#silas.txt

[silas-knits]

Rumble raglan is all done!

I hate knitting colorwork, so this took me close to a year lol. No mods made to the pattern this time.

[the-indigo-symphony]

I couldn't post about this as soon as I wanted because the tragedy of this event, and the response that so many people had to it, weighed on me too heavily. But it's time to get this post out there.

For those who don't know, somewhat recently, four ambulances were set on fire in London. These ambulances were run by a volunteer-run community group called Hatzola, which (as you might guess) provide emergency medical response to those in need. They came about because ambulances weren't getting to certain areas of London fast enough, and when you're dealing with a situation that requires ambulances, every second is of incredible importance; they've saved many lives, and assisted many more in health crises. Police suspect the arson might have been a terrorist attack, but even if not, it was definitely a hate crime.

Seeing people's responses to the attack is horrific. Instead of focusing on the actual harm done, people are snidely asking why there's a community group focused on ensuring people have access to ambulances and quick transportation to hospitals. I'm baffled by this. Why not? Why shouldn't there be a community group providing life-saving service because they saw a need?

Would you go to a tutoring group teaching kids how to read and scold them for not donating the books to the nearest library?

Would you do this if the people running the group were from a minority regularly discriminated against by librarians, and so may feel the need to establish their own community libraries and tutoring groups – yet, they still provide these resources for anyone in need, not just themselves?

Would you do this if the people running that community group saw a specific failing of other libraries to help kids in a specific area learn to read and have access to books, hence the need for a community group to step up and fill that gap?

And, importantly, would you do this if what was at stake wasn't literacy rates or book accessibility, but people's lives??

Way too many people are saying "yes". That this community group deserved the arson, and that they deserve worse. That the life-saving – I repeat life-saving work they do is wrong and nefarious just because of who they are. It's the kind of horrifying ridiculous that makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time.

Any marginalized group that is not sufficiently supported by wider society is going to create their own resources. This does not mean the marginalized group has a superiority complex. It means they're marginalized. I hope the plural community especially can recognize this.

Furthermore, any group that sees a need in their community and steps up to provide it should be celebrated. The proper response to discovering such a community group is not scorn and suspicion, it is wholehearted support.

Now can we fucking focus on the arson done to life-saving equipment.

For those who wish to help directly, here is where you can donate. For those who can't at this time, please share posts like this one, and speak up against antisemitism when you see it. This was an attack on medical equipment and people saving lives. There is no excuse for this.

[butchaeneas]

Solomon Joseph Solomon Ajax and Cassandra 1886 oil on canvas Art Gallery of Ballarat, Victoria, Australia

[saw09]

the “why would you show up fat and wearing jeans” letterboxd review still takes me out because mr. fat and wearing jeans himself did just straight up make it to the end so maybe let up on him a bit what’s your issue 😭

[high-onsastiel]

My favorite genre of images is those gabico messages in Indonesian u can find on twitter

[planar-kaos]

My name is Silas, I guess this new fangled interplanar communication device they’re wanting us students of Strixhaven to use might come in handy for recording our new experiences now that the university wants us second years to go explore omenpaths as “field research” trips.

Do we even need to do that? I’m led to believe that any spell ever used eventually finds its way into the Biblioplex eventually. What a pain.

At least it will give me some time away from the pressures of my family. I joined Silverquill to carry on my family legacy but I still don’t feel like I fit in. Does the bullying ever stop or am I expected to stop it? I’ve already had to banish three inklings from my toilet this week and I don’t know what spell sealed my *Oration Hexcraft Manual* shut but I can’t get it open and we have test on Friday.

Gods help me. Send tips for survival, I guess.

[suhyewon]

utterly fascinated with the fact that i've seen multiple people argue that michael was 100% the distortion with none of michael shelley left but helen was still somewhat helen richardson even after becoming the distortion, because like, i definitely think they're wrong, but they're wrong in exactly the way that both michael and helen would want them to be

[sweatermuppet]

help a trans masc pay for HRT + save up for top surgery by checking out my shop!!