racist you'd allow yourselves to continue being actually ignorant and casually racist. And to avoid what? Being uncomfortable for a minute? Being called-out? A mean comment?

We are trying to stop hate crimes and genocide. Like that's what we are dealing with okay. Accountability for your actions is an acquired taste but I think y'all can handle some discomfort considering.

#every time im confronted with the idea that white feelings are why BIPOC are being killed daily i get umhinged tbh #like i might die if i call the cops cuz YOUD feel bad if you talked about racism? AND YOURE JUST KEEP NOT DOING IT?? WHY #asked #answered #sorry #some asks just like #do this to me #white people like this make me wanna shake them back and forth viscerally #whiteness

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aphrodites-garden · 15 days

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Honestly just wanna vent right now because my brain fog has been so terrible and debilitating. Between the bpd, adhd, and chronic migraines it’s a hell I can’t seem to get out of.

Every project I write I have to look up a thousand synonyms to figure out what I want to say because I can’t find the words. Then I have to go back to the page again because I’ve immediately forgotten what I read. I used to keep a journal for fun, I just call it my notebook because I also make lists and shit that aren’t diary entries. Now I have to write anything I want to remember in it because otherwise I’ll never remember it again, whether or not it was fun. It could be one of the best experiences of my life and I’ll still forget details.

I’m exhausted, my brain hurts constantly, it feels hopeless because I’m in constant agonizing pain and it never stops. I can’t even describe how I feel it’s so awful, it feels like the energy that’s making my blood boil is crawling through my skin. It feels like I’ll never get back to how I was before. I know I’m a great writer but it’s just not the same anymore. I can’t feel like myself. The words just disappear, it’s like I just can’t make connections in my brain anymore. I’m in a place where I have help and I know what to do when it gets bad and I get help, but it doesn’t really ever feel better. My head literally feels like it’s almost heavy or something.

I want to be able to enjoy my life again. I want to feel as smart as I used to. I have all the knowledge but it just won’t connect. It’s like I read an entire instruction manual and have all the knowledge, but when I go to put the project together I just can’t do it. Like my hands are just too heavy and tired to even pick up one piece. It feels like I just want to sleep for a year or something because it’s so tired and needs a break. But I can’t because I have school and work and need to survive on my own. I have a thousand problems almost no one else has to deal with and I have to fix them in a body that doesn’t work anymore.

I’ve been called a compulsive liar because I can’t remember anything and people think that saying I forgot is just an excuse. I have to use it so much I don’t blame them if they don’t know. But as soon as I try to explain why no one gets it. They think it’s just lies on top of lies and it just makes it worse. I just want to finally be believed and loved. I’m dating this girl who l really really love and I think she understands, but she’s going to school to be a cop and I haven’t had a chance to explain to her why it’s not something she should do. She wants to do it to help people and we’re very similar in that way, but I think it’s just because she doesn’t understands how the system works. I’m hoping she’ll understand when I explain it because I do it calmly and try to give good points as I always do, but I love her so much I’m worried it’ll just end. We’ve only been on 2 dates and I might see her again tonight which means I probably have to explain it.

I’m just afraid she’s gonna turn on me and think I’m a criminal because of the things I’ve done. I’ve had to steal before to eat, and also a few times something small because I did something well and couldn’t get any nice things if I didn’t do that. It’s like I work so hard so I deserve a little treat once in a while like everyone else, like a cool pen or something. Basically nothing but even a few dollars is a lot sometimes for me. I’m big into social activism which means people often call us criminals for giving advice on what to do in protests to avoid police. We avoid them because they target us and try to arrest us because we disrupt what the government wants, because we want BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AND FOR A GENOCIDE TO STOP. Because they want power and control. And I’m afraid she won’t get that and it feels like she’s the only one who understands me right now. All of our experiences together have been so good that it literally feels like a dream and when I see her again it finally feels like reality. A bunch of my shitty friends turned on me and I don’t fucking care, I hate them, it’s just that I don’t have anyone else to talk to now besides my coworkers and a few teachers.

So I just need to find a way for this to get fucking better because I can’t stand it.

#I’m fine and get help for my mental health so no need to worry #i just need to vent #bpd #brain fog #borderline personality disorder #adhd #activism #chronic migraine

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nobleelfwarrior · 1 year

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In response to This post.

I want to establish a few things before I go on.

people can be both oppressor and oppressed because their are different axes of oppression

witches, anthropologically speaking, are a cultural phenomenon where someone, frequently but not exclusively a woman, is blamed for causing misfortune/bad luck.

I am white, so I'm coming at this from a different perspective from the women in the video.

Now, with that out of the way, European women are oppressed on the basis of the sex. When the European witch trials were underway we have evidence that they were targeting

women who were in medicine so that male doctors could force their way into the field.

women who were outspoken or political

women who owned land

women who were "strange". We would now consider these women disabled, homeless, or chronically ill.

The werewolf trials targeted those same women.

This was a femicide and I think it is insensitive to say white women have no claim to a legacy of witchcraft. This is especially true, because, as I mentioned earlier, witches happen in many cultures. In some parts of Africa today there are witch accusations that result in children and women being stoned to death or fleeing their home and family. I know there are other examples in other cultures if you care to look into that. I didn't know about the magic hair beliefs mentioned in the video I linked, but that is also a good example. In the Salem witch trials one of the first women killed was a slave women of Barbados. It is unclear if she is black or indigenous, but the point that white women were not the only targets of witchcraft is true. Any woman could be targets of witchcraft unless she fell in line with what her society demanded of her. If she didn't, if she resisted, then there were multitudinous painful ways to kill her.

Having said all that, there is definitely a discussion to be had about women who claim to be the "daughters of witches you couldn't burn" while also attacking women like Amber Heard or JK Rowling for not falling in line like they "should". I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that these have been modern day witch trial. These women are blamed for all sorts of misfortunes and perceived wrongs because they didn't bow to men. Where stoning and crushing and hanging and burning are now outlawed, internet threats and canceling and doxxing have had to do for a symbolic execution. Also I consider it appropriation if a trans women were to say that.

The witch trials of Europe and the early Americas have been trivialized and appropriated by men. Salem, MA is a tourist destination with haunted tours. Former President Trump called the investigation against him a "witch hunt" despite ample evidence of actual wrong doing. People write stories about the witch who was hung and now haunts the town. The witches are actually magic in the stories, and evil, instead of what they really were: human women that didn't fit with a man's perfect narrative. Women wanting to put the focus back on the misogyny that perpetrated the genocide is not unreasonable.

I had ancestors in the early North American colonies. Those grandmothers of mine didn't live in Salem, but they would have heard. They would have been afraid. I hope they would have been afraid because they didn't want to become smaller and not because of magic, but I don't know. Looking back on the stories I have of those grandmothers, I know they weren't perfect. I know they were racist, just like all the white people then, and I know I'm not perfect either, but I'm trying, and I can see that they were like me: loud, passionate, angry, forces in their own right and if circumstances had been just a little bit different, they would have burned.

I am the daughter of witches they couldn't kill, and so are you.

#witches #witch trials #witch hunt #daughter of witches #radfem #radical feminism #me myself and I

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words-and-threads · 6 months

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I get the impression that a significant part of the difficulty discussing Israel and Palestine is the prevalence of dogwhistles and the fucking peanut gallery of people waiting to sing along. Someone says "The Israeli government and military are committing a genocide and some Israelis actively support it" and the chucklefucks chime in with "Yeah! Jews have nothing to complain about! They run the world!" Someone says "Jews have been and still are under threat all over the world" and the other chucklefucks cheer on "Yeah, they're only bombing civilians in self-defense and in any case Muslims aren't real people."

And even if you absolutely do not fucking mean that people are going to take it that way because every way to express a reasonable and compassionate opinion about the situation has been used to camouflage bigotry already. And when someone else expresses those opinions you have no idea whether they're being reasonable or leading you somewhere horrible.

Of course people are paranoid. How are they supposed to know whether you're engaging in good faith when you're saying THE EXACT SAME SHIT the bigots always start with. And every reasonable conversation seems to end with them having to slam on the breaks when it goes wrong. After a while you default to defense rather than do the whole charade of "Why yes, Israeli civilians don't necessarily have anywhere else to go" followed by "what? No that does not mean anything they do to Palestinians is self-defense that's stupid what's wrong with you?" Like...why even bother?

I mean, I suppose the answer is because then the chucklefucks win but I can't blame anyone for just being too fucking tired to wrestle the conversation back from them one more time, especially if they're also afraid for the lives of their loved ones.

I don't totally know what my point is. I guess...extend each other some grace? Some people are in full defense mode because they are in fact under threat, if not from you personally. They're scared and probably in pain and not in a place for dispassionate debate. If they want reassurance that you don't want them dead, it's because those sentiments are rampant and sometimes coming from people they thought they could trust.

And on the other end, a lot of people genuinely want to help. They don't want anyone to die and they're trying to offer compassion in an extremely delicate situation. They can't un-poison the well and there's nothing they can say that doesn't risk being misinterpreted. I've been in this situation so many times with those recovering from abuse. I can try to earn their trust but I can't definitively prove I'm safe. It's exhausting and kind of hurtful to be treated as a secret abuser who just hasn't revealed themselves yet, even if I understand it's got nothing to do with me as a person.

Even the chucklefucks aren't coming from a place of pure unbiased reason. I mean, of course they aren't. They're expressing their own pain and fear and trying to find safety and belonging. They're just doing it in a shitty and ineffective way, like a man falling back on homophobia to prove he's a hetero manly man. The harm they can do is absolutely real but their actual opinions don't warrant consideration.

And of course all of this is made harder by the fact we're talking to strangers by text so we have no clue what anyone is really thinking or even what they mean half the time. Trying to pull a coherent narrative out of that mess is probably pointless. It's just people. People flailing around trying to say the right thing and trying to be seen and trying to help and trying to strike a blow against Bad Thing and trying to figure out how they feel and how everyone else feels. Let's just assume we're all gonna fuck it up at some point and not define each other's entire personality by those fuckups.

-signed, some internet blowhard whose opinion should also not be taken uncritically

#israel and palestine #politics #nobody is ok #also this is not the only international conflict happening right now or even the only genocide #its more of an illustrative example

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