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[hay-jud]

Also, while again I dgaf about the united healthcare ceo (he can rot in hell) I will say that as a member of a tiny ethnic group which has been stereotyped as evil rich greedy baby blood sucking for literal millennia I don’t trust y’all with vigilante justice in the slightest.

[hay-jud]

Also, while again I dgaf about the united healthcare ceo (he can rot in hell) I will say that as a member of a tiny ethnic group which has been stereotyped as evil rich greedy baby blood sucking for literal millennia I don’t trust y’all with vigilante justice in the slightest.

[hay-jud]

i’m only on reddit for r/Kevin

[hay-jud]

to all the antisemites this hanukkah season acting like the world's greatest jewish allies: you might hear the phrase "a great miracle happened there" bandied around. in fact, the acronym for that phrase in hebrew is on every dreidel! yep every dreidel! where is the "there" being talked about?? don't worry about it :))) and in what country do the dreidels instead have the acronym for "a great miracle happened here" instead? don't worry about it :)))) and don't worry about the actual story of the holiday either or what it means :)))))) it's definitely not about the jews fighting off their oppressors in order to take back control of their homeland or anything :))))) nothing to do with jewish self-determination here no sirree :))) this is definitely a very easy holiday to enjoy if you hate israel with every bone in your body and hope it and everyone inside it dies horribly :))))) hanukkah definitely isn't inextricably linked to israel and the jewish connection with the land of israel as our homeland :)))

[hay-jud]

art by @woz_art on ig

[hay-jud]

The State of Israel is what decolonisation and land back looks like - an indigenous people regaining sovereignty over their land after centuries of oppression and genocide.

When you say it has no right to exist, that Israelis should all "go back to where they came from" and calling for its dismantlement and takeover by Palestine, what you are actually advocating for is the destruction of native lands by a colonising force.

Don't have the bare faced audacity to pretend you give a single shit about indigenous rights if this is what you want.

[hay-jud]

South Asian and Hindu Influences in ATLA (Part 1)

disclaimer: i was raised culturally and religiously hindu, and though i've tried to do my research for this post and pair it with my own cultural knowledge, i'm not an expert on hinduism by any means. should i mess up, please let me know.

please also be aware that many of the concepts discussed in this post overlap heavily with religions such as buddhism and jainism, which might have different interpretations and representations. as i'm not from those religions or cultures, i don't want to speak on them, but if anyone with that knowledge wishes to add on, please feel free.

it's well-known that atla draws from indigenous, east and southeast asian influences, but something i rarely see discussed in the fandom is the influences the show takes from hinduism and south asia, and there are actually far more than i think people are aware of.

so here's a (non-exhaustive list) of the main inspirations atla drew from south asian culture and hinduism, starting with...

The Avatar

the title of the show itself is taken from the ancient language of sanskrit, often considered the sacred tongue of the hindu religion. in sanskrit, the word "avatar" means to "descend" or "alight".

the concept of the avatar is a very old one, referring to the physical incarnation of a powerful deity or spirit. the idea of the avatar is most often linked to the god Vishnu, one of three supreme hindu gods collectively called the trimurti, or trinity. the avatar is said to manifest upon earth primarily in times of great need, when balance must be maintained between the forces of good and evil.

atla borrows heavily from this idea in having aang be the incarnation of a divine spirit who returns to the world during a time of immense strife, and is tasked with defeating a great evil to bring balance back to the world. and though i don't know if it was an intentional reference, it's interesting to note that Krishna, the most famous incarnation of Vishnu was also reborn amidst a fierce storm and carried through a raging sea to a new home where he would be protected from the king who sought to kill him. sounds a little familiar, doesn't it?

Agni Kai and the Philosophy of Firebending

the word "agni" derives from the sanskrit name Agni, the god of fire, though it can also generally mean "fire".

the concepts of lightning bending and the sun being the source of firebending are likely also taken from the idea of Agni, since he's said to exist simultaneously in three different forms on three different dimensions: as fire on earth, as lightning in the atmosphere, and as the sun in the sky.

Agni is a significant aspect of many rituals, including marriage rites, death rites, and the festivals of holi and diwali. the concept of Agni is one of duality: life and death, rebirth and destruction. hindu rituals accept and celebrate both aspects, revolving around the idea that destruction is not separate from creation, but rather necessary to facilitate it. the cremation of the dead, for instance, is seen as purification, not destruction: burning away the physical form so the soul is unencumbered, set free to continue the reincarnation cycle.

this influence can be seen in the firebending masters episode, which discusses the idea of fire being vital to life. the sun warriors safeguarding the original fire and demanding that zuko and aang bring fire to the dragons as a sacrifice could also reference the ritual of Agnihotra - the ritual of keeping a fire at the home hearth and making offerings to it. the purpose of this ritual differs depending on which text you refer to, but it is generally believed to purify the person and atmosphere in which it is performed, similar to how zuko and aang must make offerings to ran and shaw and survive their fire before being deemed worthy and pure.

Agnihotra is said to serve as a symbolic reminder of the vitality and importance of fire as the driving force of life, a lesson that zuko and aang also internalize from their encounter with the dragons.

Bumi

bumi's name is taken from the sanskrit word "bhumi", which means "earth". it's also the name of the hindu goddess of the earth, bumi or bhudevi.

one of the things the original animation didn't do and which i really enjoyed about the live action was that they made bumi indian and added desi inspiration to omashu. it makes perfect sense for a king whose name is as hindu-inspired as they come.

NWT Royal Palace

chief arnook's palace in the northern water tribe takes inspiration from the gopurams of hindu temples, massive pyramidal structures that served as entrance towers to the temple.

gopurams were built tall enough to be seen for miles around, beacons to signal tired or weary travellers who wished for a place to rest that a temple was nearby. it's a nice touch that the chief's palace is located in front of the spirit oasis, a similarly symbolic entryway to a sanctuary housing otherworldly deities.

Betrothal Necklaces

to preface: i doubt this was an intentional reference, and this great post talks about other cultures that could have inspired the water tribe betrothal necklaces. given the desi influence in the nwt architecture however, i figured it was worth mentioning.

the idea of betrothal necklaces being given to women by their male partners is similar to the thaali, a necklace given to hindu wives by their husbands. during hindu weddings, grooms tie the thaali around their brides' necks to symbolize their marriage. once given, wives are expected to wear their thaali till the day they die, as doing so is believed to bring good luck, health and prosperity to their husbands.

Chi-Blocking

though chi-blocking takes primary inspiration from the art of Dim Mak, it is also influenced by the south indian martial arts forms of adimurai and kalaripayattu, both of which include techniques of striking vital points in the body to disable or kill an opponent.

kalaripayattu also shares parallels with firebending, being a very physically demanding, aggressive martial art that emphasises the importance of discipline and mental fortitude. control of the mind is essential to control of the body, a philosophy similar to that espoused by iroh across the show.

Wan Shi Tong's Library

the library draws inspiration partly from the taj mahal, the famous mausoleum constructed by shah jahan during the mughal empire as a monument to his beloved wife, mumtaz mahal.

i'll end this post here since it's getting too long as it is, and the following section will be even longer. for while atla treated the concepts in this post with respect, the same unfortunately cannot be said for its depiction of guru pathik and combustion man - both of which we'll be discussing next.

[hay-jud]

Credit @thegayhimbo:

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somehow I did not know this until today? I love learning that someone is Jewish!

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[hay-jud]

What's hilarious about Amnesty International is they published a false report Ukraine was hiding weapons in civilian areas but they will never ever call out genocidal Hamas fot actually doing that shit all the fucking time

Lmao I remember that! Hideous ppl

[hay-jud]

So now Amnesty International isn’t a valid source? Is it suddenly anti-Semitic too? At this point, it’s honestly embarrassing to deny that Israel is committing genocide. You seriously need to touch some grass, because the way you view other human beings as lesser is genuinely disturbing. To claim Hamas has genocidal goals while completely overlooking the actions of the IDF and Israel is not just twisted—it’s downright delusional.

Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your sources and perspective, because right now, your denial is making you look completely out of touch and kind of terrifying.

what do u mean "now"? jhfjhsdabf

[hay-jud]

Show, don’t tell

"Show, don’t tell" means letting readers experience a story through actions, senses, and dialogue instead of outright explaining things. Here are some practical tips to achieve that:

1. Use Sensory Details

Tell: "The room was cold."

Show: "Her breath puffed in faint clouds, and she shivered as frost clung to the edges of the window."

Tell: "He was scared."

Show: "His hands trembled, and his heart thudded so loudly he was sure they could hear it too."

2. Focus on Actions

Tell: "She was angry."

Show: "She slammed the mug onto the counter, coffee sloshing over the rim as her jaw clenched."

Tell: "He was exhausted."

Show: "He stumbled through the door, collapsing onto the couch without even bothering to remove his shoes."

3. Use Dialogue

What characters say and how they say it can reveal their emotions, intentions, or traits.

Tell: "She was worried about the storm."

Show: "Do you think it'll reach us?" she asked, her voice tight, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.

4. Show Internal Conflict Through Thoughts or Reactions

Tell: "He was jealous of his friend."

Show: "As his friend held up the trophy, he forced a smile, swallowing the bitter lump rising in his throat."

5. Describe the Environment to Reflect Mood

Use the setting to mirror or hint at emotions or themes.

Tell: "The town was eerie."

Show: "Empty streets stretched into the mist, and the only sound was the faint creak of a weathered sign swinging in the wind."

6. Let Readers Infer Through Context

Give enough clues for the reader to piece things together without spelling it out.

Tell: "The man was a thief."

Show: "He moved through the crowd, fingers brushing pockets, his hand darting away with a glint of gold."

7. Use Subtext in Interactions

What’s left unsaid can reveal as much as what’s spoken.

Tell: "They were uncomfortable around each other."

Show: "He avoided her eyes, pretending to study the painting on the wall. She smoothed her dress for the third time, her fingers fumbling with the hem."

8. Compare to Relatable Experiences

Use metaphors, similes, or comparisons to make an emotion or situation vivid.

Tell: "The mountain was huge."

Show: "The mountain loomed above them, its peak disappearing into the clouds, as if it pierced the heavens."

Practice Example:

Tell: "The village had been destroyed by the fire."

Show: "Charred beams jutted from the rubble like broken ribs, the acrid smell of ash lingering in the air. A child's shoe lay half-buried in the soot, its leather curled from the heat."

[hay-jud]

Dara Horn, What Happens When the Last Jew Leaves Afghanistan

[hay-jud]

The Real Dog whistling ~

This random person 👆has literally been targeting every other hindu blog. They come to our blogs, make random claims without any source to back it, they call us names and then before we can even begin to form a reply, they block us.

First the “zionist blocklist” now people like these who are running around painting people as hindu fascists and using words like “Sanatan Dharma weirdos” as if that’s not hinduphobic at all. Ok buddy.

Like the quality of tumblr has really gone down. It has now attracted all kinds of riffraff and it’s so freaking annoying.

Also they keep harping about some political ideology which claims that everyone in India is an outsider except the forest dwelling tribes. Like bruhh my ancestors have lived in India for thousands of years.. how am I not indigenous? Tf you mean?!!

Do you want me to write my caste, my belonging and my pedigree here so you can be satisfied? WHAT DO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT ME??ABOUT US??? To EVEN make any claims??? Also where are your sources???

The only ones making dog whistles are these people. Just look at the mess of a comment talking about us targeting adivasis. Bruh adivasis are also hindus! Do you know about bheels? The adivasi community from Rajasthan?

Do you even know that Valmiki the sage who wrote one of Hinduism’s most important text was also an “adivasi”??! 👇

Do you know how many different types of forest tribal cultures we have??

Do you even know the genetic makeup of this country to make such a claim?

How ridiculous!

They are literally the same people as the rest of the Indian population!!!

There are about 530 tribes in India which makes up about 8.2% of the entire Indian population.

Do you mean to say all the rest of the 91.8% of Indian population are not indigenous to India?

Also wtf even is adivasi? The term was only recently coined in the 19th century to back the ridiculous propaganda about giving some tribes an indigenous identity. There is no such term in any Sanskrit or any Indian languages. The word was literally made by joining two Sanskrit words “adi” and “vasi” like go figure!

Literally says “most tribes were formed after the Indus-Saraswati phase of Indian civilisation.” And Hinduism is older than that. We’ve literally found hindu iconography in these sites so how is Hinduism not indigenous? HOW ARE WE NOT INDEGENIOUS? We are just as indigenous and if not more than the forest dwelling tribes!

Also by your stupid logic no one is indigenous because no one sprouted from the land where they live today? Cuz literally everyone came from aftica and settled down in various places.

What a joke!!!

THE SAME ISLAMIC INVADERS THE MUGHALS NOT ONLY RAVAGED THE REST OF INDIA BUT ALSO THE ADIVASIS!!! I am speaking for them as well when I talk about the invasion of India!!!!!!

The Islamic invasions into India impacted everyone on this land!!

Come on now? Go on call me a hindu fascist for speaking the truth?? Why don’t you?

Is talking about the brutal Islamic invasions into India a crime??! How is it fascism??! What school did you study in?? **sighs**

It is not hindus who are a threat to these adivasis and their culture but the Christian conversions that have been rampant in these communities!!!!!!

The tradition of adivasi sages and saints has been going since the times of Ramayana and we even find mentions of adivasi saints, sages and important figures in hindu history -

1. Sages

Bhakta Shabari, a Nishadha woman who offered Shri Rama and Shri Laxmana her half-eaten ber fruit, which they gratefully accepted when they were searching for Shri Sita Devi in the forest.

2. Maharishis

Maharshi Matanga, Matanga Bhil, Guru of Bhakta Shabari. In fact, Chandalas are often addressed as 'Matanga 'in passages like Varaha Purana 1.139.91

3. Avatars

Birsa Bhagwan or Birsa Munda, considered an avatar of Khasra Kora. People approached him as Singbonga, the Sun god. He and his clan, the Mundas, were connected with Vaishnavite traditions as they were influenced by Sri Chaitanya. Birsa was very close to the Panre brothers Vaishnavites.

Kirata – the form of Lord Shiva as a hunter. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata. The Karppillikkavu Sree Mahadeva Temple, Kerala adores Lord Shiva in this avatar and is known to be one of the oldest surviving temples in Bharat.

Tribals and Hinduism—

At the Lingaraja Temple in Bhubaneswar, there are Brahmin and Badu (tribal) priests. The Badus have the most intimate contact with the deity of the temple, and only they can bathe and adorn it.

The Bhils are mentioned in the Mahabharata. The Bhil boy Ekalavya's teacher was Drona, and he had the honour to be invited to Yudhishthira's Rajasuya Yajna at Indraprastha. Indian tribals were also part of royal armies in the Ramayana and in the Arthashastra.

Shabari was a Bhil woman who offered Rama and Lakshmana jujubes when they were searching for Sita in the forest. Matanga, a Bhil, became a Brahmana.

In fact idk if you are educated enough or if you even pay any attention towards the news and current affairs cuz if you had you would have known that the current president of India Miss Draupadi Murmu is from a tribal community?!! So much for the “fascist state that supports your interests but nobody else’s ” comment you made.

You stupid troll.

Get some education and stop targeting hindus.

Hinduphobic arseholes.

[hay-jud]

I'm sus of any American Jew choosing to write in Hebrew right now

do you think jews are speaking hebrew to hide information from you or something? lol

[hay-jud]

awful tweet warning:

Before I describe everything that's wrong with this tweet, let me transcribe Stephen Fry's words:

I am Stephen Fry, and I am a Jew. The great Irish thinker and writer Conor Cruise O'Brien once said that antisemitism is a light sleeper. Well, it seems to have woken up of late. The horrendous events of October 7th, and the Israeli response, seem to have stirred up this ancient hatred. It's agonizing to see all violence and destruction that is unfolding, and the terrible loss of life on both sides brings me an overwhelming sadness and heartache. But whatever our opinions on what is happening, there can be no excuse for the behaviour of some of our citizens. Since October the 7th, there have been 50 separate reported incidents of antisemitism every single day in London alone, an increase of 1350%, according to the Metropolitan police. Shop windows smashed, stars of David and swastikas daubed on walls of Jewish properties, synagogues, and cemeteries. Jewish schools have been forced to close. There is real fear stalking the Jewish neighbourhoods of Britain. Jewish people here are becoming fearful of showing themselves, in Britain, in 2023.

(Then it cuts off.)

For those who still don't know why this tweet was ignorant and inane, let me explain.

"To hear him conflate antiZionism with antisemitism has shocked me."

Guess how many times Stephen Fry mentions zionism? Zero! Guess how many times he mentions the country of Israel? Zero! (Unless you count "the Israeli response" which is unrelated to the existence of the country, or Zionism at all.) What this person is saying, is that they consider the smashing of shop windows, and the vandalism and marking of Jewish property, to be anti-Zionism. Considering they are an anti-Zionist, by following their logic, we can conclude that they not only believe this destruction and harassment is acceptable, but they believe it is ethical.

Further, they accuse him of showing no care for the Palestinians, even though he explicitly states that the loss of life on both sides brings him overwhelming sadness.

Finally, they accuse him of "[Centring] people in this country". It is disturbing that this person believes one cannot be concerned over two issues at a time. It perpetuates the idea that we can only talk about the "worst oppression" and talking about anything else means you are complicit in "silencing" someone else. If this were true, we would not be allowed to talk about Gaza either, or Ukraine, or police brutality, racism, islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, and so on and so on, because clearly there are other issues with hundreds of thousands more deaths, and millions more displacements, so why bring attention to it ever?

Unfortunately, people are not talking about those countries, like Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia, Congo, and more, and anyone who does is spammed with "free Palestine" comments. In fact, the most I've heard people talking about Sudan is when these TikTok geopolitical experts attempt to spam the Palestinian flag and get it wrong.

This is not new. This is obviously not new. I have seen tweets like these every single day in the hundreds for the last 80 days. It is not surprising that people think smashing windows is "anti-zionism", nor that they think it good. It is not surprising that they hear a Jew speak, and experience shock and disgust, regardless of what we say.

I do wonder if they would regard anything short of a second Holocaust as antisemitism.