You're the real gift

💛🧡 Howdy! | You can call me Spectre 🍁 she/they| 22 |🖌(Art Tag: #🍁🖌️spectreart) | Aro | This is a multi-fandom page first, and occasionally a politics blog second. | Bigots DNI. Please and thank you. 🧡💛 Everyone else, have a great time!

[saywhat-politics]

Does calling Congress really work?

Here's the truth about picking up the phone.

By Katherine Hamilton Digital Content Writing Fellow, RepresentUs June 1, 2021

Last election season, you probably saw a lot of social media posts and emails telling you to call your congress members and voice your support for certain issues.

But, does contacting your representatives really work?

The short answer? YES! You might be surprised to know just how much of a difference making a phone call or writing an email can be. Here’s why it works.

What happens when you call your representative?

When you call, your message is logged and relayed to your senator and the staffers in their office crafting policy. Every single call helps your senator know how much of a priority this issue is for their constituents. It’s all about building pressure, and calls are one of the most efficient ways to do so.

Four Reasons Calling Congress Makes a Huge Difference

Congress members care about re-election — and you control their chances. Congress members spend more than half their time in office focusing on re-election. If a politician wants to get re-elected, he or she has to ensure they’re addressing their constituents’ concerns. When you contact your lawmakers to let them know what policies you support, you’re telling them what they can do to win your vote in the next election. This is an extremely effective way of getting your officials to listen to you — and it’s exactly how democracy is supposed to work!

A lot of callers can build a lot of pressure. When a legislator starts hearing the same concerns from a lot of citizens, it puts a lot of pressure on them to vote the way their constituents want. Flooding a lawmaker’s inbox or phone line can completely stall office activity, and really get the attention of your elected official. When you contact your representative, you’re adding your voice to a wave of grassroots pressure.

It’s one of the best ways to voice your opinion in the election off-season. There’s not always an election around the corner, and even when there is, you don’t always get to vote on the issues you really care about. But civic participation can — and should — happen year-round. Contacting your elected officials holds them accountable for representing you, even when it’s not election season.

It literally only takes two minutes! One of the best things about calling your representatives? It’s incredibly quick and easy to do. Most groups that ask you to contact Congress will provide you with easy-to-follow instructions and a simple script to read — although adding personal touches is highly encouraged! Who knew saving democracy could take as much time as brushing your teeth?

All questions and comments regarding public policy issues, legislation, or requests for personal assistance should be directed to the senators from your state. Please be aware that as a matter of professional courtesy, many senators will acknowledge, but not respond to, a message from another senator's constituent.

Options for Contacting Senators

Web contact forms are available on most senators' websites

Postal Addresses

Addresses for each senator can be found on the senator's website or state's web page

The following standard address can be also be used: The Honorable (Name) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 For correspondence to a Senate committee or to a Senate committee chair: (Name of Committee) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510

Telephone

Phone numbers are available on each state's page or on your senator's website

Senators Suite & Telephone List (PDF)

A U.S. Capitol Switchboard operator can also connect you directly with the Senate office. [phone]

[mental-mona]

We were made to feel there was no place for Jews at Pride. So we built our own

Three years after Jewish LGBTQ+ people felt excluded from Pride in London, a Soho celebration has become a symbol of resilience and belongin

[blackdagger456]

TADC/ The Amazing Digital Circus Finale: I am AMAZINGLY grateful that they didn’t have Gangle forgive Jax

Mainly because it kept with the theme they’ve been using of her and him throughout the series. Yes, despite everything it IS tragic that Jax abstracted but Gangle is under no obligation to feel sad about it. Hell if she felt releif it would be valid too because he was on her ass from day one.

Day. ONE.

And yes we know why but that’s not an excuse and the show treats it as such. Hell just look at how Kaufmo and Ragatha look at him. This wasn’t okay and it’ll never be okay and I’m glad the show kept to that.

[skullvis]

Ragatha+Pomni in The Amazing Digital Circus Finale credits (credit-less version by Mato)

[pikavani]

A little white lie 💚

My contribution to Ribbit's and Ragatha's relationship.

Believe it or not I've been working on this comic for months now but only had the time and patience to finish it now.

Rest assured that whenever Ragatha doesn't get enough attention, I will make it my mission to make her shine.

It's just a little funny interaction I had in mind.. tho I'm sure Ragatha had a hard time keeping up her smile when her friend abstracted.

[spooky-spextre-arts]

I 100% headcanon Zooble is Jewish.

[biglawbear]

I think the insult of "Jewish supremacist" is particular insidious considering Jews have living memory of being called sub-human, untermenschen in the Holocaust, as compared to the "superior" Aryan race. Not to mention how Jews are still called sub-human, dogs, pigs.

To say that Jews have "Jewish superiority" flies in the face of our generational trauma, of us being told in our lives that we are on the flip side of that coin. It is well and truly disgusting to say that we are claiming the exact thing used against us for so long.

And it is just another side of the coin. Whether people hate us because they think we're sub-human or they think we believe ourselves to be superhuman, they never see us as human.

[spooky-spextre-arts]

Do y'all think Pomni would have an Abstracted Jax as her wingman once she proposes to Ragatha?

[spooky-spextre-arts]

(Alright, I think since you've now seen the Finale, it'll be okay if I tag you @rosetyler42 )

[freegazafromhamas]

Anti-Hamas ‘revolution’ halted after brutal crackdown

Anti-Hamas ‘revolution’ halted after brutal crackdown

Hamas launched a brutal crackdown to prevent protests calling for an end to the terror group’s rule across the Gaza Strip on Friday.

[chutzpahchesed]

Hamas launched a brutal crackdown to prevent protests calling for an end to the terror group's rule across the Gaza Strip on Friday.

After demonstrations were planned in 18 locations across the Strip, the streets were unusually empty after organisers had called on Hamas to "disarm and to transfer civil administration of Gaza to a transitional-governing authority".

Hamas gunmen were seen patrolling the Strip after several days of crackdowns leading up to the day dubbed June 26 Revolution.

Multiple arrests, beatings and death threats for those suspected of inciting or participating in protests appeared to quell the unrest.

One Palestinian in Gaza told The Telegraph: "People are afraid and exhausted. Torn between the desire for change and the risk of being accused of plotting a coup or collaborating with Israel, any popular protest movement appears to have little chance of succeeding."

Streets in areas such as Khan Younis Port, Al Qarara and Al Nasr, were eerily quiet on Friday. "People are scared," another Palestinian told The Telegraph.

In advance of the protests, a fatwa was issued by the Association of Palestinian Scholars, an influential Palestinian group, warning that demonstrators would be accused of collaboration with Israel, a crime punishable by death under Hamas rule.

Another source on the ground in Gaza told The Telegraph anonymously on Friday morning that there were Hamas supporters and troops positioned at key intersections.

The source added: "However, they are clearly avoiding any overt or formal deployment for fear of being targeted by Israel.

"What Hamas appears to be most concerned about is the possibility that armed groups could exploit the protests to expand their control over additional areas of Gaza, or that Israeli forces could use the demonstrations as an opportunity to target Hamas operatives.

"In any case, according to activists, this is precisely what they hope to avoid. Any intervention by Israeli forces or armed militias would provide Hamas with a pretext to crack down on peaceful protesters."

According to Gaza-born Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian humanitarian activist who lives in exile in the US, the Gaza hospital that became the focus of international condemnation after a deadly explosion early in the war is now being used by Hamas as a centre for interrogating, threatening and detaining opponents.

He claimed friends had been summoned to Al Ahli Arab Hospital, also known as the Baptist Hospital, where they were questioned by Hamas security officials about suspected involvement in the demonstrations.

"They were told explicitly by al-Qassam Brigades operatives, Hamas police, and internal security officers that if they post anything supportive of the protests on Facebook or offer any help to protesters, they will be executed under 'revolutionary conditions' and treated as collaborators with Israel; no trial, no process, just immediate death," he wrote on X this week.

He alleged that some were subsequently interrogated, threatened and placed under house arrest inside the hospital itself, "the same hospital that grabbed global headlines early in the war after a faulty Islamic Jihad rocket fell and caused an explosion which killed hundreds of people".

He said: "That hospital is now a central hub for Hamas's intelligence, militancy, and internal repression.”

On Friday morning, Mr Alkhatib also claimed Hamas had deployed security forces throughout Gaza to prevent any demonstrations.

"Right this moment, across the Gaza Strip, Hamas's police, intelligence units, and al-Qassam Brigade militias are fully deployed to crush the June 26 protests," he wrote.

Last year, protesters against Hamas took to the streets for several days in a row, with the Iran-backed terror group accused of beating a man to death and leaving him on his family's doorstep in a warning against any further protests against its rule in Gaza.

Uday Al Rabbay was kidnapped shortly after taking part in the protest. His body, covered in blood, was returned to his family's home days later.

Earlier this week, organisers appealed to governments, journalists and human rights organisations to monitor events closely, warning that participants had already become targets of intimidation.

"The right to peaceful assembly and political expression is a foundational civil liberty," they wrote. "The population of Gaza is entitled to exercise this right without fear of violent reprisal."

The movement accused Hamas of circulating threats through affiliated social media channels before the protests had even begun.

"These statements explicitly identify protesters and journalists as targets, indicating a coordinated effort to suppress dissent prior to its public expression," it said.

On Thursday, the Fatwa Committee of the Association of Palestinian Scholars, which operates across the Palestinian territories, sought to deter participation by issuing a religious ruling declaring the demonstrations forbidden.

The fatwa described the planned protests as "a criminal movement", accusing participants of assisting "the occupier" [Israel] and advancing objectives Israel had failed to achieve through military force.

Hamas Crushes Planned Gaza Protests With Kidnappings, Death Threats

Members of Hamas cracking down on Gazans. Photo: Screenshot from X account of Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib Armed Hamas operatives arrested …

I know it’s futile to say this, because I know the people who need to hear it never will, but everyone who’s openly supportive of Hamas, everyone who uses “Zionist” as a slur and a tool for demonization, everyone who accuses peace activists or others who speak out of being “collaborators with Israel,” is propping this tyranny up. they are helping this horror to continue, while patting themselves on the back for it as morally righteous. in doing so, they’re furthering extremism, and they’re certainly not helping to free anyone.

[spooky-spextre-arts]

Aren't they wonderful? Aren't they precious?

[gooseworx]

Do you think, that should've given more characters from the main cast time to shine? I really like your show and like all of the characters, but sometimes some of them feel left out. But maybe that's just me, who knows

Yeah I'd agree with that, it's just a lot bigger of an undertaking than I'm sure a lot of people realize when you're the only writer and juggling so many different departments at once. It would have required more episodes, time, and stamina. Something I wasn't exactly graced with, being only Glitch's second creator driven show. I would have needed more writers and co-directors, because writing and directing even just 9 episodes basically killed me.

It's also a miracle I was allowed to make episode 9 as long as it was, because one thing a producer never ever wants to hear is "I'd like to make this longer." There will always be an incentive to cut things down over fleshing things out. Thankfully if I do another one of these, a lot of the kinks will hopefully be worked out from the beginning. Hopefully.

[mariacallous]

[afurioushawk]

My main takeways from the NYC primary results:

The fact that leftists care more about tearing down Democrats than fighting Republicans further cemented my absolute hatred for them. This was never about progress or improving the lives of marginalized Americans. The only thing they cared about was justifying their brand of bigotry and playing the roles as tyrants.

People talk crap about California but at least they had enough sense not to entertain the fake ass ego driven champagne socialists.

One potential upside will be the showcase for the rest of the country why anyone affiliated with the DSA shouldn’t be trusted.

I need more rational Democrats to fight back against the DSA for side knifing the party in broad daylight and bring focus on fighting Republicans so we can get the hell out of the hellhole presidency. Their gender, race, religion, home state etc. is a non-factor. As long as they’re not a deranged DSA shithead, they have my support.

New York City normies are just going to have to feel the burn of having elected a wacko who thinks prisons should be abolished. Over here, Portland had to learn its lesson the hard way about electing the far-left. It literally took destroying a bunch of the city and making it completely unaffordable for the lesson to just recently start sinking in (and we're going to be paying for that hard-learned lesson for years).

People who live in blue states/districts become complacent. They'll have to suffer to get jostled out of it. But the people who will suffer immediately will be the ones who didn't enable it (in this case, NYC Jews and other minorities).

And now that you got a bunch of affluent white NYC gentrifiers online calling themselves the Tea Party and threatening Black/Jewish Democrats that "You're next", are we finally ready to talk about how the left is a white grievance movement? Are we ready yet? Or are we still pretending these are good people?

[afurioushawk]

The "you're next" chant has me extremely scared for all the Black and Jewish people there. That chant never comes before anything good.

It feels like it's only a matter of time until there's a pogrom there.

Black and Jewish New Yorkers need to stay safe. A mob of white people calling themselves the Tea Party are definitely not to be trusted. They will be testing violence next.

[actuallyjustabiscuit]

Since no one’s pointed it out yet

Sun and moon sapphics

[mariacallous]

[mariacallous]

I just also don't trust a lot of these DSA candidates to actually be effective advocates or representatives for their districts.

And I fear that now the Trump administration will feel even more free and comfortable to crack down on NYC, although considering how much more fire the DSA tends to have for the Dems than the GOP, who knows.