#moderatism

[themoderatespeaks]

My first protest at age 43 (Hands Off nationwide rally, April 5, 2025)

It's time for those of us who normally don't speak up to SPEAK UP.

This. Is. Not. Normal.

[jessicanjpa]

New blog

I just started a new blog: @themoderatespeaks

I'm not sure what the tone of this blog will be; some political moderatism, but also just moderation and perspective in general.

[adriana-young]

FUCK Nazism FUCK Fascism FUCK Communism FUCK Radical Feminism FUCK SJWism

Reblog if you agree.

[themoderatespeaks]

Call to action in America tomorrow

My fellow moderates.

Independent voters.

People who rarely vote, who aren't into politics, live and let live, mind thine own business.

Libertarians, vaguely liberal Democrats, moderate Republicans who prefer to stay on the sidelines, whoever you are.

We are famous for being a little more distant, a little more reserved, and a lot slower to put ourselves out there. We live for nuance. For slow, careful study of a few select issues within the broader context of history. We are the objective observers (or we try to be). Our role is to be the voice of reason between warring echo chambers, when we're not plugging our ears and just trying to live our lives.

For some of us, our distance is about personality and sensitivity. Some of us keep our heads down because of fear or trauma. Many of us can do this because of our privileged lives. And sometimes we're just plain lazy, bored, or too busy to be even remotely involved.

But we are still a vital part of the political ecosystem here in America. The luxury to not be involved in politics is part of the American dream for so many people. They wish they had the option of not really paying attention or taking a stand or being blissfully ignorant of the headlines. We do not apologize for our privilege; it's just simply part of who we are. A tool to be used for good.

And now it is time for us to act.

It is time for us to come out of the woodworks, into the light, to make our voice heard. Our message is a simple one, spoken yesterday by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff after U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a federal press briefing. Despite his nonresistance, he was driven onto his knees, handcuffed, and shoved down onto his face. The message:

This is not who we are.

So please, if at all possible, find a way to show up to a No Kings protest tomorrow. And find other ways to get involved too. This is all hands on deck. This is not a drill.

Our president is driving this country off a cliff into authoritarianism. And believe me: as a moderate, I do not use that word lightly. It is time for the quieter Americans to make our voices heard. Tomorrow. June 14, 2025.

Zoom in on the map here to find a protest. Be safe and good luck. I know this is a scary step. But we have to take it. Inaction is no longer an option.

[themoderatespeaks]

It’s customary to see modern politics as a one-dimensional line that goes from progressive to conservative and the little arrows at both ends are the extremists. Does it really have to be that way? How about a 2D graph in which the x axis is progressive to conservative and the y axis is tolerant to intolerant.

In which case moderatism would be sitting in the 3Ddesk, looking down at the paper with the graph, and dotting your pencil in places that makes sense to you. And your pencil has an eraser.

[themoderatespeaks]

I’ve been thinking about making this blog for a while. When I opened an app the other day, a survey question popped up: “Are you highly satisfied with this app, or highly dissatisfied?”

That pretty much says it all, doesn’t it? 

Not sure what the tone of this blog will be yet. Just here to remind myself and others that there is a whole world between the poles of every spectrum, and that it’s a good thing to gain perspective... to listen and learn.

[shatteredrem]

Let's Talk Guns

In a recent school shooting, a girl was shot simply for exercising her right to say no to an invitation to prom.  In another event, a man shot up 6 women because he felt entitled to their bodies for his own sexual pleasure.

The following is not a defense of the actions of these men, nor is the following shifting blame to the women in anyway.  Put down your pitch-forks tumblr, I'm not who you should be fighting.

Why are we so surprised?  I for one, am surprised that it took this long for a case of radical males to actually become mainstream.  I've been reading on tumblr that the girls in these cases are receiving blame for the events, now why haven't I found a single guy on record who would confirm it?  Is this even real?  Is this another case of radical males, or are these radical feminists looking for agency?

Now lets shift our focus to another group: Muslims.  Around September 11th, this group of people was stereotyped as terrorists.  It was justified within common culture.  At the end of the day, it was the wretched few who are making the masses look terrible.

 What do these males and the actual terrorists have in common? They are radicals.

Radicals in history make up a small minority who make the reputations of their populations of people be dismissed entirely.  As a result of radicals, the following stereotypes have been ingrained into our society:

Bad guys are always Arab (September 11th)

If not Arab, then Russian (Cold War)

All Republicans are evil (Tea Party)

Democrats borderline socialism (Severe-Left Wing)

All religion is crazy (evangelicals)

You cannot be religious and believe in gay rights (Westboro Baptiist Church)

All cis white men are rapists who shift blame to women, etc (tumblr)

Feminazi = Feminism (tumblr)

Thanks tumblr, I was starting to run out of examples before I thought of you.  Introducing tumblr, the blogging medium we all call home.  Native to feminists who believe that women > men and transgender supporters who stick cis men at the bottom of the sewers.  That's not all of you, in fact, I'd like to guess that it's not many of you.  These are the radicals of tumblr that give tumblr it's bad reputation.  I'm guessing to all the women, feminists, and transgenders reading this that it wouldn't feel good to be lumped in with something like that.

Why is this relevant?  Don't hate men.  Mankind did not come together at some council of elders and say "Hey, wouldn't it be really chill if we acted entitled to a woman's company, and if they said no, we should totally shoot them!"  I certainly would never condone these acts, so why do I get a sense of guilt whenever I see this on the news?  This has given me to the point of so much shame for my gender, that I was considering transitioning MtF solely off of this shame.  The thought hasn't been ruled out completely as every single time I rule it out mentally, it keeps on coming back.

But Joe, I have all of this pent up angst about these tragedies and I need to voice an opinion!  Believe me, I understand completely.  I challenge you though.  I challenge anyone who reads this to destroy radicalism in their lives.  

Don't let radicals create stereotypes.

Don't proliferate any radical message.

Don't condone the acts of radicals.

Don't advertise radical acts.

The last part is key.  These men wanted to make a point, and you, the people of tumblr and all other media outlets gave it to them.  You have contributed to your success, as have I.  

I will close this post with a simple message to those who have lost loved ones in these kinds of incidents.  I cannot begin to fathom the pain any of you feel.  In the words of my favorite author, "There is nothing intelligent about a massacre".  My thoughts are with all of those who mourn tonight.

[namboto]

Odd

It's odd how people who advocate a moderate viewpoint actually have it the toughest because people from both sides disagree with them.