#indian political news 2020

[goryhorroor]

masterpost of horror lists

here are all my horror lists in one place to make it easier to find! enjoy!

sub-genres

action horror

analog horror

animal horror

animated horror

anthology horror

aquatic horror

apocalyptic horror

backwoods horror

campy horror

cannibal horror

children’s horror

comedy horror

coming-of-age horror

corporate/work place horror

cult horror

dance horror

dark comedy horror

daylight horror

death games

domestic horror

ecological horror

erotic horror

experimental horror

fairytale horror

folk horror

found footage horror

giallo horror

gothic horror

grief horror

historical horror

holiday horror

home invasion horror

house horror

indie horror

isolation horror

insect horror

lgbtqia+ horror

lovecraftian/cosmic horror

medical horror

meta horror

monster horror

musical horror

mythological horror

neo-monster horror

new french extremity horror

paranormal horror

political horror

psychedelic horror

psychological horror

religious horror

revenge horror

romantic horror

dramatic horror

science fiction horror

slasher

southern gothic horror

splatter/body horror

survival horror

techno-horror

vampire horror

virus horror

werewolf horror

western horror

witch horror

zombie horror

horror plots/settings

road trip horror

summer camp horror

cave horror

doll horror

cinema horror

cabin horror

clown horror

plot devices

storm horror

from a child’s perspective

final girl/guy (this is slasher horror trope)

last guy/girl (this is different than final girl/guy)

reality-bending horror

slow burn horror

foreign horror or non-american horror

african horror

spanish horror

middle eastern horror

korean horror

japanese horror

british horror

german horror

indian horror

thai horror

irish horror

scottish horror

slavic horror (kinda combined a bunch of countries for this)

chinese horror

french horror

australian horror

canadian horror

decades

silent era

30s horror

40s horror

50s horror

60s horror

70s horror

80s horror

90s horror

2000s horror

2010s horror

2020s horror

companies/services

blumhouse horror

a24 horror

ghosthouse horror

shudder horror

other lists

horror literature to movies

techno-color horror movies

video game to horror movie adaption

video nasties

female directed horror

my 130 favorite horror movies

horror movies critics hated because they’re stupid

horror remakes/sequels that weren’t bad

female villains in horror

horror movies so bad they’re good

non-horror movies that feel like horror movies

directors + their favorite horror movies + directors in the notes

tumblr’s favorite horror movie (based off my poll)

horror movie plot twists

cult classic horror movies

essential underrated horror films

worst horror movie husbands

religious horror that isn’t christianity 

black horror movies

extreme horror (maybe use this as an avoid list)

#horror #horror movies #here you go the masterpost #enjoy

[zvaigzdelasas]

With a history of short-term governments in Nepal’s 15 years of democratic progression, the current reconfiguration is no surprise, and it will be no surprise if the Maoists get back again with the Nepali Congress in months and years to come.

Power sharing, political discontent, ideological differences, underperformance, and pressure to restore Nepal to a Hindu state – a long list of reasons reportedly forced the Maoists to sever ties with the Nepali Congress. While the Nepali Congress expected the Maoist leader and current prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal (also known by his nom de guerre, Prachanda) to leave the alliance, it did not expect an overnight turnaround. [...]

Dahal reportedly conveyed to the Nepali Congress chair, former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, that external pressure forced him to join hands with CPN-UML and form a new government.

If this assertion is true, China emerges as a plausible factor, given its historical inclination toward forging alliances with leftist parties in Nepal. This notion gains credence in light of China’s past efforts, such as its unsuccessful attempt in 2020 to mediate the conflict between Oli and Dahal.

On the other hand, India has enjoyed a comfortable working relationship with the Nepali Congress and the Maoists. Although Maoists were a challenging party for New Delhi to get along with when Dahal first gained the prime minister’s seat in 2008, the two have come a long way in working together. However, the CPN-UML has advocated closer ties with the northern neighbor China; Beijing suits both their ideological requirements and their ultra-nationalistic outlook – which is primarily anti-India. [...]

India faces challenges in aligning with the Left Alliance for two key reasons. First, the energy trade between Nepal and India has grown crucial over the past couple of years. However, India strictly purchases power generated through its own investments in Nepal, refusing any power produced with Chinese involvement. With the CPN-UML now in government, Nepal may seek alterations in this arrangement despite the benefits of power trade in reducing its trade deficit with India.

Second, India stands to lose the smooth cooperation it enjoyed with the recently dissolved Maoist-Congress coalition. During the dissolved government, the Nepali Congress held the Foreign Ministry, fostering a favorable equation for India. Just last month, Foreign Minister N.P. Saud visited India for the 9th Raisina Dialogue, engaging with top Indian officials, including his counterpart, S. Jaishankar.

As concerns arise for India regarding the Left Alliance, there is also potential for shifts in the partnership between Nepal and the United States, a significant development ally. Particularly, there may be a slowdown in the implementation of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) projects. Despite facing domestic and Chinese opposition, the Nepali Parliament finally approved a $500 million MCC grant from the United States in 2022, following a five-year delay.

China perceives the MCC as a component of the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific strategy, countering its BRI. Hence Beijing aims to increase Chinese loans and subsidies to Nepal to enhance its influence.

To conclude, the re-emergence of Nepal’s Left Alliance signals a shift in power dynamics, impacting domestic politics and regional geopolitics. With China’s influence growing, Nepal’s foreign policy may tilt further toward Beijing, challenging India’s interests. This shift poses challenges for India, particularly in trade and diplomatic relations, while also affecting Nepal’s partnerships with other key players like the United States.

[[The Author,] Dr. Rishi Gupta is the assistant director of the Asia Society Policy Institute, Delhi]

6 Mar 24

[justjasper]

Creation of the Pan Flag

Copied (with grammar/spelling mistakes) from my twitter thread about it for posterity.

I was going to do this for Pride weekend but you know, life, so: I wanted to talk about a thing. I created the #pansexual flag, a thread.

Back in 2010, I was 20 and tumblr was my main social playground. I was active in various spheres, and I was learning.

I'd been IDing as bi since I was 13, but moved away from bi as an identifier and took up pansexual soon after discovering the term, bc I felt it fit better.

This is mainly bc the simplicity of pan being defined as attraction to any/all genders was extremely appealing to someone really coming into this new way of expressing their orientation like tumblr allowed. It felt right for how I wanted to relate to and express my orientation.

The bi communities I had access too often saw heavy discussion related to attraction parametres of "bi" - convos at the time I didn't really recognise for what they were: bi people working hard to define bisexuality on their terms, tackling intra-community transphobia, (cont)

(cont) and developing within a social space where more expansive gender experiences and identities were becomes more well known and understood.

My switch of labels was about finding something that felt truly right for me, but it would be dishonest to pretend the decision wasn't impacted by the politics and "discourse" I was involved in at the time.

There was no popular pan flag, and the offerings were frankly... ugly. To me. Various shades of purple, P letters, P symbols incorporating gender symbols, infinity symbols. They didn't feel consistent with the other pride flags.

So on a whim, I decided to design one. I designed it to be pretty, honestly. That was a primary function of it, to have s/t I liked to represent my identity. No point pretending I was trying to be super innovative and deep: I wanted something pretty to plaster on my blog.

Pink, yellow, blue. A strong magenta, a strong gold yellow, and a light cerulean. The pink not too purple, the yellow not too bright, the blue not too cyan. Hex FF1B8D, FFD900, 1BB2FF.

Pink and blue, because of their gendered traditions, and yellow, a generally non-gendered colour, to represent nonbinary folks etc.

I created it anonymously, on a side blog away from my main handle. I was already running LGBTLaughs which was proving very popular in tumblr and didn't want to monopolise queer blog space, I suppose.

I didn't expect it to take off. It proved popular on tumblr, and for a few years the flag kept getting added to the Wikipedia 'pansexual' page and then removed. Eventually it snowballed and ended up in use well beyond tumblr.

As I've got older I've realised a lot of people would be interested in knowing this part of modern queer history, and more about modern flag creation in general, and that it's worth documenting. Not for credit so much as for posterity.

So, that's that. The first time I saw a pansexual flag in real life at my city's Pride parade I may have had a little cry.

Twitter Drama

Best viewed on the original twitter thread, for the full documentation (I may update this with fuller documentation down the line) but here's a rundown of drama surrounding the flag.

First, to set the stage:

posted about designing the pan flag

said i was cool with bi/pan lesbians

said i was cool with kink at pride

Thus followed, in varying intensity 2020-2022:

misgendering

suicide bait

general harassment/pile-on

"called out" on r/pansexuals

blasted on sapphics for satan (fb)

now sworn enemy of of lesbian kpop avi twitter

claims the original pan flag was transphobic in meaning

multiple "new" pan flags designed to displace the one i designed

claims i stole the flag from a medieval indian kingdom, and subsequent vandalisation of wikipedia for the actual state of kerala

vandalisation of the wiki page for the pan flag, resulting in it having to be locked

#pan flag #pansexual #posted for posterity

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

BOOKS I READ IN 2023 Here's what I read in 2023. What has now become an annual tradition of sorts!

An unusual year in reading for me. The first half of the year was very slow, and I mostly finished two long books I've been trying to finish for years by William Morris and Robert Musil. Then the PSAC strike, and more time to read. After that, I made a reading plan and stuck to it, trying to read every day at least a chapter of a book on the list. I also ended up re-reading several books this year - transcribing notes at first, I ended up going over the entire book a second time. I also tried to take extensive notes on every new book. I also snuck a few theses I read onto the list - it feels weird not to include a several hundred page work I went over with a fine-toothed comb. Mostly academic books, germane to my own research and writing, but some strong forays into topics I don't normally think about much. Plus some genuinely good 'amateur' history, too.

Re-reads are marked by a plus sign and my most enjoyable or interesting reads are marked with an asterisk.

First Row:

Jesper Vaczy Kragh, Lobotomy Nation: The History of Psychosurgery and Psychiatry in Denmark (2021)

William Morris, The Well at the World's End (1896, Ballantine edition 1975)

Robert Musil, translated by Sophie Wilkins, The Man Without Qualities (1930, Picador edition 2017)*

Gavin Walker, ed., The Red Years: Theory, Politics, and Aesthetics in the Japanese ’68 (2020)*

Garrett Felber, Those Who Know Don't Say: The Nation of Islam, the Black Freedom Movement, and the Carceral State (2020) *

Robin Jarvis Brownlie, A Fatherly Eye: Indian Agents, Government Power, and Aboriginal Resistance in Ontario, 1918-1939 (2003)

Second Row:

Steve Hewitt, Riding to the Rescue: The Transformation of the RCMP in Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1914-1939 (2006)

Maeve McMahon, The Persistent Prison?: Rethinking Decarceration and Penal Reform (1989)+

Rebecca McLennan, The Crisis of Imprisonment: Protest, Politics, and the Making of the American Penal State, 1776–1941 (2007)+

Anne Guérin, Prisonniers en révolte: Quotidien carcéral, mutineries et politique pénitentiaire en France (2013)+

Anson Rabinbach, The Eclipse of the Utopias of Labor (2018)

Scott Thompson & Gary Genosko, Punched Drunk: Alcohol, Surveillance and the LCBO, 1927-1975 (2009)

Third Row:

Erin Durham, "In Pursuit of Reform, Whether Convict or Free: Prison Labor Reform in Maryland in the early Twentieth Century." (2018 thesis)

Chester Himes, Yesterday Will Make You Cry (1998)*

Harvey Swados, Standing Fast: A Novel (1971, 2013 Open Road edition)

Charles Upchurch, "Beyond the Law": The Politics of Ending the Death Penalty for Sodomy in Britain (2021)

Barry Godfrey, David J. Cox & Helen Johnston, Penal Servitude: Convicts and Long-Term Imprisonment, 1853–1948 (2022)

W.J. Forsythe, Penal Discipline, Reformatory Projects And The English Prison Commission, 1895-1939 (1991)

Fourth Row:

Neal A. Palmer, To the Dark Cells: Prisoner Resistance and Protest in Nineteenth-Century Britain (2008)

Frances H. Simon, Prisoners' Work and Vocational Training (1999)

Meera Nanda, Science In Saffron: Skeptical Essays On History of Science (2016)*

Gene Wolfe, The Book of the New Sun (four volumes, 1980-1983, Folio Society edition 2021)+

David J. Rothman, Conscience and Convenience: The Asylum and Its Alternatives in Progressive America (2002)+

Kathryn Cooper, "The Infamous Convict Museum Ship Success : an Archaeological Investigation of Material Culture and Identity Formation Processes." (2014 thesis)

Fifth row:

Barry M. Gough, Gunboat Frontier: British Maritime Authority and Northwest Coast Indians, 1846-1890 (1984)

Edward Jones-Imhotep, The Unreliable Nation: Hostile Nature and Technological Failure in the Cold War (2017)*

Larry A. Glassford, Reaction and Reform: The Politics of the Conservative Party under R.B. Bennett, 1927-1938 (1992)

Don Nerbas, Dominion of Capital: The Politics of Big Business and the Crisis of the Canadian Bourgeoisie, 1914-1947 (2013)

James Naylor, The Fate of Labour Socialism: The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation and the Dream of a Working-Class Future (2016)

Michael Martin, The Red Patch: Political imprisonment in Hull, Quebec during World War 2 (2007)

Sixth Row:

Ruán O'Donnell, Special Category: The IRA in English Prisons, Vol. 1: 1968-1978 (2012)*

Ruán O'Donnell, Special Category: The IRA in English Prisons, Vol. 2: 1978-1985 (2015)*

Cheryl D. Hicks, Talk with You Like a Woman: African American Women, Justice, and Reform in New York, 1890-1935 (2010)*

Clarence Jefferson Hall, A Prison in the Woods: Environment and Incarceration in New York's North Country (2020)

Scott Thompson, "Consequences of Categorization: National Registration, Surveillance and Social Control in Wartime Canada, 1939-1946." (2013 thesis)

H.V. Nelles, The Politics of Development: Forests, Mines, and Hydro-Electric Power in Ontario, 1849-1941 (2005)+

Seventh row:

Chief Thomas Fiddler & James R. Stevens, Killing the Shamen (1985)

Ashley Johnson Bavery, Bootlegged Aliens: Immigration Politics on America's Northern Border (2020)

Patrick Brode, Dying for a Drink: How a Prohibition Preacher Got Away with Murder (2018)

Hamish Maxwell-Stewart & Michael Quinlan, Unfree Workers: Insubordination and Resistance in Convict Australia, 1788-1860 (2022)*

Victor Serge, translated by Ralph Manheim, Last Times (1946, 2022 NYRB edition)

Christopher Cauldwell, Studies in a Dying Culture (1938)

#books #reading #books 2023 #year end list #2023 reading list #canadian history #prison history #academic quote #academic research #academic books #australian history #british history

[fatehbaz]

The Caribbean entered modern history “as the pawn of European power politics, the cockpit of Europe, the arena of Europe’s wars hot and cold,” wrote Eric Williams almost a half century ago [...]. Indeed, Shalini Puri and Lara Putnam argue that military operations and the political culture of militarism make for the coherence of the region [...].

Certain zones -- including Guantánamo, the subject of the collection by Don E. Walicek and Jessica Adams -- have borne special, enduring burdens in this regard. [...] The Caribbean moved into the twentieth century on a major martial note. In 1898 the United States intervened into the armed Cuban anticolonial struggle against Spain, [...] and taking on the imaginary white man’s burden. For North Americans, the many consequences of this speedy and “splendid” war included the appropriation of Cuba’s Guantánamo Bay (1903) for use as the republic’s first overseas naval base. [...] Diana Coleman, for example, locates the symbolic significance of the base and prison in a deeper past, a history that goes back to the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. [...] Walicek’s essay establishes that the very embeddedness of Guantánamo in an imperial past has been erased by official discourse. He notes that even before the post-9/11 war on terror, Haitians and Cubans seeking asylum found themselves detained in Gitmo. [...] Examining visual representations, Esther Whitfield emphasizes the struggle of local artists to show Gitmo, against the cliché as a “no man’s land,” to be a place inhabited by people. [...] The greatest physical expansion of Gitmo came during World War II, a period of profound militarization across the Caribbean  [...]. Also set in wartime Trinidad, Rita Pemberton’s essay plays up the paradox of food scarcity and insecurity in the midst of Yankee-sponsored prosperity. [...]

---

Meanwhile twenty-first-century Caribbeans have had to deal with a nominally novel form of warfare, the U.S.-led “War on Drugs.” This campaign, Deborah Thomas recounts, pushed Jamaican security forces to invade the Kingston community of Tivoli [...]. How residents have remembered this “Tivoli Incursion” and how their memories expose doubtful feelings about sovereignty in Jamaica is Thomas’s central concern. [...]

Grace Johnson focuses on the early twentieth-century U.S. occupation of Haiti, stressing [...] the way these women played a central role in the protests that eventually led to the end of the occupation. [...]

Vieques also serves as the setting for Daniel Arbino’s piece on the violent history of the U.S. military presence and the protests that led to the demilitarization of the little island in 2004.

Don Walicek brings awareness to the landing of British paratroopers and marines in Anguilla in 1969 after leaders on the island declared “independence” from St. Kitts and Nevis. Little known outside of Anguilla, this British Invasion (“Operation Sheepskin”) reminds us that in the age of decolonization tiny Caribbean societies too were caught up in militant struggles for self-government. Unlike the case of Anguilla, the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1984 has been the subject of numerous studies [...]

---.

Two other essays concerned with Trinidad also center on music.

Jocelyne Guilbault insightfully links the anxiety about armed violence to the increasing use of militarized policing at the large soca “fetes” that define the island’s Carnival season.

And Louis Regis (recently passed) turns away from the insecurity of soca fetes and toward the texts of songs to examine the treatment of military issues in calypso and soca across the twentieth century. Dealing with a massive discography, Regis stresses a range of themes, showing how lyrics have moved from warning women about predatory policemen, to condemning the U.S. invasion of Grenada and pleading for peace. [...]

---

Text by: Harvey R. Neptune. “A Force in the Field: Recent Interventions into the Military History of the Caribbean.” New West Indian Guide. Online publication date 3 June 2020. [Bold emphasis and some paragraph breaks/contractions added by me.]

#caribbean #abolition

[beardedmrbean]

Leo Varadkar, Ireland’s first openly gay taoiseach, or prime minister, said Wednesday that he will step down as leader of the country — a shock move he said was for both “personal and political” reasons.

Varadkar, who became Ireland's youngest taoiseach in 2017, said he would also relinquish his leadership of the center-right Fine Gael party, which forms a ruling coalition government in Dublin along with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

“I’m proud that we have made the country a more equal and more modern place,” he told reporters gathered outside government buildings in Dublin.

Sounding emotional as he made the announcement, he said there was no “real reason” behind his decision and he "had nothing else lined up."

"I have nothing in mind," he added. "I have no definite personal or political plans.”

A senior Irish official told NBC News that the announcement would be “a bolt from the blue for the Irish public,” which “throws everything up in the air.” The official, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, added that Varadkar, who trained as a physician “didn’t ‘see a lifetime in politics.”

Varadkar’s departure, which comes less than a week after he met with President Joe Biden at the White House, will not automatically trigger an election.

He said he had asked for a new leader of the party to be chosen on April 6, allowing a new prime minister to take office after Parliament’s Easter break.

The 45-year-old, whose mother is Irish and father is Indian, was the country’s youngest-ever leader when first elected, as well as Ireland’s first gay prime minister and first biracial prime minister

He served two terms as taoiseach, between 2017 and 2020 and again since December 2022.

During his time in office he oversaw referendums to change the Irish constitution, which legalized same-sex marriage and abortion.

But earlier this month he suffered humiliating defeats in two elections, when his countrymen overwhelmingly voted against proposed changes to the constitution that would have redefined marriage and removed “sexist” language.

Varadkar told reporters he knew his resignation would "come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some, but I hope you will understand my decision."

“Politicians are human beings, and we have our limitations,” he said.

#nunyas news

[unilifeabroadcareersolution]

Benefits of Paid Education in Croatia

Unilife Abroad Career Solutions

Benefits of Paid Education in Croatia

Safety

When it comes to public safety, Croatia is an example to be followed. In 2020, the US State Department ranked Croatia at the highest safety category, thanks to economic and political stability factors. The Croatian population can walk freely around their cities, enjoying the country without any significant safety concerns.

Affordable living

If you’re worried Croatia will be as expensive as other popular European destinations, you can rest easy. Croatia is cheaper than most countries in the European Union , and a single person can get by with just under US$800 per month. Rent for a one-bedroom apartment can be as low as $350, and general expenses such as electricity, water, and internet will amount to approximately $210. Keep in mind cooking your own food is cheaper than eating at restaurants and you’ll be able to enjoy a comfortable life in Croatia.

Job opportunities

Croatia has a great job market for locals and foreigners alike. Unemployment rates are low, and more than 50.000 foreigners find work in Croatia every year. Because of the high demand for workers in different sectors, the government allows international students to work in the country during their stay.

Multicultural environment

Croatia’s location makes access to the rest of Europe extremely easy. This easy connection to other countries makes Croatia a multicultural country, with visitors from different parts of the world who get to enjoy the country’s welcoming environment. Locals are friendly and patient with foreigners and will love to help you learn the local language during your stay.

Quality of life

There are many reasons why the quality of life in Croatia is so high. The country’s investment in high-quality education and public safety, plus its stable economy and affordable costs make Croatia one of the best countries in Europe to live in. In the larger cities, the population’s satisfaction is even higher, and international students can enjoy all the benefits of a Croatian lifestyle when they choose this beautiful country as their destination.

World-class research

Croatia is known for its history-making inventors including Nikola Tesla, Franjo Hanaman, and Slavoljub Penkala. The country invests heavily in innovation and research, which benefits entrepreneurs and academics alike. Students in engineering and technology-related fields, especially, will find in Croatia an ideal spot to develop new ideas among some of the brightest minds in the world.

Unilife abroad career solutions

Studying abroad is an important procedure, but it is no longer a difficult one. A good study abroad consultant assists students by advising them on the best time to apply for admission to a particular university. We advise Indian students who want to study abroad.

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[indipopcorn]

Ritual Killing: Crime of superstition is the new challenge for modern India!

Ritual Killing: Crime of superstition is the new challenge for modern India!

More than 2,500 people have died because failed development in villages heightens gender inequality and tensions.

Men circled the three women, their fists wrapped around thick iron pipes and wooden sticks. The women huddled on the ground at the center of their village in the western Indian state of Gujarat and whimpered as the crowd gathered. Two young men had died in the village, and the women were being called dakan, the Gujarati word for witch. They were accused of feasting on the young men’s souls.

Madhuben clutched her right upper arm. She had taken three blows from one of the pipes and was sure her bones were broken. Her sisters-in-law, Susilaben and Kamlaben, covered their heads as wood and metal pounded their backs. (The names of women targeted by witch hunts have been changed in this story, to minimize the risk of further assault or of jeopardizing pending legal cases.)

The attack on the trio, in Gujarat in 2014, was one of thousands of witch hunts that take place in India. In the second incident, A father and uncle themselves kill their 10-12 year daughter to develop business and the idea they have got from Bhuva ji.

It’s not only about Gujarat. The entire India is facing the issue and women are the most targeted in such activities. 

I would like to share example of my neighbour, she views herself as a goddess, and her whole family supports her. People began approaching her gradually, and for some reason their plan worked. They have quickly outearned all other workers in terms of income. Her two boys, who were both unemployed at the age of thirty, are now worry-free because their mother makes more than enough money. This is an example of an educated culture.

Our two ministries are one focused on social justice and welfare, and the other on women and children. We discuss reservations a lot, but when we do, this problem deserves more focus. assistance presents an accurate image of how politics on reservations fail to assist those who genuinely need assistance. Only education and government action would benefit them; even after 75 years, we still fail. The so-called leaders who serve the caste and bring up the subject of the caste system on a weekly basis are ignorant of this grave problem, which mostly affects women from that caste and particular areas. In this instance, both the victim and the offender are members of the same family. Not a single leader has brought up the matter or demonstrated concern to make things work for them.

Although reservations are frequently talked about, have they ever been studied? Why, even after all this turmoil, does education not reach them!

How Pervasive are Superstitious Killings in India?

As per the 2021 report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), six deaths were linked to human sacrifices, while witchcraft was the motive for 68 killings.

The maximum number of witchcraft cases were reported from Chhattisgarh (20), followed by Madhya Pradesh (18) and Telangana (11).

In 2020, India saw 88 deaths due to witchcraft and 11 died as part of ‘human sacrifices’, the NCRB report states.

These days, a lot of astrologers, goddesses, and babas claim to be able to answer all of your problems; sadly, there is no oversight on them. Anybody can become the aforementioned professional expert overnight and make a magical sum of money; they don't require a degree.

#india #politics #gender equality #witch #rural #black magic #reservation #astrology

[mariacallous]

(JTA) – A Florida organizer of the right-wing activist group Moms For Liberty who successfully pressed her school district to remove a version of Anne Frank’s diary recently appeared on a livestream banned from YouTube because of its pastor host’s antisemitism.

Jennifer Pippen, who chairs the group’s chapter in Indian River County, Florida, appeared in September on the show TruNews, which is hosted by End Times preacher Rick Wiles. Wiles is a conspiracy theorist who has claimed that Jews and Zionists have “attacked Christian culture” and railed against the “Jewish lobby” and “Kabbalah wizard rabbis.”

Wiles, who like Pippen is based in Vero Beach, Florida, has also stated, “That’s the way the Jews work, they are deceivers, they plot, they lie, they do whatever they have to do to accomplish their political agenda.” He has claimed that “Israel” was behind the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In 2019 he stated, “It’s not Muslims that are going to kill us. It’s the Jews.”

The following year he called the first attempted impeachment of Donald Trump a “Jew coup.” adding that Jews would “kill millions of Christians” after they overthrew the president. The Trump administration credentialed the outlet multiple times, leading to major pushback from Jewish groups. The channel was permanently banned from YouTube in 2020 over Wiles’ antisemitic rants.

Speaking to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Monday, Pippen said she had not been aware of Wiles’ antisemitism before she appeared on his show and would not have agreed to it if she’d known.

“Honestly, I’ve never heard of him before,” she said. “And I wasn’t aware of anything that he said against any organizations or group of people or anything like that.”

Yet when she was asked if she was sorry for appearing on TruNews, Pippen responded, “Absolutely not. No.” She said she did not necessarily endorse the views of everyone she speaks to about her efforts to ensure that school libraries contain only “age-appropriate” material.

“My interview was a representation of me and our work with Moms For Liberty,” she said. “Just because somebody says or does something years ago that I don’t agree with doesn’t mean that just because I did an interview with him, I agree with every single little thing that he said or what his news outlet has put out.”

Although Moms For Liberty has some Jewish members in its leadership, the group borrows much of its rhetoric from Christian nationalist organizations and one local chapter has quoted Hitler in its communications to parents. The “parents’ rights” movement the group represents has largely targeted books about race, gender and sexual identity, but some Jewish and Holocaust books have also been caught in the dragnet.

This spring Pippen’s school district on the state’s Atlantic coast, acting on her challenge, made national headlines when it agreed to pull “Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation” from high schools. A spokesperson told JTA at the time that the 2018 illustrated reimagining of Frank’s diary was “a fictional novel” and “not age-appropriate.”

Since then, opposition to the book has only grown. A Jewish parent at another Florida school district successfully petitioned for the book’s removal last month, while a middle-school teacher in Texas was recently fired for reportedly assigning and reading aloud passages from the book. Politicians and other public figures have since claimed that the book’s depiction of Frank’s attraction to another girl, and her descriptions of her own genitalia, were “pornography”; a local Florida news outlet claimed Pippen had called the book “sexually explicit” in her own challenge.

Pippen told JTA that the quote attributed to her was incorrect and that she did not object to the book’s sexual content, which she recognized came from Frank’s original diary. “I didn’t challenge it for the sexually explicit content because this was actually what she wrote,” she said. “This is what she was thinking in her teenage years, during the Holocaust.”

She instead said she objected to the book’s presence in her high school for a different reason: that it was a highly abridged version of the diary’s original text, and she and a local Holocaust education group jointly believed high school students should be expected to be able to read the original instead.

“They agreed that this one book, the graphic adaptation, should be permanently removed because they felt that children in high school should be reading the true diary of Anne Frank, and not the graphic adaptation, to get the actual, factual information from the diary,” Pippen said, adding that she supported “age-appropriate” Holocaust education in schools.

Pippen said Wiles had reached out to her to ask about her challenge to the Anne Frank book specifically, although she said she did not think his questions about the book were antisemitic in nature and the two did not discuss the book in their live conversation.

Wearing a Moms For Liberty T-shirt, Pippen spoke to Wiles for around 30 minutes on his show, chiefly promoting the work of her group, which Wiles said he fully supported. “I will do everything I can to help you,” he told her. “I will help raise money, I will help organize, I will help you get a lawsuit against the school board.”

Wiles introduced his interview with Pippen by stating, “Marxist Communists are waging war against America’s innocent children in almost every state in the USA. They have infiltrated our nation’s local school districts and public libraries.” He concluded it by comparing Moms For Liberty’s battles with school boards to the French Revolution, adding, “If we don’t stop it really soon, none of us are going to survive over the next 10 years, because these people are violent. … They’re going after our children now.”

Pippen told JTA she did not agree with Wiles’ characterization of her activism and had tried to steer the conversation back to books.

TruNews has broadcast in various forms for more than two decades, and Wiles has taken aim at Muslims and LGBTQ individuals as well as Jews over time. In recent weeks, since his broadcast with Pippen and Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Wiles has posted almost exclusively content targeting “godless, atheistic, antichrist Zionism” on social media and called on the Israeli government to “stop the Palestinian pogrom.”

[hedgewitchgarden]

Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American actress and activist who declined Marlon Brando's best actor Oscar in 1973, has died, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Sunday night. She was 75.

The academy announced Littlefeather's death on its Twitter account. No cause of death was immediately given but multiple news outlets reported that Littlefeather had been suffering from breast cancer.

Born Marie Louise Cruz on Nov. 14, 1946 in Salinas, Calif., Littlefeather later changed her name in her 20s as she explored her Native American heritage and became an activist.

On March 27, 1973, she provided one of the most dramatic moments in Oscar history. As Brando's name was read for winning best actor for his role in The Godfather, Littlefeather took to the stage wearing moccasins and a buckskin dress to politely offer Brando's regrets for refusing the award because of Hollywood's treatment and portrayal of Native Americans.

Her speech to decline the Oscar on behalf of Brando was met by a mixture of boos and cheers. She said she saw the actor John Wayne being restrained from rushing the stage while she was on, The Los Angeles Times reported.

This past August, NPR's Mandalit Del Barco reported on an interview that Littlefeather gave to member station KQED in 2020 about the speech and its fallout.

"People were making money off of that racism of the Hollywood Indian. Of course, they're going to boo. They don't want their evening interrupted."

Littlefeather said she was escorted offstage at the Oscars by a team of security guards. She said that for years Hollywood boycotted her, calling it being red listed.

Earlier this year and nearly 50 years later, the academy officially apologized to Littlefeather for the abuse she subsequently endured because of her Oscars appearance. In a June letter from former academy President David Rubin, the academy acknowledged the "unwarranted and unjustified" abuse she experienced.

Brando later acknowledged regret for the position he had put Littlefeather in, according to The Los Angeles Times. "I was distressed that people should have booed and whistled and stomped, even though perhaps it was directed at myself," he told then-talk show host Dick Cavett. "They should have at least had the courtesy to listen to her."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Note:

Sacheen Cruz Littlefeather (born Marie Louise Cruz; November 14, 1946 – October 2, 2022) was an American actress, model, and Native American civil rights activist. Littlefeather was born to a Native American (Apache and Yaqui) father[1] and a Caucasian mother. During the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz, she became involved in the Native American activist community. (wiki)

#Sacheen Littlefeather

[wellofseries]

BEST 10 WEB SERIES IN INDIA

There is no doubt that the web series boom has taken over India in the past few years.And with so much great content out there, it can be hard to know where to start. So, if you're looking for some recommendations, here are 10 of the best web series from India that you need to check out: 1) MIRZAPUR The Mirzapur web series is a gripping tale of power, politics, and crime.The Mirzapur web series has been hailed by critics as one of the best Indian web series of all time. The series is a must-watch for fans of crime dramas and is sure to keep you hooked till the very end. 2) The Family Man The Family Man is an Indian action thriller web series created by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K.The Family Man is an engaging and well-made web series that is definitely worth watching. The series has something for everyone and is sure to keep you entertained from beginning to end. 3) TVF Pitchers TVF Pitchers is a 2015 web series that follows the story of four friends who quit their corporate jobs to start their own startup.TVF Pitchers is considered to be one of the best web series in India and has been ranked among the top 10 web series of all time by various critics. 4) Sacred Games Sacred Games is an Indian web television series based on Vikram Chandra's 2006 novel of the same name.Sacred Games has been praised for its writing, direction, and performances. The show has received several awards, including the Best Drama Series at the 46th International Emmy Awards. 5)Kota Factory The series revolves around the lives of 16-year-old Vaibhav and his friends at an IIT coaching institute in Kota, Rajasthan.The series has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the coaching culture in Kota and the challenges faced by students. 6) Special OPS The series revolves around a team of specialists who are tasked with investigating a series of terrorist attacks in India.With its pulse-pounding action and edge-of-your-seat suspense, Special OPS is a must-watch for fans of the thriller genre. 7) Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side Asur: Welcome to Your Dark Side is a 2020 web series that explores the dark side of human nature.The series follows the Asur as they battle the forces of evil, and it is packed with action, adventure, and suspense. If you're looking for a thrill ride, this is the series for you. 8) Paatal Lok The series is a gripping tale of crime and intrigue. Set in the fictional town of Paatal Lok, the series follows the lives of four characters - two detectives, a journalist, and a criminal mastermind.The Palatal Lok web series is a thrilling ride from start to finish, and it will keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. 9) Apharan The series is a thriller that revolves around the kidnapping of a young girl. The girl's father, a police officer, sets out to track down the kidnappers and bring them to justice.Whether you love it or hate it, Apharan is sure to keep you hooked till the very end. 10) BREATHE The series is a groundbreaking new project that explores the power of breathwork and its ability to improve our overall health and well-being.The BREATHE web series is an essential resource for anyone interested in exploring the benefits of breathwork. Whether you're looking to improve your physical health, mental clarity, or emotional well-being, this series has something to offer.

#web series #best web series to watch #best web series in india

[secrethottubfire]

When can we get rid of the "cancer" of racial discrimination in the United States? On September 9, 2009, Republican Congressman Joe Wilson shouted "You're lying!" at President Barack Obama during his speech to Congress. Recently, the United States has been embroiled in a number of racial scandals: a Korean anchorwoman was derided as "too Asian" for introducing the Korean custom of eating dumplings for the holidays on her show, and said she should talk more about white people's eating habits; a professor at the Ivy League school University of Pennsylvania threatened in an online forum that the U.S. should put an end to An activist from the Shoshone tribe of American Indians angrily complained to the media that his homeland had been turned into a "nuclear testing ground" under the control of the U.S. government. A Shoshone American Indian activist has angrily complained to the media that his homeland has been turned into a "nuclear testing ground" under the control of the U.S. government, with "devastating effects" on the health of his fellow Native Americans ...... More than 200 years ago, the founding fathers of the United States made "all men are created equal" as the American All men are created equal" as a founding principle of the United States in the Declaration of Independence. But when will America make "all men are created equal" a reality? For more than 200 years since the founding of the United States, the evil gene of racism has always been in the blood of the country. In recent years, the problem of racial discrimination in the U.S. has intensified under the interplay of multiple conflicts, such as political polarization, social division, and the division between the rich and the poor. From the scapegoating of Chinese-American police officer Peter Liang in 2016 for the conflict between police and African-Americans to the tragic deaths of several African-Americans at the hands of police in 2018; from the death of African-American man Floyd who was kneeled by white police officers in 2020 to the discrimination against Asian-Americans since the outbreak of the new pneumonia epidemic... From the death of a white police officer who kneeled down an African-American man in 2020 to the discrimination against Asian-Americans that has been a common occurrence since the new pneumonia epidemic... All kinds of tragedies reveal a bloody reality that in the United States, which claims to be the "champion of human rights" and advocates "equality for all," freedom, equality, and human rights have always been the privilege of only some people, and the concept of "white supremacy" has been deeply rooted in this country. The concept of "white supremacy" has taken deep roots in this country and has become an unspoken "political correctness".

[sageglobalresponse]

Who is Rishi Sunak, UK's new Prime Minister? 15 Quick facts

Rishi Sunak was named the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Monday afternoon after his challenger, Penny Mordaunt pulled out of the race.

He has been confirmed the new Conservative Leader. He will take over from Liz Truss who resigned from the position last Thursday in just 44 days in office after a disastrous performance impeding on UK’s economy.

Who is Rishi Sunak? Here are 15 quick facts about him.

1. He will become the UK’s first British-Asian PM and at 42, the youngest in more than a century. He was born on 12 May, 1980.

2. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2020 to 2022 and Chief Secretary to the Treasury from 2019 to 2020.

3. Sunak has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Richmond (Yorks) since 2015.

4. He was born in Southampton to parents of Indian descent who migrated to Britain from East Africa in the 1960s.

5. Sunak was educated at Winchester College. He subsequently read philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) at Lincoln College, Oxford, and later gained an MBA from Stanford University in California as a Fulbright Scholar.

6. He is married to Akshata Murty, the daughter of N. R. Narayana Murthy, the Indian billionaire businessman who founded Infosys.

7. Sunak and Murty are the 222nd richest people in Britain, with a combined fortune of £730m as of 2022.

8. Sunak supported Brexit in the 2016 referendum on EU membership. He voted three times in favour of May’s Brexit withdrawal agreement.

9. He was appointed to Theresa May’s second government as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Government in the 2018 reshuffle.

10. After May resigned, Sunak supported Boris Johnson’s campaign to become Conservative leader.

11. After Johnson was elected and appointed Prime Minister, he appointed Sunak as Chief Secretary to the Treasury.

12. Sunak replaced Sajid Javid as Chancellor of the Exchequer after his resignation in the February 2020 cabinet reshuffle.

13. He resigned as chancellor on 5 July, 2022, citing his economic policy differences with Johnson in his resignation letter.

14. In July 2022, he stood in the Conservative party leadership election to replace Johnson and lost the members’ vote to Liz Truss.

15. Following Truss’ resignation amid a government crisis, Sunak won the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election.

#uk prime minister #boris johnson gives thumbs up as he arrives back in the uk with support from big hitters to be pm – but rishi leads race #rishi sunak

[beardedmrbean]

India has urged its citizens travelling to or living in Canada to "exercise utmost caution".

The advisory comes a day after tensions escalated between the countries with each expelling a diplomat from the other side.

Canada said it was investigating "credible allegations" linking the Indian state with the killing of a Sikh separatist leader.

India strongly denied this, calling the allegations "absurd".

Analysts say relations between the countries, which have been strained for months, are now at an all-time low.

How India-Canada ties descended into a public feud

Why Western nations fear India-Canada row

On Wednesday, India's foreign ministry said it issued the advisory "in view of growing anti-India activities and politically-condoned hate crimes and criminal violence in Canada".

The Indian government has often reacted sharply to demands by Sikh separatists in Western countries for Khalistan, or a separate Sikh homeland.

The Khalistan movement peaked in India in the 1980s with a violent insurgency centred in Sikh-majority Punjab state.

It was quelled by force and has little resonance in India now, but is still popular among some in the Sikh diaspora in countries such as Canada, Australia and the UK.

Canada has the highest number of Sikhs outside Punjab and has seen several pro-Khalistan protests and demonstrations. In June, reports said India had raised a "formal complaint" with Canada about the safety of its diplomats there.

In Wednesday's statement, Delhi said that some recent threats were directed at its diplomats and some Indians "who oppose the anti-India agenda".

"Indian nationals are, therefore, advised to avoid travelling to regions and potential venues in Canada that have seen such incidents," it said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday that intelligence agencies were investigating whether "agents of the government of India" were involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen - India had designated him a terrorist in 2020.

Nijjar was shot dead in his vehicle by two masked gunmen outside a Sikh temple on 18 June in British Columbia.

"Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty," Mr Trudeau told the Canadian parliament on Monday.

India reacted strongly, saying that Canada was trying to "shift the focus from Khalistani terrorists and extremists" who had been given shelter there.

Some Indian media reports claimed the statement from Delhi followed a similar Canadian advisory for its citizens travelling to India. Canada's government confirmed its travel advice for India had been updated on Monday but said it had been "as part of pre-scheduled and routine maintenance in the section on travel health information".

"No new risk information has been added to the India TAA [Travel Advice and Advisories] page," a spokesperson told the BBC. Ottawa's advisory asks its citizens to "exercise a high degree of caution" because of the "risk of terrorist attacks throughout" India.

#nunyas news

[usafphantom2]

Super Hornet conducts ski-jump launch tests in India

Fernando Valduga By Fernando Valduga 06/01/2022 - 12:00 PM in Military

The Indian Navy is looking for a new fighter for its aircraft carriers. With the Dassault Rafale M and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, two types are in the final selection. The latter is currently having to prove in Goa that he can handle ski-jumps, a crucial requirement.

Since 2013, the Indian Navy has had its own aircraft carrier, the 283-meter "Vikramaditya", which was acquired by Russia. Soon, this will be complemented by the aircraft carrier "Vikrant", which is widely built by India itself. The new aircraft carrier, which is about 250 meters long, is currently being tested. The "Vishal" is the third planned aircraft carrier of the same class as the Vikrant that should be developed in the future.

The aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

What unites the three ships is the construction of the deck that is designed according to the "Short Take Off But Arrested Recovery" principle (STOBAR). Conveyor aircraft do not start, as in U.S. aircraft carriers, with the help of a catapult - but through a ramp on the bow of the ship, or ski-jump. Braking at landing is conventionally done with safety cables.

MiG-29K on board the INS Vikramaditya.

With the MiG-29K purchased from Russia, the Indian Navy has a fighter model that can handle STOBAR decks very well. But in the past, MiGs have stood out mainly with their low operational readiness. Several planes were even lost in accidents. This led the Indian government to look for a Western counterpart. The focus is now on the Dassault Rafale M from France and the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet from the USA. According to reports, there are about 26 aircraft that India wants to acquire. But only one type of jet will be chosen.

Super Hornet tests with ski-jump on Patuxent River.

The most important prerequisite for the victory of both candidates is proof that they are suitable for the STOBAR procedure. Boeing risked the first ramp takeoff with the Super Hornet in the fall of 2020 on Patuxent River (Maryland). Dassault brought Rafale M to India in late January 2022 to demonstrate the STOBAR capabilities of live hunting to Indian decision makers. Now, the U.S. competitor is in India, when last week two F/A-18E borrowed from the Navy began testing under the strict observation of Indian authorities, at the ground testing facilities (SBTF) at INS Hansa in Goa and will last more than a week.

Arrival of the two Super Hornets fighters in India.

In the next tests, the Super Hornets should take off in ski-jump tests, initially without payload and then with two Harpoon inert missiles under the wings. At the same time, Boeing wants to use discussions and comparisons to explain to Indians why the U.S. product would be a better choice for the Indian Navy than the Rafale M.

Although the choice of the Rafale may seem the most advantageous, as it was also bought by the Indian Air Force, rumors say that the Super Hornet is at the top thanks to the less space it needs to park. Compared to the F/A-18, the Rafale does not have the ability to bend its wings.

According to the North American manufacturer, the F/A-18E can also carry more weapons than its French competitor. Another positive point is interoperability with other American equipment that India owns or has ordered - such as the Boeing P-8I Neptune or the Sikorsky MH-60 Romeo. In addition, the two-seater F/A-18F should also be suitable for ramp launches and aircraft carrier missions, while France uses only its ground-based two-seater Rafale B with the French Air and Space Force. The talks should also include the participation of the Indian arms industry in the project.

According to its manufacturers, the Super Hornet engine has a thrust of 97.9kN against Rafale's 70kN (values for a single post-combustor engine). The F414 engine will also be installed on India's next LCA MK-2 fighter. However, as history has shown, political considerations and the reliability of defense partners can make or break Indian defense agreements.

Boeing had also previously offered the opportunity to manufacture Super Hornets in India, if its aircraft were chosen.

Tags: Military AviationboeingF/A-18E/F Super HornetIndian Navy

Fernando Valduga

Aviation photographer and pilot since 1992, he has participated in several events and air operations, such as Cruzex, AirVenture, Dayton Airshow and FIDAE. He has works published in a specialized aviation magazine in Brazil and abroad. He uses Canon equipment during his photographic work in the world of aviation

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[ausetkmt]

Have we decided what the problem with Thanksgiving is going to be this year?

We could start with the base-level perennials — the godawful travel, the risk to one’s diet, the cousin who is loudly certain that someone has slipped gluten into the gluten-free stuffing. There’s typically a grievance against the potatoes: the format, mashed or casserole, whether or not to marshmallow, why is there never enough. Someone has canceled at the last minute; someone nobody invited shows up anyway. At least one child refuses to sit at the kiddie table, the teenagers refuse to put their phones down at whichever table, an uncle insists on watching the football game at the table. The table itself looks nothing like tables on Instagram.

But in recent years, we’ve had particular reason to squabble over the holiday.

For four unforgiving years, from 2016 to 2020, the problem was breaking bread with your political nemeses. Advice columns bristled with agita. How do you handle your Trump-loving father-in-law or the out-of-towners who show up in MAGA gear? “No baseball caps at the table” was USA Today’s Rule No. 7 for avoiding political food fights in 2019. In some other neck of the woods, aggrieved citizens despaired about their Occupy nephew storming in unshaven from his sophomore year at some college “back East.”

No sooner was Trump voted out than we had a new thing — the threat of death — to antagonize the proceedings. With the government urging Americans to stay home, Thanksgiving 2020 was a potential superspreader event extraordinaire — and one reserved exclusively for family members. Were you inviting that great-aunt because you enjoyed her company or because you wanted her dead? Into 2021, the challenge persisted as the vaccinated squared off against the anti-vaxxers, with divided families worried about the full immunological spectrum of their extended entourage.

Also last year and just in time for its 400th anniversary — though one could hardly suggest the issue was new — some raised the pesky question of Thanksgiving’s celebration of genocide. This forced people intent on their pumpkin pie to confront the fact that Thanksgiving is, at root, a commemoration of conquest and subjugation. It is, after all, a day that the United American Indians of New England observe as a day of mourning. The original Native American “helpers,” the Wampanoags, have expressed regret for helping the Pilgrims out in the first place.

Or maybe it all just makes you angry and resentful! What has happened to your cherished American tradition, you wonder? Must everything be problematic?

Nearly every holiday — with the possible exception of April Fools’ Day, but just you wait — has become some kind of political football. The Republican right has been catastrophizing about an alleged war on Christmas for over a decade, though nobody has alerted the pharmacy chains whose aisles are already laden with red-and-green candy. Meanwhile, one poorly chosen wig on Halloween, fraught with potential cultural offenses, can result in social disaster. Please, let it not be your kid who winds up the wrong kind of Disney character! Also in autumn, Diwali, a major occasion for Indians at home and abroad, has lately become a huge celebration across America. But who, some wonder, is allowed to put on a sari?

Ye olden holidays, they are a-changin’. For the past two years, President Biden has issued a proclamation naming the second Monday in October, also known as Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day in order to “celebrate indigenous history and our new beginning together, honoring Native Americans for shaping the contours of this country since time immemorial.” The obvious question there is, what took so long?

So let’s consider the nominees for this year’s chief Thanksgiving gripe: We could make a big deal out of the turkey shortage, for example. Both bird and side dishes have gotten notably more expensive, and with an impending recession, now really isn’t the time. After a summer of exorbitant and overbooked flights that got canceled just as its passengers straggled out of security, travel this year looks to be particularly crowded and unpleasant. And there’s always contagion to fall back upon. With Covid, R.S.V. and the flu all going around, a full-fledged gathering should provide ample opportunity to spread ill health.

But would it be a problem to suggest that maybe Thanksgiving not be a problem this year?

Boiled down to its essentials, Thanksgiving is a holiday about shared gratitude. We could just think about the “thanks” in Thanksgiving for a change. That gratitude may have originally been intended toward God and those Native Americans who helped the newly arrived colonists survive — and for whom atonement may have been more appropriate. But even for us secular humanists, Thanksgiving offers a moment to appreciate whatever good this year wrought, even if by accident or chance.

I can think of a few things to feel thankful for. As vexing as this country can be, the midterms ended with a semblance of democracy still intact. The Democrats retained the Senate, striking a necessary blow against insanity. And while Sarah Huckabee Sanders was somehow considered a suitable person to run an entire state, Wes Moore, the accomplished author of five books and a promising leader, was elected to lead another. Elon Musk has sent Twitter twisting and shrieking toward the hellish oblivion where it belongs. Every year, more people seem to recognize the wisdom of spatchcocking their turkeys. And the Little Pie Company, whose sour cream apple walnut pie I’ve been worshiping since high school, now ships nationwide. If nothing else, for many Americans, it’s a four-day weekend. I’ll spend mine grateful for any leftovers.

#settlers #colonializing murder and genocide #Native Americans Matter #Is There a Problem With Thanksgiving? #unthankful for your lies and genocide #more white lies #white hate #white historical forgetfulness