#post election thoughts

[goforth-ladymidnight]

I don't want to dwell on the political. Obviously I am disappointed in the US election results (to say the least), but some friends reminded me of this quote by Samwise Gamgee from The Return of the King, and it somehow helped:

I know this is just a silly little fandom blog, and this fandom has its problems and struggles at times, but there are people in it that I'm glad to call my friends. I'm going to keep making things for them, and for myself. You never know what can inspire someone else, or make them smile, or make their day better. There are going to be some dark, rough days ahead, but I'm not going to let that stop me from making something that I love, for the people I love. Even if it doesn't seem all that important in the grand scheme of things. I'm not going to let this kill my creative spirit. I hope the same is true for you.

This too shall pass. There are still good and beautiful things in this world. And I hope to contribute to some of that beauty, in some small way. Making tea, making art, making love, making someone's day... It all makes a difference.

We'll get through this.

There's some good in this world, and it's worth fighting for.

[letargia]

today is another November where we can celebrate a little, we’ve had BAD Novembers through the last 10 years, some worse some not as bad, but today we can celebrate the good things and how our hope for a better future is restored. we shared sad tears, but today we cry some happy tears full of relief.

There’s still hope!

[v-lagopus]

And Yet It Moves

Thoughts The Day After

"Modernity has spoiled us in thinking things won’t get dramatically and catastrophically worse, worse in a way that will last for generations. But things have gotten abruptly much worse before, and they can again. And yet people must persevere, even if their children and grandchildren who will see the benefits and not them.

Trump won yesterday, as I feared he would. I firmly believe America — and likely the world — will get significantly worse for at least a generation, probably more. I’ll spare you, for now, the why. Frankly, I think you either already accept it or will never accept it. The things I care about, like the rule of law and equality before it, freedom of religion, freedom of speech, free trade in service of free people, relative prosperity, protection of the weak from the strong, truth, and human dignity are all going to suffer. Bullies and their sycophants and apologists will thrive.

What should we do?

I have a few thoughts."

[shimimimade-blog]

In a time of fear and discrimination, it’s important to stand in solidarity for change. We are all people; we are all human; we all experience. This is the premise for Project 3.

[sasha-notso-fierce]

An open letter to women of colour

- from a white woman

I pray that I can summon every ounce of eloquence I possess, so that I might do justice to you. To your courage; your gentleness. To tell you that I see you. 

I see you as you walk through these white streets, with white walls, and white eyes.

I see you as you hold yourself with such quiet strength, such perfect resilience. Your very bones hardened from a life that I could never fully comprehend.

Because you were built to endure. Every atom, every fibre, made to withstand.

I will not pretend to understand; to know. But I will stand with you, all of you. 

I will listen, for I know that you have much worth saying. I will take your hand when the world wants to make you feel unwelcome. And I will fight, just as you have done for generations.

Because I see you.

And believe me, I have never seen anything so beautiful.

[goldfyshie927]

a post election ramble

I was out running errands with my girlfriend the other day and as we walked from the parking lot into a store, I saw a lady wearing a confederate flag jacket and who clearly drove the huge truck with confederate flag decorations all over it. My instinctive thoughts and words to my girlfriend weren’t charitable. “Oh gosh. Go back to the south and secede if you hate it here so much.” I said, rolling my eyes. As we walked closer, I heard her telling her friend about how she’d been followed home by some man the other night. The fear was clear in her voice but I remained on my uncharitable course. I said to my girlfriend, “Good. Someone who would wear something like that in this post election madness deserves it.” My girlfriend started to stop me but I stopped myself. In what world is it okay for me to think another person deserves to feel fear? Deserves it? It’s not okay. I scolded myself and swore to be better.

I’m afraid. I realize that by being white, I am privileged in so many ways. But as a gay woman, I have many reasons to fear. How does it benefit me to wish that upon another person, or to hope that something bad happens to another human? How does it help anyone? I’m not trying to preach. I’m not trying to invalidate anyone’s experiences. I’ve been very well protected in my bubble. I realize that not all are so lucky.

But in that moment I decided that I cannot fight my fear by inciting fear in others. I cannot help those who need me if I’m seeking to bring others down. I am going to be a safe place, a place of love and acceptance and peace. I will be the best version of myself and help those around me and do my best to keep fear from making me into someone I don’t recognize.

✌🏻️🕊☮️

[feniceargento]

Why is it that I primarily see PoC talking about the need to galvanize poor White folks to our side. Why aren’t White Radicals discussing this more? Most of the “White Radicals” I know are basically the White Elite in different clothing. Middle class backgrounds, multiple degrees, etc. Honestly, I think that’s why they are ignoring their poor White brethren. They haven’t been able to shake their own classist ideologies. Realistically we will not be able to have a successful social revolution without all  exploited groups. Why is this a concern to PoC but not “White Radicals”? Stokely done been told y’all that you need to work in your own communities and get people to believe in this cause (and to shake the hold Whiteness has on them) instead of taking over PoC-led movements. Because that’s what I see the most. “White Radicals” coopting grassroots movements from PoC and then not doing shit with their poor White brethren. And then somehow we are in shock that there’s still a good portion of the poor and working-class White folks who believe White supremacy will save them in a Capitalist society. 

We can’t ignore this! It’s not classist to have this conversation. Myopically focusing on taking down the “White Elite” is just that--short sighted. Folks need to understand how plenty of White people in this country have been duped and because of this they are acting as the vanguard of White Supremacy in a society that don’t really give a fuck about them either. If we destabilize the vanguard then we will be cooking with grease. We need our “White militant allies” to do that work. Go to your communities, talk to your mama your brother, your neighbors. Get them to see. Get them to see Whiteness ain’t gonna save them in the end (but maybe y’all haven’t come to grips with that yet). Stop ignoring them because then you leave that work up to US and we cannot do that work alone.

I have a longer form of these thoughts that I might post later. I’m actively trying to not think about Trump which I think we all need to do tbh. Let’s think about what created Trump. Let’s think about what will destabilize Trump as ideology/ Trump as symbol. That’s the work we need to do, not cry over Trump as President. Cry over what he represents. It ain’t about him as person, it’s about what he symbolizes and signifies. Cry and fight, ya dig. 

[rememberingsuunday]

I will admit that this is a time where I do not know how to remain at my strongest, highest tier. people look to me in comfort, but I cannot be the one to tell you how things are going to be okay, because truthfully speaking I don’t have a reason to believe it. I can’t make this go away in the blink of an eye - I can’t shield you from monsters who no longer feel the need to wear their everyday disguises.

but do I see this as an end nearing? absolutely not. I see hardship as much as I see hope. I see anger and I see promise. promise to make the next four years one hell of a fight, with the words “stand down” becoming unrecognizable.

where does that leave me? well, I will continue to figure out what I can do that allows my voice to be heard while my safety will be protected. so far, I’ve gathered that more than anything, I need to keep my zest for what I believe in alive.

I will keep writing, I will keep fighting.

that’s what I’ll do.

and so while the world may go up in flames, you better believe you’ll find me breathing underneath those ashes. destruction causes for the need to rebuild. again, the world may burn, but we will make it brighter.