or: yes it's bad, no we need not despair
Margaret Killjoy published this essay shortly after the US election and i found it very needed especially as itās (from a leftist perspective) balancing realism and hope/optimism as the country approaches a second Trump presidency
Nov 13, 2024
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I do think that large scale war is more possible than it has ever been in our lifetimes. There's a powder keg feel to much of it. Towering empires, armed and empowered.
This thing that many western nations have experiencedāseveral generations of peaceāis a luxury, maybe even a historical anomaly.
Neither you or I (as far as I know) have our hands on the levers of power or command armies with our decrees.
But we aren't powerless. And one of my biggest concerns is the hallowing out of care for our communities.
Of course it starts with our own hearts:
Are there particular people groups that I'd like to see "get what's coming to them"?
We know that marginalizing people based on race and ethnicity and class and nationality is bad. But what about those people whose religion we think is narrow and harmful? Whose beliefs are wacky? Or who support causes we find offensive?
Do we find ourselves justified in wanting them to suffer because of what they think or say or which political faction they support?
āĀ that's a dangerous place to live.
As an American who pays attention to the historical record, I can see that since its founding, my country has been marked by compromise, national sin, and perpetration of injustice. But I can also see that there have been timesāaround the second world war, for instanceāwhen we were a force for global good: pushing back waves of fascism. That was only possible because of a willful working together among the people.
And "together among the people" seems to be a great area of vulnerabilityā"a house divided cannot stand"āand also the opportunity space where each of us can influence our communities for the better.
My challenge to me: show kindness and love to someone whose beliefs I dislike.
2d ago
it's time to open up the schools again.
I think this was a depressing yet necessary read š
Feb 2, 2025
an essay they wrote in nov 16 (unfortunately relevant but fortunately resonates?)
pairs well with Judith Butlerās new essay in the Guardian
Feb 15, 2025
Top Recs from @marxinista
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being traditionally cool is really quite boring and iterative, and itās actually very cool and sexy to geek out about something you like or share bits of knowledge on a topic youāre passionate about
Aug 17, 2024
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WORKERāS DAY!!!! i love having a union, i love being a union steward and getting to support my unit. when my union won its contract, i got a pay bump, better benefits, and increased protection as a worker. š„³
unions help address racial and gender pay gaps, issues workplaces impose on families and those having kids, addressing unsafe conditions, plus things like better health insurance, wages and overtime, weingarten rights to representation, and more!!!
if you donāt have a union but are thinking about forming one, check out AFL-CIOās page (linked) or Emergency Workplace Organizing Committee. thereās always more power in a union!! āš„š¹
May 1, 2025
a million times cooler than the lackluster āsleekā tech color palette used today
Feb 22, 2025