#at least in my country we are historically not the best at treating victims of sa kindly

[ninyard]

just the thought of them trying to make it seem consensual makes me SO mad because ANDREW WAS SO INJURED!!! HE HAD A CONCUSSION!!! HE COULDN'T SIT DOWN WITHOUT PAIN!!! HE MUST'VE BEEN COVERED IN BRUISES TOO!!! KILL THE PROSECUTOR!!!!!! Anyway just casually getting mad as if this is a real case oopsie

YUP!!!! yupyupyup

and Andrew is probably going to have to hear them try to make it seem like Aaron didn’t know what he was really looking at <3 that he could’ve misunderstood <3

[brandycranby]

HI HELLO. I HAVE QUESTIONS! ok so obviously all about my newest obsession raccoon hybrid!reader. ONE. do the others know about stevie's new pet (? is that what we call her idk imma go w this bc it makes the most sense in my brain unless you have a better title)? like is tony aware theres this precious girl hiding out in steves rooms? do bucky and same know about her i must know. TWO if they do know about her how do they react? how does reader react to them knowing about her?

eeee thank you for all the questions 🥺🥺 i’ll try to answer these as best i can, it got kind of sociological and political honestly 🥲 i wish i could loosen up for ridiculous fanfic

a note ig, idk if i want to call her “pet”, both in and out of the AU. that does largely bring up the idea of owners and i don’t know if thats somewhere i want to go since the concept of being "owned" could be jarring for some readers. “companion” may be a better term and it’s even preferred in universe. “pet” would be an outdated term for a hybrid who exists as a live-in partner/entertainment (but technically they are kinda… pets)

ONTO UR QUESTIONS under a cut bc it's too long

they will eventually find out. unless no one ever visits steve’s quarters or notices how he orders extra extra food and spends more time in his room alone. I mean, bucky at the very least would be suspicious lolol sam would also get dragged along into investigating. they might even help steve keep his secret but she’d eventually get bored and sneak out. might go crawling around in the vents and end up bumping into clint who’s just 👀

there are rumors of a compound cryptid going around for a few weeks or months. thor brushes it off, has shared peanut butter with the “horrors” during late night snack time and didn’t know. natasha probably knew from the very beginning bc steve isn’t subtle and she Knows All. tony is the last to know ofc. bruce is concerned about hybrid welfare and is surprised that there's one here???

A lot of “how they react” and “how she reacts” really depends on the status of human-animal hybrids in this universe. A brief history:

for creatures to be treated as sub-human despite having human characteristics/appearances, it would mean that they’ve occurred naturally in the wild for some time and have been incorporated into human society as high class companions or status symbols but largely not.

glossing over a lot of historically linked phenomena like ✨british imperialism✨, the industrial revolution, capitalism, and rapid population growth, hybrids would eventually become victims of not only hydra but also other shady groups who either want to 1) capitalize on breeding and marketing hybrids or illegal trafficking/prostitution, 2) develop super soldiers that are hybrid-based (an alternative route to the serum), 3) or are just fucked up mad scientists who want to experiment on things that wouldn’t technically land them in legal hot water

bc hybrid laws are weird and complicated and i need a real lawyer to help me develop these (except i won’t bc this is strange lil au and i can’t dedicate my whole brain to it). as a whole, i don’t think it’d be strange for countries in the 21st century to have hybrid rights passed as legal regulations. they can talk, they can think for themselves, yes they have animal behaviors and special needs, but they are largely sentient and deserve to be called legal persons.

They can work and do things on their own but i think it’d be a very specialized field like dog hybrids working as TSA assistants bc they have good noses or cat hybrids being preferred dancers for ballet performances. Their role as companions are still relevant, bunny hybrids are cute and very nervous which make them less hireable as a barista for example but are ok for companionship.

(very vague term honestly, this ranges from the traditional lady’s companion role where they’re paid to just live with someone, babysitters/nannies, domestic partnership, to being caregivers or sugar babies 👉🏼👈🏼 also not sure how they'd get hired for this? word of mouth? registery?)

Raccoon hybrids exist but kinda.. aren’t useful in a field or are as desirable as companions. They don’t take orders as well as dog hybrids, are far too mischievous, and aren’t as aesthetically pleasing. Their common stereotype as pests have led to raccoon hybrids living mostly off-grid or as wanderers. This means they have more independence than other hybrids that live as pets but it also means that it’s not uncommon for them to be arrested or disposed of because of complaints.

Again, real life in the US is kinda terrifying right now. What is a right depends on state-to-state legislation. So while hybrids may have full rights in New York, the situation in Texas may be much worse where they are treated more like animals than persons. More horrors: possible open season?

All the Avengers would do their best to accommodate her and make her feel safe in the compound. Maybe they didnt think Steve would have gotten a hybrid on his own but ofc he'd pick one out of a garbage can 😌

---

i spent way too long on this 😭��� thank u for loving my writing aaaa 🥺👉🏼👈🏼 u have no idea how happy that makes me, i write such sappy and soft stuff sometimes

the fic: the berry sweetest

[historicity-was-already-taken]

been quiet on my end because long covid, writing a lot, holocaust symposium coming up in two months, and selling sunset may have triggered my ED (lol), but i just wanna say that if we lived in a society which valued historical knowledge and education, no one would be shocked by the war crime news coming out of ukraine.

we shouldn’t be shocked. people should be educated enough about the history of warfare and its impact on civilians to not be shocked that this is happening. where there is war, there is the rape, torture, extra-judicial murder, and mass killing of civilians. that’s the price of the fucking nation-state construct.* 

and this sounds immensely snotty and pompous, but that’s not my intent. i’m not feeling superior; I’m feeling sad, jaded, and nihilistic. 

I think to truly be anti-war, or at least, a global society which would rather do sneaky warfare through money and cultural and Sun Tzu shit, we need to teach people about the realities of war. Like, maybe we SHOULD teach to traumatize. It’s not faceless people Over There, and if we understood war, we would understand before it even starts that a. there's nothing glorious about it, and b. a lot of civilians are about to have their lives destroyed. Violently.

Though, whenever I make a post like this, you people point out that it is to the benefit of no one with global money/power to educate people on this shit, so. 

*a nation-state is a polity which centers its existence on the claimed historical reality/experience of a particular ethno-racial group’s presence in a geographical area. it defines the nation and therefore citizenship in terms of ethnic ID. this allows some state actors to claim others’ territory via arguments about history and demographics. it also creates a society in which minorities are at best, treated like tokenized puppies, and at worst, victim to ethnic cleansing and/or genocide. When the state is tied to ethnic sameness, all Others represent an internal enemy. 

you might think that i’m subbing a specific country here or historical thing here, but i’m 800% not. you show me a nation-state anywhere in the world--no matter how left wing or autocratic, regardless of race, religious, and/or ethnic ID--and i’ll show you a group of people who will never be true citizens in the eyes of the ethno-racial majority, even if they have lived on that land for centuries, and even if they’ve had legal citizenship for all of their lives.

And if you’re having trouble getting it this concept, here’s another way to look at it: many Americans who support Donald Trump think the USA is/should be/needs to stay a white, evangelical Protestant nation state

[didon]

Rashta, Navier and the true villain of The Remarried Empress

Listen, I don’t like Rashta. I don’t think I really need to explain why as most people clearly don’t. I think that she’s using very underhanded techniques to get what she needs and more. Because we all need safety and she comes from a place and status where she clearly need reassurance and that’s understandable. I find her annoying though because of the way she act and how she manipulate people. That’s my opinion. Navier clearly isn’t the only one she has hurt though so we can maybe stop using a sexist term like “Mary Sue” to describe her. The same way we need to watch our language about Rashta.

Now, I do believe that most of the hate should go on the Emperor even though it won’t because fandom is always more willing to hate on a “handsome” man rather than on any woman no matter how beautiful they are. Especially if they uses that beauty like Rashta does which was very common and still is. Not only is he the one truly being an ass to his wife, but he could have easily had people teach Rashta how to behave from the get go. Instead, he enjoys her ignorance because it satisfy his idea that he is this great person that everybody would love if they met. He cannot understand why Navier hasn’t fallen for him, despite not loving her himself, and need someone to reassure him that he is the gift to humanity he was probably told he was a thousand times growing up. He’s the true villain because he hurts both of the women, uses them to get what he wants, etc. For those that have read to the right part, let’s remember what is divorce plan actually is and how ridiculous it is.

I don’t think though that people should blame Navier for being “cold” (not that I’m seeing it here but still). She’s a young woman who was raised with an immense amount of pressure on her and she was probably taught that every single one of her actions have consequences. They actually do because whoever she talks to can be seen as favored and therefore will probably boast about it. The clothes she wear have an influence, her hair, etc. She can’t even unburden herself on anybody because that would be seen as weakness and as the Emperess she’s not allowed to have any. She has “everything” but not really because she is alone and not allowed to truly want or need for anything. Heck, people would probably talk if she were to express anything because how dare she need/want for anything, her who already has everything. She’s not even allowed friends that don’t work for her per her husband driving them away. She’s a bird that’s locked in a cage at all time and yet isn’t allowed to sing because it would make the free birds outside cry. She didn’t choose her life either, she was forced into it by her family.

That wasn’t my point while starting this though. I wanted to ask since when did slavery = bad become a hot take? I get that this is fiction, etc. but what is fiction but a reflection of our world and our values. Yes there are places were men can have multiple wives and mistresses and the women can’t say anything about it, but that’s not the case in South Korea. We’re also not talking about adultery. We’re talking about the very fact that somebody can “own” another’s life and impose their will and desire onto them. No matter if it’s fantasy or anything like it, it’s never okay. I don’t know in which universe people live but seeing an abject crime against humanity done and go “but it’s fiction” isn’t a good reasoning. The same way pure racism isn’t okay because of “fiction” or abuse isn’t okay for the same reason. I get that Rashta isn’t the most pleasant character but still. Especially since we are told here that she might be paying for someone’s else crime. Imagine how ridiculous that is. Your ancestor stole a loaf of bread or flirted with the wrong woman and the leader of your country decided that generations after them must pay for them. I know we are told that only a true “horrible” crime result in slavery but that all depend on the leader and their view of what categorizes a horrible crime. For some historical leaders, being born was a crime. That’s not counting a mad leader deciding to make their enemies disappear by selling them into slavery. Does someone really deserve to be treated as less than human because they or their parents did not agree with the political leader?

Rashta is a victim of that and is a villain sure but at least we have actual reason for her doing what she does. She evolved from the naive and trustable person we met at first, but how can she not when she’s trust in a political world with no idea how to swim in it. She’s also very much aware that her origin make her less in everybody’s mind around her. Now, does everything she does is okay or the right course of action? Of course not it isn’t. She quickly loses her innocence and start playing the game just like everybody else but she doesn’t deserve hate for that. The same way she doesn’t deserve hate for trying to survive in a world of sharks. It’s not a question of not trusting the Emperor, which she is right to do by the way seeing how he’s treated his wife and how others are treated for doing less than she is, but a question of trying to come out of all of it with her head on her shoulders and enough to live on. Does she eventually get greedy? Maybe and in my actual opinion yes, but she didn’t start wanting to steal a husband and a kingdom from someone else. Men are constantly manipulating her and using her for their own wishes and she can’t turn toward any of the ladies either because she is very much aware of how precarious her situation is. Unlike Navier, she can’t rely on being raised for the role of mistress or even her losing her status causing a political problem. She’s a nobody being used by rich men as a plaything and trying to not come out as a loser. She might be going at it wrong, but she was never taught how to do it right and you have to remember all the men that are filling her with lies and mistrust. Because pretty much every single of her “schemes” have come from a man telling her a lie or giving her a bad advice.

What I think is very interesting in this webtoon is the duality of Rashta and Navier because in a way, they end up in similar situations. They are both women that have to survive court and nobles being faker than plastic while men are trying to use them for their own gains and who have nobody to truly be able to turn to. Eventually, Navier gains people like that, but the tragedy of Rashta is that she doesn’t. She might think she can trust some people, but none of the people around her truly have her best interest at heart. The best thing for her would have been for Navier to take her under her wing while Rashta refuses to be the Emperor’s mistress (I can never remember his name sorry). By having the very same position that grants her the “security” she so need and desire, Rashta put her best ally in an enemy position and that’s what’s going to be her downfall. She might be annoying and pushing it sometimes, but we know she will drown because she’s never been taught otherwise. That’s why the true villain will always have to be the Emperor because he’s not only the one who pitted the two women by taking one as a mistress while married to the other one, but he never took the time to truly help his mistress, expecting others and especially Navier to do so for him. He could have brought her back to the palace as a guest only and Navier would have probably taken Rashta under her wing like she does for many others, but by making her a rival to Navier, he destroyed any chances she had to be able to leave him and survive which I think was something he did deliberately. There’s no way he wouldn’t have known that this would be the actual ending. He wanted to keep Rashta bound to him until he was done with her otherwise he would have asked Navier to help set her up with housing and maybe even a job. Instead, he probably held her status and her gender against her and decided to use her beauty for himself.

The lesson of this story in my opinion isn’t that beautiful women shouldn’t be trusted or that you have to be pure of heart and your history a blank slate to be worthy or anything like that but instead a lesson for women on who to trust and that we are stronger together than separated. It’s also a very clear lesson on how appearances can be wrong and it asks us the reader to truly wonder what makes someone a villain. Does wanting to survive in a hostile world make you one? Does not wanting to let someone take what is yours and what you have worked for your entire life does? Or does wanting to use others for your advantage, control them and force them to need you make you a villain?

[write-a-bad-romance]

Two Hares Running Side by Side [Part I]

Characters: Jean d’Arc, Napoleon Bonaparte, Sebastian, Comte de Saint-Germain, minor characters adapted from historical figures

Pairings: Napoleon x MC, Napoleon x Jean, Sebastian x Saint-Germain (main)

Words: 2939

Their first encounter was twelve years ago, in a training and recruitment camp in the east. 

It was a slow and uneventful afternoon. Leon yawned as he watched sons and young fathers line up at the administration table, each of them carrying a conscription letter with their respective names. 

The prolonged war had taken too many of their older, more capable men. Leon snorted at the sight of snot-faced, butterfingered lads not even old enough to venture far from their parents' farm. 

Nothing had been amiss until he heard his sergeant, Sebastian, arguing with some country boy.

The boy was about his height, clearly younger by a good four years and too ethereally pretty to join the army. His expression was nonchalant, and Leon noted the same lack of enthusiasm in his baritone voice. 

"The letter clearly called for Jacques d'Arc, a veteran. You are clearly not him. What's your name, boy?" Sebastian inquired. The word "boy" did not suit his actual, affable demeanor in the slightest.

"Jean d'Arc, Sir. I've come in my elderly father's place as my brothers are unsuitable to partake on the journey to camp," The boy explained levelly. "I just turned seventeen this summer, Sir."

Leo stared at the pale boy. Broad shoulders, a sharp contrast to his ridiculously modest waist, and long legs leaner than an average man's. 

If this was what a farm boy was supposed to look like, Leon wasn't impressed. They were drafting soldiers to fight off the goddamned Holy Roman Empire, not chevalier servants for a house of pleasures.

Napoleon's patience grew thin. He disappeared between the encampment's gates, not bothering to see the end of Sebastian's quarrel with the dispassionate recruit.

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The haughty farmboy turned out to be one of his cadets in the artillery. 

He wasn't half-bad, Leon supposed. The boy was clearly a quick study and obedient, to boot. Somewhat distant from his fellow trainees, but still handy nonetheless.

D'Arc clearly preferred the company of horses, as Leon came to learn when he found the latter loitering around the stables. The unwitting boy was gingerly brushing Leon's beloved mare, Angé.

Napoleon cleared his throat. "You do know it's my horse you're brushing, don't you, soldier?"

Jean d'Arc started at the sound of Leon's voice. Even so, he didn't stutter. "Forgive me. I hadn't been aware."

But Napoleon signaled him to stay at ease, seeing how easily Angé leaned into his touch. No doubt a skill he brought from home. 

"I couldn't resist approaching such a magnificent horse," d'Arc spoke to Leon's surprise. "Such a gentle steed."

“Tame” wasn't the right word Leon would use when describing Angé, especially not regarding how she'd usually react to new faces. "Did you bribe her with a carrot?"

Leon was joking, but Jean answered him like his entire month's salary depended on his answer. "No, sir. It was an apple I offered instead. Although this time, I had been meaning to give her a carrot." The dark-haired youth answered, holding out a spindly carrot for Leon to inspect.

Napoleon couldn't help but chuckle. "I hope you didn't steal that from the kitchen."

"No, sir. I procured this out of my own pocket." Jean replied earnestly as if the dark brown mare wasn't trying to chew on his uniform shoulder.

It was dangerous for Napoleon to allow himself to laugh. There was no stopping him once he laughed, Sebastian once said. In the end, Leon only smirked and turned to exit the stables. "If I had known you were this skillful at handling horses, I would have turned you over to Cavalry instead."

There was a solemn glint in d'Arc's eyes, one Napoleon couldn't find in himself to ridicule. 

"I enjoy being in the artillery, sir." Sharp, once-glazed iolite eyes held Leon's gaze. "There is so much I have yet to learn."

And master, Leon wanted to add. Given time and the opportunity, it's intelligent men like d'Arc who were quick to advance in the military.

"Is that so? Good to hear." Leon replied, just as sincere. "We're glad to have you."

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True to Leon's word, d'Arc scaled the ranks in no time. He was promoted to Sergeant Major, just as Leon himself rose to Second Lieutenant.

It had been a snowy night when Leon and the now-Adjutant Sebastian were making their way to their temporary base, located not too far from the town’s business district. The streets were relatively quiet, save for the distant jeers and shouts of soldiers making merry in brightly lit taverns.

The lanterns reminded Leon of Paris, of home. Of the face of his mother and siblings.

And of his fiancé with strawberry blonde locks, who is no doubt currently enjoying the holidays with her family, waiting for him to arrive home.

"Everybody seems quite spirited, aren't they?" Sebastian smiled fondly. "I mean, literally.

Napoleon didn't answer. He was too absorbed watching black figures dance on the light pouring from the door of a tavern. They reminded him of a shadow play he watched once in Paris with his fiancé

Which meant he was caught off guard when a body was flung to his side from the open door. He struggled to maintain his footing as he propped the other man.

Only to be met by a familiar face, now flushed red from drinking.

"D'Arc!" Leon exclaimed, "You frightened me! Are you alright, man?"

Judging from the sweat clinging to his skin (despite it being midwinter) and his vehement groans, it became evident that d'Arc was far from alright.

They were soon joined by d'Arc's friends: fellow officers whom Leon quickly recognized as the three young nobles who constantly hung around the farm boy for some reason.

"Jean! Where are you— ack, Second Lieutenant Bonaparte! Forgive us! We didn't mean to—" One of the lads shrieked. What was his name? d'Alencon? "See, see? This is why we shouldn't have forced him to drink!"

Leon glared at his subordinates. "You made your friend overdrink?! Why?"

Sebastian glanced back-and-forth anxiously as a burly man with raven hair stepped forward. "We didn't mean to, sir. D'Arc's birthday is approaching, and we thought about celebrating since we may not be able to get off camp by then." He explained.

"D'arc birthday? Oof!" Leon grunted as he felt Jean slipping from his side and onto the cobblestones. "That is still no reason to make your friend this intoxicated. If this were the barracks, I'd have all of you thrown out and never mind your parents!" he barked. 

D'Alencon piped up. "It was a small pint, sir. Jean went down immediately after that one shot."

Leon's bewilderment was cut short as he felt d'Arc's breath caressing the side of his exposed neck. The Second Lieutenant nearly yelped and threw d’Arc off if it wasn’t for the vice-like grip on his waist.

"If you'd allow us, sir." Another dark-haired youth approached to pry d'Arc off Leon. "We'll take him back inside."

But d'Arc's iron hold on Leon proved too much for both men (three, as Sebastian rushed to their aid). Napoleon let out a defeated laugh as d'Arc only clung tighter to his victim. 

Sebastian eyed Napoleon with a look that said well, he's your problem now.

The unconscious d' Arc somehow managed to climb even higher and grunted audibly against Leon's ear. The sound sent shivers down Leon's spine.

"So, what do we do now?" d'Alencon asked.

"Get him to the base," Leon breathed laboriously. "Let Saint-Germain treat him."

It was overkill for a drunk soldier, but d'Arc was no ordinary drunk. Leon feared the inebriated youth might get himself into trouble if they let him loiter outside the base

And, God forbid, do something that will besmirch their corps' name.

Leon looped one of d'Arc's arms behind his neck as he held the sergeant-major's ridiculously thin waist close. "Leave this to us. We're taking him back to the Doctor. Don't try anything else and report to me in the morning." He informed the officers, all of whom reacted differently: d'Alencon with wide panicked eyes, the tall, dark man who stayed silent (he was clearly drunk), and the quiet one, who regarded the commotion with well, silence.

"We'll take it from here then," Sebastian hurriedly added. "If you'll excuse us, gentlemen."

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It didn't take long before the trio finally reached the base. By now, Leon had resorted to piggybacking d'Arc as the latter suddenly seemed to have lost every bone in his (surprisingly light body).

"Friends, they say." Leon heaved. "And they don't even accompany us back to base."

"There's not much to do at the base if they choose to return," Sebastian answered. "And they're still afraid of you."

"Me? Do I still come off as threatening?" Leon laughed. It felt like ages since he last barked orders on the field to the then-recruits. Now, they were officers with a third of his burden and responsibilities.

Someday, they'd be in his shoes too, growing older as the never ending war raged on. Ah, how time flew.

"Not as my long-time friend, no." Sebastian giggled. "You don't often show your friendlier side these days. Imagine your subordinate's shock if they found out you're a charismatic, passionate man who laughs, eats, and speaks as if every moment was a gift."

Napoleon smiled at the dove-haired man.

"So, like a normal man?" He chuckled. "You flatter me too much, Sebastian."

It was the increasing body count. It was the uncertainty one faced before heading off to battle, and not knowing whether it would be their remains that would be scattered across the fields the next minute.

"At least you're with me from the start, Sebastian. That's all I could ask,"

was all Napoleon could manage. It elicited a hearty laugh from his best friend.

"Save those words for your fiancé, Monsieur Bonaparte," Sebastian grinned. "You're making me fall for you all over again."

The Corsican grimaced, and both men continued their walk through the military complex, which was dead silent as a cemetery.

They managed to reach d'Arc's quarters, which he shared with d'Alencon after clambering through several corridors and a flight of stairs.

"You, get Saint-Germain or anybody else who's still around." Leon panted after he successfully hoisted d'Arc's body onto the bed. "Remember, time of the essence. No fooling around with the good doctor."

"Didn't expect you to say that," Sebastian grinned. "But you can count on me."

"You, get Saint-Germain or anybody else who's still around." Leon panted after he successfully hoisted d'Arc's body onto the bed. "Remember, time of the essence. No fooling around with the good doctor."

"Didn't expect you to say that," Sebastian grinned. "But you can count on me. I’ll be right back." And with that, he disappeared.

If he were shameless, Leon would have joined d'Arc on the bed beside him. But not even exhaustion could conquer the Corsican, and so Leon sat straight-legged by the foot of the bed. 

D'Arc's side of the room was as bare as bones, Leon noticed. There was the Holy Book on the bedside drawer and a gold rosary, but not much else.

"I wonder what your family would think if they caught their good, Christian son drinking until he's plastered." Leon chuckled to himself. "You'd be in so much trouble."

Leon's idle hand groped around until he felt a piece of paper under his palm. Picking it up, he recognized it as a manual on newly produced cannon types, which he penned.

Around the illustrations and diagrams were d'Arc's chicken-foot scribbles, cramped next to each other until there was barely any space left on the paper.

Like his former fellow cadets, he too had grown.

Leon sighed and leaned against the bed, gazing at the ceiling. This year marked d'Arc's third New Year with the company. He was no longer the solitary boy hanging around the stables feeding Angé carrots. D'Arc was now a man with dozens of cannons under his command and his own soldiers to lead.

The war has yet to strip his innocence, Leon mused. There was a time when he wished farm boys like d'Arc remained boys, away from the dangers of shrapnels and enemy bayonets.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt gloved hands coming to grope at the back of his head, the sides of his face. Was d'Arc awake?

"D'Arc." Leon turned. "You—"

He was cut off when he was suddenly knocked down towards the floor with full force. Leon's head was full of how and why he felt d'Arc's body slide down from the bed and cover his.

"D'Arc!" Leon shouted frantically. "Get off me! You're heavy, for heaven's sake!" But resistance was futile as d'Arc began to boldly crawl all over his prone form, the former's chest firmly pressing down on his back. 

"K-keep still," The man on top of him slurred, his nose burrowing into Leon's hair. "Y-you're moving too much."

This idiot! Leon screamed internally. His energy had been wasted to the point where he couldn't just roll over and dislodge the other man. "You keep it together! You dared to tackle your Second Lieutenant, and now you're crushing him to death!"

Leon continued struggling against his predicament until he realized he had no more hope than a cockroach flipped on its back. In the end, he gave up and stopped thinking until slender fingers began to wander all over his neck and face.

Just like a banshee with her clawed hands. Leon sighed to himself. 

Just when he thought nothing could surprise him anymore, d'Arc somehow had to whisper right next to his face, hot air grazing against the shell of Leon's ear.

"Pierre, 's that you?"

Leon's prior mortification faded. There was the smallest hint of a sob in d'Arc's otherwise unwavering voice.

"Pierre, 'm so sorry." D'Arc sniffled. "I went ahead without telling you." 

Leon stilled. Who was Pierre? His brother? He remembered d'Arc mentioning male siblings who were unfit to enlist, so he went in their stead. Was this Pierre one of them?

"Dun want you to go," D'Arc continued. "Please...be happy with Émile."

Leon was an imaginative man, and he was convinced d'Arc had taken his brother's place as he had been newly married. It was easy to position himself in the situation. If he were d'Arc, he'd go in place of his brother too.

But his career in the military as a second was a given. What he didn't understand was why d'Arc would trade a peaceful life in the pastures for bloodshed.

It's not every day that a boy woke up and decided he was brave enough to kill a man. Or risk getting himself killed.

But none of it mattered as more words flowed out of the Sergeant Major's mouth.

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt gloved hands coming to grope at the back of his head, the sides of his face. Was d'Arc awake?

"D'Arc." Leon turned. "You—"

He was cut off when he was suddenly knocked down towards the floor with full force. Leon's head was full of how and why he felt d'Arc's body slide down from the bed and cover his.

"D'Arc!" Leon shouted frantically. "Get off me! You're heavy, for heaven's sake!" But resistance was futile as d'Arc began to boldly crawl all over his prone form, the former's chest firmly pressing down on his back. 

"K-keep still," The man on top of him slurred, his nose burrowing into Leon's hair. "Y-you're moving too much."

This idiot! Leon screamed internally. His energy had been wasted to the point where he couldn't just roll over and dislodge the other man. "You keep it together! You dared to tackle your Second Lieutenant, and now you're crushing him to death!"

Leon continued struggling against his predicament until he realized he had no more hope than a cockroach flipped on its back. In the end, he gave up and stopped to think until slender fingers began to wander all over his neck and face.

Just like a banshee with her clawed hands. Leon sighed.

Just when he thought nothing could surprise him anymore, d'Arc somehow had to whisper right next to his face, hot air grazing against the shell of Leon's ear.

"Pierre, 's that you?"

Leon's prior mortification faded. There was the smallest hint of a sob in d'Arc's otherwise unwavering voice.

"Pierre, 'm so sorry." D'Arc sniffled. "I went ahead without telling you." 

Leon stilled. Who was Pierre? His brother? He remembered d'Arc mentioning male siblings who were unfit to enlist, so he went in their stead. Was this Pierre one of them?

"Dun want you to go," D'Arc continued. "Please...be happy with Émile."

Leon was an imaginative man, and he was convinced d'Arc had taken his brother's place as he had been newly married. It was easy to position himself in the situation. If he were d'Arc, he'd go in place of his brother too.

But his career in the military as a second was a given. What he didn't understand was why d'Arc would trade a peaceful life in the pastures for bloodshed.

It's not every day that a boy woke up and decided he was brave enough to kill a man. Or risk getting himself killed.

In place of sobs spilling from his mouth, d'Arc's nose dug even deeper against the nape of Leon's neck. What worrying behavior, Leon thought. Other people will be sure to take this the wrong way.

"D'Arc? No, Jean?" Leon called softly, wondering if calling the soldier by his given name would work better. "Jean, I need you to—"

"Jehanne," d'Arc murmured.

"What?"

"It's Jehanne. Not Jean, not...d'Arc. Jehanne." D’Arc repeated as if his own name were a litany. The added syllable lent more personality to his unremarkable official name, given to a million men across the country.

And shaped a clearer image of Jean d'Arc as a whole, a person.

It wasn't much but enough to distinguish him from the lonely d'Arc who was no longer alone. And from the resigned beauty who seemed more at home on the distant moon than the lines of cannons and armed men.

God, Leon was starting to sound delirious. Even more than the actual drunk on his back.

"Excuse me, I believe someone requested medical help — oh dear, I didn't mean to interrupt!" a voice alerted Leon from his reflection. He noticed Saint-Germain by the door, followed by a disheveled Sebastian.

"Good evening, Doctor. You sure took your time coming here," Leon smirked. "Would you kindly free me from Sergeant Major d'Arc? Careful, he bites."

⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋⚋

Recommended BGM: (X)

Notes: yeaaa, so I changed the nature of Napo and Sebas’ relationship here because they’re supposed to be more or less equals (Sebas still thinks of him as his superior, but still). 

Also, I kinda had to tone down Napoleon’s prince charming tendencies and up the arrogance somewhat. He’s supposed to be a military officer here and not just somebody’s boyfriend.

[the-necessary-unnecessary]

hey, can you tell us a bit about racism in Spain? I'm incredibly uneducated about it, and I don't know much about Spanish history especially racism wise so it would be really nice to get an insight from you about it.

this is a big question, since Spain’s relationship with xenophobia dates back centuries and I’m neither the most qualified person to take you through it nor someone who has suffered from Spanish society’s racist tendencies. However I’ll try to piece a bit of something together and maybe other people can add on if there’s other stuff to include. Also, this is mainly Spanish history from a racism perspective, there are many other positive things in other areas that I haven’t included (patriota pero no mucho)

So basically, up until the 15th century, Spain (in its then form) was a relatively harmonious melting pot of different cultures. With the Roman invasion, settlements and a Visigoth takeover (Germanic population) thereafter, Christianity was pretty firmly established in the country/iberian peninsula by the 2nd Century AD. In 711 AD the Moors, who had control over Islamic Africa, invaded the peninsula and established a Caliphate named Al-Andalus which had a particular stronghold in the south: in Andalusia and their Córdoban capital. Rule was stronger or weaker depending on the region but largely Islamic rule was established and Jewish and Catholic people were treated as second class citizens. Córdoba became the wealthiest, largest and most sophisticated city in Europe by the end of the tenth century, with trade and rich intellectual North African traditions forming a unique culture in the region.

There is a strong historical basis that during a lot of this period there was pockets of ‘La Convivencia’ ie. the co-existence of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Like for example, around Toledo where in universities the three backgrounds contributed to tremendous amounts of sharing of knowledge etc.

However, from about the 9th century onwards the Catholics who still held strong points right in the north, begun ‘la Reconquista’, the “reconquest,” where they began chipping away at the Caliphate’s dominance. By the early 11th century they had gained more land than was held by the Muslims and 1492 is where we set our next scene.

This is probably one of the biggest and most path changing years in Spanish history. Most known for being the year when Columbus landed in America, this enabled the start of Spanish imperlism which would extend to almost 5 centuries afterwards, conquering territories in South America, Africa and Asia and subjecting them to imperialistic rule and policies of white totalitarian dominance.

The second important happening in this year was the fall of Granada, the last remaining territory the Caliphate had in Spain, signifying the end of Muslim rule in the country. They were, as expected, thrown out of the country in their droves and many others were forced into hiding being subject to situations that would only get worse with the Inquisition in full swing.

The third, and last, big event in this year was outlined in the Alhambra Decree where the expulsion of all practicing Jews was announced. Now this had already followed the forced conversion tens of thousands of Jews had been subjected to in 1391 and 1415 (ie. crusades and masacres against them). As a result of the Alhambra decree and the prior persecution, over 200,000 Jews converted to Catholicism and around 160,000 were expelled.

This ended religious diversity in Spain, the Inquisition sealed this fate. If you’ve heard of one thing about all of this I’m sure it’s the spanish inquisition. Primarily set up to identify heretics among those who converted from Judaism and Islam to Catholicism and ensure the establishment of the Catholic monarchy, it became a method of torture, fear and murder for those who were perceived to cause any threat to the Spanish catholic order. The effects of the Inquisition are widely debated, with some saying the death toll and magnitude has been blown up by the Protestants in other European countries at the time and does not show the full picture of the hundreds of thousands of converted jews and muslims who remained and overtime became integrated into Catholic society. Whilst others remaining firm to the devastating measure of these actions and the ‘pure blood’ mentality it created. What’s for certain though, is that by the end of the Inquisition in 1834 very little religious nor ethnic diversity remained in Spain.

Jump forward about 100 years and the Spanish Empire is no more after the 1898 crisis, there’s a weird back and forth period with Republics and Monarchies and dictatorships until the Civil War broke out in 1936. It lasted until 1939 when the Nationalists, led by Franco, took total control of the country and submitted it to a dictatorship that would last until his death in 1975. I don’t even know where to begin with a period that many people see as rosy and many others ignore completely whilst Historians have now gone so far as to call the 1940s and 50s the ‘Spanish Holocaust’. However I’ll break it down to one or two main things that have predominantly spurred on today’s racist attitudes.

During the Civil Rights movements of the 50s and 60s Spain was largely immune to the winds of changes due to their isolationist policies and dictatorial power holds. We didn’t take part in any of the dialogue nor go through any racial reconciliation, at least to much a lesser extent than most other countries. It’s quite a common thing to say that what much of europe did in 70 years we’ve only had time to do in 45, and there’s much of a grain of truth in this.

A famous conservative spanish politician called David Aznar defended these views and can be extrapolated into the sentiment that existed to facilitate the transition to democracy and still remain today: "In the democratic transition there were implicit and explicit agreements. One was that we Spaniards don't want to look to the past. Let's not disturb the graves and hurl bones at one another.” As a society, we hate to think about the past, it’s just not widely done. There’s ONE museum solely dedicated to the Civil War, the Historical Memory Law passed in 2007 to try and increase the rights of victims and their families was met by so much opposition and is devastatingly underfunded etc etc. This still translates to spaniards’ views on racism, saying it just doesn’t exist here and moving on. There’s a refusal to confront this and microagressions are ingrained in the culture.

As I’ve kind of mentioned before, issues of race extend much further than towards just black people which is why the US BLM movement cannot simply be traced onto Spain. People who are originally from Latin America face extreme stereotypes and varying forms of discrimination against them as do Arab populations and other people who have immigrated from MENA countries plus the large Roma communities. 

The refugee crisis has further perpetuated the stigma around African immigrants in the past years, whilst the social effects of the 2008 Financial Crisis and beyond also continue to contribute to a xenophobic and nativist perspective where true spaniards should be prioritised with jobs, opportunities etc. For example, the alt-right wing party Vox that’s blatantly racist, anti-immigrants etc posted something with the slogan ‘Spanish Lives Matter’ the other day. They are purposefully incendiary.  

Anyways, hope this was a suitable start for you, you can’t summarise millennia worths of history into a few paragraphs but I tried my best. Also there are obviously many who stand for none of these values, politicians who have tried to right these wrongs, activists who keep fighting the fight, people who have broken down barriers and areas where there’s complete coexistance. However the fact remains that these views and ideas are ingrained in people’s minds, theres blatant job discrimination and a lack of equal opportunities despite laws that may have been put in place.

I’m going to point anyone who has got this far to a couple of articles about racism from an Anglo-Saxon perspective below, racist football culture is almost always mentioned. Being a black traveller in Spain; Same Spanish Holocaust link as before but an extremely important book review read; Irish perspective on the Enigma of Spanish Racism; Racism? What Racism? Asks Spain; Opinion: Racism Is Alive and kicking in Spain

[mbti-notes]

Hi mbti-notes, I hope you're doing well. I am an INFP young black American and the past few weeks have been such a nightmare. I obviously support the protests that have been taking place but I feel so hopeless at the same time. I've never been a fan of this country but the past few weeks have at least provided me with more clarity and conviction that there is nothing to be salvaged here. I have a friend who's also black but lives in europe and even we're at a loss for what to say to each (con't)

[con’t: other. I feel so angry and disgusted. I remember learning that as a part of anti-US propaganda during the Cold War, they’d show how black people have been treated in America and be like “this is how they treat their own people”. I’m not saying I support the USSR of course but it surprised me to hear that in the eyes of other countries, we’re as American as anyone else. It never felt that way. People can’t even protest police brutality without being faced with more police brutality. I’ve donated to bail funds, signed petitions, contacted my representatives about a piece of legislation that would help combat the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women but...I think the closest thing there is to a solution is for another Great Migration but this time, we just leave America. I feel bad saying that because obviously so many people don’t have the means to do so and it shouldn’t have to come to this but nobody wants us here. If the black panthers...]

It seems that tumblr disappeared the rest of your message, but I've read enough to detect some problematic thinking. It’s not about whether you’re “wanted”, it’s about the fact that you have a right to exist and be treated as human, equal to every other human under the law. It is beyond the scope of this blog to address politics and write political commentary. This blog primarily addresses individuals and how they cope with their circumstances. I won’t be able to understand all the experiences that you’ve had as a black American given such a short message from you. All I can do is bring to light your attitude and beliefs and how they affect your ability to cope and thrive in life. 

Developmentally, irrational pessimism is always something that INFPs should be vigilant about due to Fi-Si loop and the struggle to develop Ne big-picture thinking skills. There is certainly lots of injustice in the world, but this doesn't mean that there isn't also a lot of good in the world. There are many good people out there doing good things, otherwise, you’d have nothing to donate money to. There are also a lot of decent people who understand that racism is a big problem but don’t know what to do about it. Yet your mind is only ever trained on the pain and suffering - this indicates Fi extremes. I have a longstanding habit of observing how different people respond to challenges in life. For example, I see some black Americans out there protesting, some are educating people, some are attacking people, some are sowing anarchy, some are running for office, some are giving up, some are hiding, some are writing, some are leading legislative initiatives. Black Americans as a group share the burden of racism, but each person handles it in their own way. What is your response and why?

You focus on the problems, drowning in negative feelings, and perhaps even look for evidence to reinforce the belief that everything is irredeemable (misuse of Si), which means that you lack a big picture perspective. For your own well-being, perhaps you need to make wiser decisions about how you spend your time, where you focus your energy, and with whom you associate. Otherwise, you are only ever a victim of circumstance, bending and breaking with every gust of wind. If there are things/people in your life that exacerbate your tendency to be negative, it's up to you to adjust your decision making so that you are not always surrounded by the negative. Just as you keep physically healthy by not eating crap food, you should keep mentally healthy by not feeding yourself a constant diet of emotional negativity. For example, people tend to be much more pessimistic when they spend too much time on social media or consuming political commentary that is designed to be emotionally provocative. Perhaps there are healthier ways to spend your time. Whether you followed this or that tweet is of little significance if it only ends up with you feeling miserable.

With respect to moving: There are a variety of methods to measure the health and well-being of a society, and it's natural to think about how your country stacks up against others. Different societies have their own character and excel at different things. However, it's important to remember that there is no society without problems. Some countries are better at hiding their problems than others. Europe is no paradise, as there have been long running problems with colonialist and xenophobic attitudes. American society tends to be very extraverted and media driven, so its problems are often hanging out there for all to see, which might make them seem a lot worse than they really are.

Each aspect of society, whether you think it is positive or negative, is the result of a trade-off. For example, people often respect the U.S. for its staunch commitment to free speech, which allows for marginalized voices to be heard. But the trade-off is that you may get a more noisy and toxic social environment, as all voices get elevated and amplified. The question for you, as an individual, is whether the trade-offs are worth it for the kind of life that you would like to live. With the example of free speech, I’d rather have free speech, so I’m willing to tolerate all the noise and accept it as the cost of doing business. Nobody can make these sorts of judgments for you, as you are the best person to decide what's best for you. Thus, I'm not sure what to tell you. I only remind people that the decision making process works best when you give proper consideration to EVERY side of an issue, as opposed to being myopic, extreme, or one-sided.

Right now, there is a lot of frustration and anger floating around. Being so emotional basically means being myopic, as you are hyperfocused on the things that make you sad or angry. This will blind you to everything else. When you lose sight of the positive, Ne might start to believe that the grass is greener elsewhere. There's no denying that the problem of racism against black people runs very deep in American society, all the way back to the founding of the nation on the backs of slaves. But are you denying that progress has been made?

When people use the word "progress" in relation to history, they mainly refer to how things changed for the better. I think people too often forget that progress almost always comes at a steep COST. Society doesn’t change because people miraculously get “enlightened” en mass. No. People suffer, things get mangled, blood is shed, and there is a period of intense pain and sacrifice - these details tend to get glossed over in history classes as hindsight and nostalgia take over. Creation and destruction are two sides of the same coin. Thinking that you can create something new and better without destroying what is old and obsolete is wishful thinking. To be clear, I'm not advocating destruction; I'm only saying that, in reality, you cannot escape destruction, as it is a necessary stage in the process of creation. If you are unlucky, you get to live during "interesting" times. But, viewed from a bigger perspective, it also means that you get to live during a time when you have a chance to make a difference and what you do matters. From this perspective, being alive right now is better than living during a time of being forced into accepting the status quo, is it not?

What is society other than the people comprising it? Societal problems are analogous to psychological problems in that they are deep-seated, long-running, festering, recurring, and difficult to resolve. I believe that there is a qualitative shift in attitude right now. It doesn't mean that racism will suddenly get fixed once and for all, but I've not seen such widespread attention and commitment to the problem in a long time. It actually gives me hope. I have older friends who've remarked that they suddenly feel transported back to the unrest of the 1960s. IMO, it means that another period of progress is on the horizon, but it also means that a time of intense turmoil is here. It seems that you focus on the turmoil and miss seeing the openings and opportunities for change.

Another thing that INFPs should always be vigilant about is a shaky relationship to reality and/or being unable to tackle problems in a realistic way (i.e. poor Ne and Te development). Reality contains everything, including the good and the bad, so it’s no use to try to pretend that one or the other doesn’t exist. You will always make better decisions by taking BOTH the good and the bad into consideration. Some INFPs get stuck in trying to wish away the bad, and some drown in the bad and disconnect from everything good. 

Just as a child picks up a mix of psychological issues from their parents, as a member of society, your identity is forged through your relationship to your society's (problematic) history. I don't see how a "great migration" is any solution. Don’t forget that technology has made our world significantly smaller, so it’s a lot harder to distance from these problems. As long as you carry the scars of your home, no matter where you go, unresolved pain will continue to haunt you and hurt you. There is historical evidence that utopian thinking never leads to anything resembling a utopia. Utopian thinking is what people resort to when they are incapable of confronting the problems of reality. When it comes to human psychology, there is no way to wipe the slate completely clean without confronting and addressing the mistakes and sins of the past - this is what social unrest is meant to achieve. To believe that you can/should “start from scratch” is often a sign of Te grip in INFPs, as they want to violently wipe out the accumulated burdens of Si loop. 

Perhaps there are benefits for you, as an individual, to move away, as you might find happiness in a different sort of life. But what happens when the advocates give up and walk off? At the societal level, good people moving away only leaves the bad actors to wreak havoc on the poor and innocent. Certainly, some individuals do move away and successfully build a better life for themselves. However, some people move away only to discover that they miss home dearly, and they end up roaming aimlessly, lonely, miserable, bitter, or disappointed. What separates the two groups? You will find a better life when you know exactly what you're looking for and you're realistic about whether the new place will meet those terms and conditions. You will NOT find a better life if you're merely running away from unhappiness, fueled by wishful thinking that the grass is greener "anywhere but here". It's up to you to be honest about what's happening with you.

[belonglab]

Gaslighting: A Tool of Oppression and Exclusion

by Alisha Patel, Communications & Research Fellow at GenLead|BelongLab

February 2, 2021

“I don’t see color.” This is one of the most common phrases people will use to defend themselves against accusations of racism. It isn’t the best, but at least it’s not explicitly racist, right? In a culture where calling out institutional and systemic racism feels like an ongoing battle that’s fought tiny steps at a time, that phrase feels like an adequate place to start. However, this phrase is actually a form of racial gaslighting, and its acceptance only perpetuates stereotypes and the racism we are trying to fight.

Gaslighting in general is a form of manipulation and psychological abuse where the perpetrator convinces the victim that they are imagining or overreacting to abuse. Over time, this can solidify the perpetrator’s position of power over the victim, turning it into an ongoing cycle of abuse. The effects of gaslighting are extensive-- the victim will start to second guess themselves and their judgments. While this form of manipulation is often talked about with regard to personal relationships, it can additionally be used to to cloak bigotry like racism.

Racial Gaslighting

Racial gaslighting often is used to excuse microaggressions in all forms. It can invalidate someone’s experience of perceived racism by subtly denying their feelings and emotions, excusing implicit comments meant to demean or discredit them, or even excusing explicit attacks on them. Its effects are grave; it subtly reinforces and sustains racial and social hierarchies that inevitably hurt minority groups. Not only does racial gaslighting allow stereotypes to continue, but it also degrades the victim’s sense of self and teaches them to invalidate their own instincts and judgments.

For example, imagine if someone had experienced racism in the workplace and attempted to tell a fellow coworker about the incident; instead of empathizing, the coworker reassured the victim “it couldn’t possibly be racism,” “it is all in your head,” or “you’re too sensitive.” Statements like this place the perpetrator in a position of power and control under the guise of morality, while undermining the victim’s experience as lesser-than. In turn, the victim can develop feelings of anxiety and depression as they start believing they cannot trust themselves and cannot express their emotions outwardly. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Roberta Babb, racial gaslighting also, “overtly and covertly erodes a person’s sense of self, self-worth, agency and confidence.” Thus, racial gaslighting feeds internalized oppression and Imposter Syndrome.

Racial gaslighting is so common that it is sometimes difficult to tell when it is happening, and it can even be unconscious or unintentional. Normalized phrases like “I don’t see color” seem to mean well at first glance, but in actuality serve to invalidate the struggles of a minority group while erasing the group’s lived history. It tells the listener, quite unequivocally, “I am not racist. What you are perceiving as racism on my part cannot possibly be racism.” Phrases like these are un-nuanced and oversimplified takes that may have been accepted in the past, but as we learn more about deep and entrenched racism, we see they are outdated, insensitive, and quite frankly, racist.

This type of manipulation often is used by mainstream media and people in power, ingraining its use in our culture and further highlighting the power dynamics underpinning racial gaslighting. Think of Donald Trump and his response to protest movements through the past year: On one hand, he refused to condemn Neo-Nazi protestors, saying there were “fine people on both sides.” But he mischaracterized Black Lives Matter protests calling for an end to police brutality as thugs and threatened them with the National Guard, warning “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.” He then mischaracterized the white supremacist, violent insurrection he incited on January 6th as a march, declaring his love for the insurrectionists. According to Trump, white supremacists are allowed the benefit of the doubt and could possibly be good people at heart. Yet, those in support of black lives are automatically dangerous and should be perceived as a threat. With these statements, Donald Trump at once validates the platform of white supremacists while invalidating black lives in the United States and negating the idea that racism is a problem; he normalizes the presence of white supremacy while revealing the inability of the country to acknowledge its inherent racism and bigotry. Anyone witnessing photos and images of how the BLM protesters were treated versus how the white supremacist insurrectionists were treated at our Capitol can see that racial gaslighting has deeply permeated our country systemically and is a problem that outlives the Trump presidency.

Gender Gaslighting

Also problematic is gender gaslighting, where a woman may not feel comfortable voicing concerns about sexism because her concerns are automatically dismissed. Consider a woman -- let’s call her Jana -- who has been working for a company for many years and is very qualified for a promotion. Yet every time Jana expects to be promoted, a man is given the promotion instead, even though he has had less time at the company and is not as qualified. Jana may attempt to discuss this with her boss, but he insists it has nothing to do with her gender; he tells her she is overanalyzing the situation and being over-sensitive. While it is possible that Jana’s boss could be telling the truth, it is more likely that her gender is in fact playing a role in not receiving a promotion, as this pattern has repeated multiple times. However, Jana has learned that she does not have a space to speak up about this sexism, will likely be negatively judged for speaking up and thus have an even harder time getting that promotion, and therefore most likely will not attempt to speak up again. This is the same situation that is seen with racial gaslighting-- the cycle will continue for Jana, and her emotions may inevitably turn inwards, convincing her that she is not qualified for any promotion and deserves to be limited to her current level.

COVID-19 Gaslighting

We even see gaslighting around COVID-19. As a college student at a very urban university, the pandemic has shaken up every single aspect of college life. Though my school has adjusted as best as possible (we are tested twice a week and receive our results within 24 hours; most classes are online and if they aren’t, there are usually less than five people in-person, all socially-distanced; so on and so forth), interacting with other students and people my age really reveals the mindset around the pandemic.

As the pandemic has raged on, it feels as though people have accepted its presence, or stopped caring altogether. It’s a stark difference from the first lockdown in March, where it felt (at least for the most part) that everyone was on the same page. But now, instead of staying inside and mitigating the impacts of the pandemic, it feels as though it’s now a matter of working around the pandemic to do things we used to do. Those who are still staying inside have become more of the minority than the majority, and are sometimes gaslighted to feel overly paranoid for continuing to take the pandemic seriously. This gaslighting is clearly very harmful to society as a whole, as it simultaneously perpetuates coronavirus while undermining common sense and the empathy to care about the collective nation.

COVID gaslighting can exist on a small interpersonal level. Consider a situation where two friends want to get together, but one is insisting on following social distancing regulations while the other is suggesting to abandon them altogether. The one wanting to abandon social distancing may claim that they have both been isolating themselves since the beginning of the pandemic, and it is unlikely that they could infect each other. They may go on to call their friend overly paranoid of the virus and accuse them of not wanting to get together. Though this is not actually the case, the friend who was attempting to follow COVID regulations is made to be the villain, which is a common gaslighting mechanism.

Even worse, COVID gaslighting has been perpetuated by some people in power, who can afford to preach a careless and selfish mentality around COVID-19 because, even when they contract the virus, they have the money, power, and resources to combat it. Meanwhile, they continue to manipulate the American public into believing that COVID is not something to be taken seriously.Their followers adopt the same invincible mindset, but it is clear that they -- and most other average Americans -- are not in the same situation and do not have the same money and resources to combat COVID if needed. The situation is even worse for identity groups that have been historically oppressed.

Many Black and brown communities are disproportionately affected by COVID-19: African-Americans deaths are two times higher than would be expected for their population, and it is the same for Hispanics and Latinos. On the other hand, white deaths from COVID are “lower than their share of the population in 37 states.” These disparities result from institutionalized and systemic racism (fed by racial gaslighting) that has been snowballing since our country’s inception.

Combatting Racism by Contending with Gaslighting

It is in no way, shape, or form the victim’s responsibility to attempt to change their gaslighter’s behavior. Instead, it is important for us to create safe spaces for these victims to be heard and validated. Thus, putting a stop to gaslighting begins by looking inwardly at our own behavior and preconceived biases; particularly, if you find yourself recognizing some of the behaviors symptomatic of gaslighting, it may be wise to engage in self-introspection and attempt to accept some responsibility. Though some gaslighting may be done unintentionally or what you believed to be well-meaning, it clearly is still harmful and must be mitigated. To confront the biases that may underlie your possible gaslighting of others, you can also take this online test that examines and assesses internal biases that you may not have even noticed (it takes about 10-15 minutes). Attempt to challenge these internal biases, and pay attention to how they affect your interactions with others.

Additionally, be prepared and open to truly listen to and learn from other people and their experiences, and focus on increasing your awareness of others’ circumstances. These steps can begin the process of acknowledging gaslighter responsibility. By first starting on a personal scale, we can expand this introspection to a larger scale and begin holding the racist systems in our country accountable.

If you find yourself a victim of gaslighting, it is important to safeguard your mental health. This can be done by taking a step back from the situation and removing yourself from the environment to consider the hurtful behavior and resulting emotions. You can write down your thoughts to affirm your judgement as valid and for reference if necessary. It also can be helpful to talk with other members of your identity group and share experiences like this. Affirmation from others with similar circumstances can validate your experience of harmful gaslighting and remind you that you are not alone. This can help you to trust yourself more as well as recognize the gaslighting as it is happening.

In the moment gaslighting is occurring, it is important to call out the behavior publicly (when possible and safe to do so), showing the perpetrator and others in proximity that the behavior is inappropriate and will not be tolerated. Further (again, to the extent safe and not harmful), you can talk one-on-one with the perpetrator to discuss the behavior, making sure to describe the behavior and why it is harmful. Setting boundaries (e.g., taking a step back, removing yourself from the situation, as described above) will help to loosen any grip the negative environment or perpetrator may have on you.

As an ally, it is important to help support victims of racial gaslighting by helping to call out the unacceptable behavior, as well as creating a safe space for victims to express themselves and be heard and respected. Make sure that what you are doing is not self-indulgent or performative, but rather is truly helpful to the victim and in their self interest.

Combatting racism in a present day context is not an easy task -- it is extremely complicated and has far-reaching and entrenched roots in the United States. That said, the task should begin with dismantling the practices that perpetuate racism on interpersonal and societal scales. By recognizing racial gaslighting, it is possible to disrupt stereotypes and racial hierarchies, while also offering the historically oppressed, excluded, and marginalized a safe space to speak and be heard, which uncloaks hard truths from underneath imposed false narratives. Those who insist they don’t see color are not seeing people of color and their lived experiences.

Without seeing the hard truths, we are unable to address them.

[votive-candle]

not to be controversial... but

the fact that such a substantial amount of Japanese poeple deny their government’s historical discrimination against Chinese and Korean citizens, their use of “comfort women”, and even participation in (or rather, its initiation of) the Nanjing massacre/genocide is deeply concerning

i bring it up for having read this article and seen coverage on NHK News

the gist of it is that an artists work was pulled from an exhibition for referencing, even in such a gentle and unnassuming depiction, a comfort girl (or ‘ainfu’) — aka, a woman during wartimes (often Korean or Chinese, for Japanese troops) who was taken (mostly against their will) as sex workers / sex slaves by soldiers during wartime (not only by Japanese troops; this was a practice used by cultures across the world for thousands of years, of course. Women being treated and objectified through history as “comforting” sex objects is by no means exclusive to Japan)

right-wing politics and imperialist attitudes in Japan are something that have really fascinated me over the past few years, as a subject matter — while studying animation in college i even focused on it in my presentation on post-WW2 effects on Japanese media and the extremeties of politics on each side

and this? this is not encouraging. Not one bit.

i’m at least happy to report that it seems as though Japan is seemingly leaning towards the centre-right scale of politics at the moment as far as its general public goes. The general public seems open and gentle towards foreigners, even those who belong to cultures they have historically been hostile towards, or who have been hostile towards the Japanese...

but i have to take note of those opinions that are discriminatory

in my literal first five hours in Tokyo, in the early hours of last wednesday, i went out to get some food after my long trip from Scotland

and i met a man (his name was Tanaka), a relatively well-practiced English speaker, who was asking what drew me to Japan. I cited its historical significance, my curiosity over the isolation of its culture, so on and so on. Then he asked me what places in Japan i would like to see most of all. I stated my usuals — Tokyo was one of the last places i intended to stay, i’m just here for the Tokyo Game Show. The places i would really love to visit for the richness of their cultures and their histories and landscapes, are Osaka, Fukoaka, and (above all else) Kyoto...

then i mentioned Hokkaido...

“Hokkaido? Why Hokkaido?”

“not only is the island beautiful, but the culture of the Ainu people is incredibly humbling,” i say, “their traditions are deeply immersed in a certain type of respect for nature and coexistence.” This is something i relate to, with my religious practices, as a history lover and pantheist. “I would love to have some insight into how they live in the modern age, in a rapidly evolving Japan”

now to the best of my ability im gonna quote this... as accurately as i can remember, Tanaka goes on to tell me; 

“You do not want to meet Ainu. They are like savages in American cowboy movies, and they are very dirty. You should stay in Tokyo. People here are clean, and we are more proud to be Japanese.”

now that outlook didnt impact me IMMENSELY, since i’m so foreign to this culture, to these politics, to this social climate, even with my past research... But it did stick with me and it made me think a LOT, considering the fact that i know how disheartening, unsettling, and even frightening it feels to be outcast and labelled as “savage” and “dirty” and “unpatriotic”, as a left-leaning, mixed-race Scotswoman with a Diné (Navajo) native-american name

now going back to that article?

there are Japanese who are so deeply in denial of the historic war crimes committed by their troops between WW1 and WW2, that there is a minority who are even willing to send death threats to artists for simply acknowledging the existence of the victims of these crimes

*** One of the faxes it received read, “I will bring a gasoline container to the museum,” which drew associations with the recent deadly arson attack on a Kyoto Animation Co. studio, according to Omura.

( i would also like to briefly acknowledge my deepest regrets and support for Kyoto Animation’s studios; Hearing about the fire that day was devestating — and if it was devestating for me, i cannot begin to imagine how the friends and families of the victims must be suffering from the aftermath )

if this paragraph doesn’t speak VOLUMES about the state of right-wing extremism in Japan, i really, truly do not know what could. Yet somehow, the world is... unsettlingly quiet, in its acknowledgment of Japan’s political climate.

That silence is directly affecting the basic rights of Japanese artists, the depiction and integrity of Japanese history, and by proxy, the freedom of speech of artists reflecting on the history of Japan and its relative cultures, and its neighbouring countries

this breed of nationalism, whether originating in Japan or anywhere else... it has to be recognised, and approached with caution

that’s all i got tonight, folks...

#tw_slavery / #tw_rape / #tw_sexual assault / #tw_genocide

[she-wears-glasses]

I need to get this out...

I rarely ever talk about politics on here. I try to have this blog as an outlet for anyone and everyone to read and enjoy. I try to keep this a positive and safe place, and attempt to keep it constructive. I especially use this as a way to express myself. Lately I haven’t been posting or talking on here that much. My mental health hasn’t been the best but I’ve been working on it. However it doesn’t help what I see on the news and on social media.

I found out this morning an 8 year old girl was shot and killed because they were trying to get away from the rioters. She happened to be black. Everyone calls this peaceful protesting. Does anyone realize that it’s not considered peaceful when you destroy/deface buildings, steal from businesses, destroy historic monuments, rape, beat up and kill innocent people? Everyone says though with the businesses and the buildings that insurance will cover it; but did it ever occur to you that some of those businesses might not be making enough to afford that? Did it ever occur to you that some could just close down forever because they don’t have the funds to afford repairs and buying new merchandise? Maybe also consider that you don’t know how many of those businesses are actually making a profit. When businesses first start out it can take years just to break even; we’re not even talking about a profit. Just making zero dollars. We all probably hear of the success stories of businesses making a ton of cash and making a profit under a year but that is extremly rare and not common. Some of those businesses also are black owned businessses that are being destroyed and stolen from. How does this make sense? How is this empowering or even making a positive impact?

Since what happened to George Floyd there has been more deaths. What I want to say first is what happened to Floyd was terrible and inhumane. I know we can all agree that the cops involved should be not only fired (which they’ve all been fired); but get some serious prison time at least. There have been riots and protests across the country over this. Now I’m all for protesting as long as it’s peaceful. I think it’s important to stand up for what you believe in. That’s what’s great about this country. We have the freedom of speech, freedom to express what we believe in and freedom to protest in whatever we choose. There are countries out there that don’t have any of these freedoms that we have. However the “protests” that I see have been riots where the people involved in them steal, destroy, rape and kill. An it doesn’t matter who the victim is. For instance there is a murder victim who was a black police officer. The suspects for that murder that were caught on camera were all black. This is just one of the many various murders that have come out since these riots. How is this helping? How is this productive or beneficial?

An that now brings me to social media. I’ve seen so many posts lately that basically say this message, “you should follow blogs managed by black people because it’ll be good for you and if you don’t you’re racist”, or some other form of “if you’re blank you’re racist.” For the record if I follow your blog then I like your blog and it doesn’t hurt my mental health. An not everyone has a profile picture of themselves so I’m sure I follow all kinds of people. An more likely all of you probably follow, like and talk to all kinds of people whether on social media or in real life.

Now my family raised me to treat everyone equally with respect and to treat people the way I want to be treated. An for me I want to be treated with respect, and have no special treatment. So that’s how I treat people regardless of your race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexuality and political beliefs. The only time I will treat someone with disrespect is if they’re disrespectful to me, they lie to me, they betray me, or in general are hurtful to me. An if they use those negative behaviors to people I care about then I won’t respect them either. So if I like talking to you then I like talking to you as a person. An I believe that’s what most people are like as a country and around the world even. So from what it sounds like to me there’s a much bigger issue that’s not being reported.

Maybe it’s an issue with education. I believe knowledge is power and the education system could definitely be better. Maybe it’s the unions, because unions keep teachers, officers and other jobs people have that shouldn’t be employed in those positions (because they’re really bad at their jobs or are corrupt for instance). Maybe background checks need to be enforced, tougher or taken more seriously in important positions such as the police. All I know is that it seems that the issue is a lot more than just someone’s appearance and that’s not being talked about or resolved.

[bountyofbeads]

Trump’s Paradigm of the Personal https://nyti.ms/2NwK2xW

Excellent piece by @CharlesMBlow of the Times. Highly recommend, also the comments are interesting as well.

Trump’s Paradigm of the Personal

He confuses the way he thinks he is treated with the well-being of the country.

By Charles M. Blow, Opinion Columnist

Published Aug. 25, 2019 | New York Times | Posted August 26, 2019 |

For Donald Trump, all is personal.

And in his view, he is not the executive of the company. He is the embodiment of the country. He runs the country the way he ran his business, as the curating and promotion of his personal brand.

The people who support him are customers — people to be sold a vision and a dream. The people who criticize or oppose him threaten the brand and must be dealt with.

For Trump, everything is image-based and rooted in the appearance of personal relationships. When the Danish prime minister rebuffed his overture about buying Greenland, calling the idea “absurd,” Trump threw a tantrum and canceled his visit to Denmark.

Trump discussed the episode at one of his press gaggles, calling the prime minister’s response “nasty’ and saying, “We can’t treat the United States of America the way they treated us under President Obama.” He went on to say: “She’s not talking to me. She’s talking to the United States of America. You don’t talk to the United States that way, at least under me.”

No, actually, she was talking to him.

America was not being dismissed or disrespected. This proposal, which sounded like a joke, was being laughed at. And this president hates being laughed at.

Everything in Trump’s view is about whether someone is nice or nasty to him. It’s not about the country at all. It’s not about historical precedent or value of continuity.

His dislike of his predecessors — Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and even Jimmy Carter — is personal, not rooted in policy. He has a particular obsession with Obama, and has set about to undo everything Obama had done.

It’s petty and small and beneath the presidency, much like Trump himself.

I believe that Trump has had a longstanding belief about how China should be dealt with, but I believe that the current trade war is as much a personal beef with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. Trump thought that he could play rough and that Xi would fold.

That was silly and shortsighted. The U.S. presidency is term-limited. China’s is not. The Chinese may experience pain from the trade war, but they can afford to wait Trump out.

The fact that Jerome Powell, chair of the Federal Reserve, won’t attempt to manipulate the economy in ways Trump thinks would be favorable, but is instead operating as an independent thinker, Trump takes as a personal slight. Trump appointed him. Trump demands loyalty and blind obeisance.

When China announced another round of retaliatory tariffs this week, Trump had a Twitter meltdown, tweeting “... My only question is, who is our bigger enemy, Jay Powell or Chairman Xi?” and sending the markets into a tailspin.

Trump hated North Korea’s Kim Jong-un before he loved him. Kim has played Trump like a fiddle. Kim has baited Trump into two summits, where Trump got nothing and Kim got a priceless public relations moment. Kim can just send Trump love letters and do what he wants and surrender nothing. In Trump’s paradigm of the personal, Kim likes him and is his friend.

Vladimir Putin is also exploiting Trump’s personal need to be liked — his weak man’s desire to be admired by strong men. Trump has a deep and mysterious affection for Putin. Yes, Putin helped to get him elected, but I’m not sure even that explains the way Trump genuflects for him.

Everyone around Trump knows his weakness: He is a bottomless pit of emotional need, someone who desperately wants friends but doesn’t have the emotional quotient to know how to make and keep them. So, they flatter him and inflate him.

They have all become major-league yes men and women.

None of this is good for the country. The presidency is not owned; it is occupied. It is bigger than any man or woman. Men have grown into it, but they have never subsumed it.

The presidency must have one eye on the past and one on the future. It must place national interest over personal interest. It has absolutely nothing to do with any one person’s feelings.

In George Washington’s farewell address of 1796, he said:

“The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. It is a slave to its animosity or to its affection, either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and its interest.”

Trump is trying to embody the country and to lead it astray in the way that Washington warned against. Trump is a slave to his emotions, and this impulse is doing great harm to the nation, both internally and on the world stage.

I’m not sure that damage is irreparable. Our democracy, though fragile in many ways, has proved remarkably durable in others. But there is no doubt that the damage Trump is doing is deep and will take time and effort to undo.

Trump’s personal problems will leave a national scar.

COMMENTS FROM READERS, ADD YOUR THOUGHTS AS WELL:

""Trump’s personal problems will leave a national scar." More like an open wound that won't heal. 60 million citizens have succumbed to his bombast, and to date there seems to be no weakening of their support. That will take years if not decades to heal. It may never. Iraq and the Bush years were tragic, but with President Obama we started a recovery. Even with one of the deepest recession, we all pulled together, and we started the to build jobs again and pulled out of the recession quicker than the rest of the world. We lead the way. But literally within days of Trump taking office the country started it's tragic descent into the abyss. And there is no end in sight."

CHERRYLOG754, ATLANTA

"Because this president views himself a king, like Louis XIV, his actions and words smack of "l'etat c'est moi". Which is a fancy way of saying, what Charles just said, he thinks he embodies the nation, not leads it. Which is funny, because if you are the nation, wouldn't you have a better appreciation of its history, culture, mores, and values? One would think so. I watched the world leaders at G-7 and except for Trump, each shows a keen understanding of what their country represents and where it's headed. Even newbie Boris Johnson is well educated, even if his bombast often resembles that of Trump. More important, they know they are leading their entire countries, not just a small base of ardent supporters. Trump's problem is he can't grow his base, because he doesn't want to: the best part of his job is the one he shouldn't be doing on the taxpayers' dime: holding political rallies to boost his ego." CHRISTINE MCM, MASSACHUSETTS

" In other words Charles, Trump lacks the temperament to be President. Anyone who is honest with him/herself knows that. Even the Republicans in Congress know this. The problem is that neither they nor Trump's base care."

JAY ORCHARD , MIAMI FL

"It makes a sort of sense that Trump expected his "tough guy" act with President Xi would result in Xi giving in. Just as he thought his thrown down the papers and stamp out of the room would make Speaker Pelosi grovel for whatever he wanted. Trump, in the private sector, could choose his victims, and he made sure they would at least perceive he was far richer and more powerful, (whether he was or not) so he could, bluster and rage, doing as he pleased and demanding whatever he wanted. That doesn't work when you become a public employee, which the President is, and Trump has no other rabbits to pull out of that same tired stage hat. And he clearly can't figure out why it's not working any more."

1DCAce, LOS ANGELES CA

"There's nothing mysterious about the President's admiration for Mr. Putin. Putin has made Russia into exactly what Mr. Trump would like to make the United States: an authoritarian plutocracy where the super-rich can do absolutely anything they want — except dispute the legitimacy of the government — while everyone else is kept in line by voter suppression, state-controlled media and churches, and an intimidating security apparatus."

JL WILLIAMS, WAHOO NE

"From my understanding of Trump, his greatest fear, going back to his early days in NYC, is that he is not taken seriously. It's an old vs new money sort of thing, as far as I can tell. He tried to buy his way into big money society by assuming a false name and giving the media false numbers about his personal wealth he was so desperate to prove his real worth. He put gold plate on everything he touched, hoping that would show how wealthy he was. Still, no one took him seriously. And now he's finding that world leaders fail to take him seriously as well. You can almost hearing him thinking -- I'm in the White House, surely they'll take me seriously now. But alas, he's the poor little sort-of-rich boy that no one wants to play with. He doesn't care about the country. He only cares about himself. And he still finds that no one takes him seriously. Sad, as he used to like to say."

AVRDS, MONTANA

"Excellent observations as usual from Charles Blow. I would only add that Trump's form of mental illness is dangerous. It is not innocuous, rather it is pervasive and boundless. That renders him an immediate dangerous to our nation. Immediate. That means he must be removed office immediately. Failure to do so opens the door to sheer disaster and that is exactly what we are looking at everyday he remains office. Disaster." INDEPENDANT, ALABAMA

"After World War 2, our allies respected the United States. Mr Trump has destroyed this respect. Now, our once-firm allies are looking to go around the United States and put their countries first. This will result in a race to the bottom. Trump has diminished the US - and succeeded in making China and Russia great. However, it’s important to remember the this isn’t just Mr. Trump. The vast majority of Republicans like what Mr Trump does, not seeing the damage and reveling in his tough-guy rhetoric. When the damage becomes too obvious to ignore, they’ll say that Trump was’t really a Republican (as they did with George W Bush) They will also, of course, blame Democrats for the consequences of Republican policies. Pity that Republicans, including Mr Trump, seem incapable of taking responsibility for their own actions."JOHN M, OAKLAND

"For Trump, the sun rises and sets in himself. He cannot conceive of anything without inserting himself somehow. He cannot make any move without calculating how it will benefit him personally. The farthest from what a leader should be."NM, NY

"In my more than 60 years I have never experienced a President who truly believed the nation, the American people, excluded all who did not support him. Nor millions of my neighbors who were fine with that idea if they considered themselves as part of that group of supporters. This, to me, is among the most dangerous things which this man has unleashed. My disappointment in my neighbors goes very deep. We will get past Trump, but not the millions of our fellows who like him."DAGWOOD, SAN DIEGO

"Countries can tragically and suddenly head in the wrong direction. In the 1930s, Germans were the most educated in Europe with Berlin the leading city in Europe. Ten years later, the country and most of Europe was destroyed. 75 million dead. It can happen here." SOMEWHERE, AZ

"I have a hard time seeing where it is all personal with Trump. He is faithfully carrying out two agendas, one of the white nationalists and one of the extreme libertarians. It is hard to tell how much of his rolling back of Obama's accomplishments are personal and how much is agenda driven. There seems little question that Trump will have done permanent damage. Western countries will no long be able to trust the US again as they did in the past as another Trump could be elected in any future election. It cannot be quantified how much he has set back efforts to fight climate change but it would seem to be considerable. Can white nationalism be put back in the bottle? That seems unlikely. Trump has uncorked some of the worst stuff in the US population. It is anybody's guess whether the country can return to its previous level of civility." BOB, HUDSON VALLEY

"In the same address Washington also spoke about the three big threats that could destroy America: too much debt, influence of foreign interests and political partisanship. hmmmm" AERYS

"People keep trying to find rational explanations for Trump's behavior. I don't think he generally acts from anything more complicated than going with what makes him feel good. He, and those around him, often say that when he feels attacked, he punches back. That is consistent with a lot of the strange things he has done. Punching back makes him feel strong and he likes that feeling. The problem is that governing is complicated. If Trump's feelings are hurt, he seems to feel justified in throwing a temper tantrum. That tendency to bluster in an effort to intimidate may work for male gorillas, but leaders of governments ought to know better." BETTY S, UPSTATE NY

“The U.S. presidency is term-limited.” The US presidency was term-limited. Does anyone really think he’s joking when he talks about being in office another 10 or 14 years? He’s not going to leave willingly. The bottom line here might end up being whether the military will support his coup."

CLAIRE ELLIOTT, EUGENE OR

"Rather than making America great again, 45 has made America a second rate country. Our allies no longer trust us to keep our word. Our enemies see that our leadership is faltering. It will take years perhaps decades to regain the trust we once enjoyed throughout the world. People see that 45 has not thought out anything he says past the current news cycle. There is no vision for America, no grand plan, nothing."

PSCHWIMER

"Now that this "president" has decided that he has the authority to order America's private businesses to cease all operations in China (which would entail crippling a great many of them financially), it seems to me that the 25th Amendment truly needs to be invoked. Which is to say that the walking apparition named Mike Pence should visit the Oval Office along with the leaders of both houses of Congress and as many of Trump's cabinet members as can be rustled up and tell our delusional chief executive that he has no such authority over private industry and that he should immediately and publicly acknowledge this. He should also explain that the order he had delivered was intended only as a suggestion or a recommendation. Should he refuse to go along with this, it would be clear that he's fully entered the realm of madness (as his private obsession with China would already seem to indicate) and that his removal from office would thereby become necessary. If we weren't already at such a critical juncture we could spend a good deal of time discussing Trump's own business connections with Beijing and arguing that his preference for having his (and Ivanka's) branded merchandise produced there should dictate that he not impugn other American business executives for doing the same thing (let alone "order" them to cease doing so). It's too late for idle speculation, however. Mad King Donald really has to go." STU FREEMAN, BROOKLYN

"I have to think that Washington's words would be met by Trump with blank incomprehension, not merely because the language is hard (by comparison with Trump's own "cartoon-bubble" mode of communication) but because understanding it would require Trump to betray his own most firmly-held convictions." PORTLAND, OR

"Thank you, Mr. Blow, for another strong column. This president's bizarre behaviors have led to complete demoralization and discouragement for U.S. citizens. How can a powerful country be so feckless when it comes to getting him out? Someone commented that the 25th amendment wouldn't work because it's for cases of complete incapacity. I assume they mean physical incapacity. In the case of mental/emotional incapacity, does a President have to be drooling and catatonic, or fly into a rage on television? Is it not enough that he lies constantly, proposes buying another country, frequently insults allies, calls himself the chosen one, decrees that private businesses shall exit China, and flip-flops in divergent directions on important national policies during the same 24-hour period? If it were another president in another time, members of Congress would have taken Trump in hand and led him away to restore order and standing to our country. But no, Congress is on vacation and Trump golfs while the Amazon burns."GWOO, HONOLULU

"The Greenland episode is classic Trump: throw out a crazy initial offer and see what happens. But international politics is not pure business. Greenland was never up for sale by Denmark. Trump's behavior makes him look wholly irrational and by extension makes the American voting public look like a population of fools. Trump displays isolationism with "America First." Other countries should take this seriously. In fact, they should quarantine the United States. They should do so until America can figure out how to elect a sane president and a stable cast of supporting legislators in Congress. Indeed Trump has a penchant for calling those he dislikes "nasty," but that term is reserved for women in power, such as HRC and the prime minister of Denmark. Trump befriends ruthless dictators in countries like North Korea, Russia and Saudi Arabia -- leaders who actively torture and kill their people -- without referring to them in this way. Trump is also already backtracking on China. He will not let the economy crumble before the election: after all, it's his only real "selling point." Trump maintains a particular disdain for Obama because he is black and Trump is an overt racist, as demonstrated by violations of the Fair Housing Act in the 1970s to the Central Park Five to birtherism to Charlottesville to the Squad. The election next year is bound to be a close one. Do what you can to see that Trump does not win a second term."

BLUE MOON, OLD PUEBLO

[nikitasbt]

Historical epic war films of John Woo: Red Cliff (赤壁, 2008-2009) and The Crossing (太平轮, 2014)

The film career of John Woo can be divided into major periods. During his Hong-Kong career, Chinese director has been making a lot of crime movies for almost two decades. Then he went to the United States in 1993 to direct a few Hollywood blockbusters such as Mission Impossible 2, Face/Off, Paycheck and other. The American period was the time of struggle. Eventually, he returned to Asia to work upon two high-budget epic historical films. The Chinese films rarely have such a huge budget like Red Cliff, but John Woo had already received quite an acclaim to get both projects realized. Many viewers might find his crime films unwatchable, though I liked it. Two epic films are made for both Western and Asian viewers, as these are the films set in China and enhanced with western Hollywood-like glance. Moreover, Red Cliff is considered one of the most popular Asian blockbusters breaking the Asian box office record previously claimed by Titanic. So I figured I’d love to see both epic films of John Woo, and all-in-all, it was a remarkable experience.

 Ref Cliff (2008-2009)

 The return of John Woo to Asia, after Hollywood struggles with Red Cliff was epic, just like two-part historical feature Red Cliff set in the beginning of the 3rd century in China during the last years of Easter Han dynasty and Battle of Three Kingdoms. Two parts were released in 2008 and 2009 respectively, and they are almost four and a half hours long together. Yet these hours of Chinese culture exposure are fascinating and enthralling!

The main focus of John Woo was to reflect the historical events accurately. There is not so much of battles in this film, it is more about the prelude to Red Cliff battle and characters involved. Red Cliff is very entertaining thanks to elaborate and interesting historical characters portrayed by the top Asian actors Tony Leung, Chang Chen, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Zhao Wei, Zhang Fengyi, Hu Jun and others. The characters are quite glamorous though, so it becomes evident John Woo just returned from Hollywood. Yet it is fine, as we get to know about their talents and abilities which give a glimpse into the ancient Chinese culture. There are a lot of different Oriental symbols, metaphors, poetry, music the characters play and listen to showing the prelude of the battle and protagonists’’ tribulations in a poetic light. There are many beautiful things about winds, tea ceremony, nature of the country, dialects of the language, motifs of war – all these things appear to be not just influencing but pivotal, as the time of decisive battle comes closer. It is marvelous to observe this beautiful poetry.

The scenes of epic battles are absolutely marvelous. Of course, there are quite a lot of exaggerations: the arrows fall like the drops of rain and heroes survive dozens of injuries and beat hundreds of opponents. But this thing is common for Chinese legends and cinema, it is part of a fiction where the viewers should not seek supreme realism. The number of extras involved in scenes is really impressive, as well as the visual effects of the battles.

The film stars dozens of famous Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese actors, and their performance is brilliant. Tony Leung plays an intelligent and smart musician, while Takeshi Kaneshiro looks great in the role of inventive, brave and honorable advisor. Zhao Wei is pretty good in the role of princess, and screen debut of Taiwanese model Lin Chi-ling is also memorable.

Though, the most important part of the film is Woo’s ability to expose the beautiful and sophisticated Chinese culture to the Western audience in a very coherent and visually appealing way. The essential notions and symbols of Chinese culture are really nice to comprehend with Red Cliff. For instance, Cao Cao says he has lost the battle to the wind and cup of tea. Such symbolism is not far-fetched, as the littlest things important for culture can be decisive. There are many other symbols which are poetic. Red Cliff is a great film to have a glance at the Chinese culture and history, and I really like this point.

   The Crossing (太平轮, 2014)

  The commercial success of Red Cliff was tremendous. Only the first part of film grossed over $127 million internationally, and eventually box office was at $250 million. This led John Woo to working upon another epic film in two parts The Crossing. The parts are linked with the same characters and their stories, yet they are very different.

Crossing Part I is another epic battle film based on the last years of Civil War in China when the nationalists led by Kuomintang were giving up more and more territories, and their loss to communists was already inevitable. The style of this film resembles Zhang Yimou’s film To Live. People fighting on both sides are shown as victims of this 27 years-long war who have no intention to fight but must obey. We see both regimes very suppressive and violent: any demonstrations are getting brutally repelled while the country sinks in poverty and mayhem. The war leads to tragedy in every family. People lose their relatives, it is becoming almost impossible to find a job, prices change every day, currency turns into the useless paper and people start treating each other in the worst way.

The characters this story revolves around are so not elaborated and enchanting, as it was in Red Cliff. The presence of Zhang Ziyi always enlightens the films, and The Crossing owes much of credits to one of the most bankable Chinese actresses. Song Hye-kyo and Takeshi Kaneshiro are quite good in their roles, but it is not the best example of their work in cinema. We see quite a few battles in the first part of The Crossing, just like in Red Cliff. However, there is something wrong about battle scenes and their psychological background. The way Lei Yifang sacrifices his life is quite corny, and the way the battles are staged reminds of half-baked western war films.

Crossing Part II veers off from the topic of war and shows the last months of Kuomintang rule of Shanghai, the chaos of evacuation to Taiwan and sinking of the steamer Taiping in 1949. The protagonists accidentally end up together on the steamer. Relieved with an escape to Taiwan, during the first night of sail they are surviving this awful incident. This disaster film is a sort of Asian version of Titanic, and both scenes of sinking are quite lame, from my point of view. While we see exaggerated and unrealistic things in epic films about ancient legendary heroes, it doesn’t come to mind to laugh at some bizarre things around the fight. But in historical disaster film set in 1949 seeing this crazy way characters survive, show themselves heroes and forget about deadly injuries they have sustained is not something I was really fond of. Even Zhang Ziyi doesn’t rehabilitate the second part of The Crossing. Though, it is probably still better than similar stuff in Titanic.

The Crossing is certainly not a movie of quality that Red Cliff possessed. At least we see great modern Chinese, Taiwanese and Korean actors who are always lovely in their roles. This film also provokes to research more upon this steamer sinking in 1949 and final years of the Chinese Civil War which is a good thing. But that’s it, speaking of advantages. 

[mllemaenad]

'Imagine your children growing up in such a world. If a mage asked it of you, you would have to give him your daughter, not knowing what his plans for her might be. You could not resist him, and neither could she.' - Sorry, this line particularly came to my attention because take away magic and this? Is exactly what happens in the Tabris origin. And to that one Orlesian merchant in Denerim in DA:O. And probably to any number of peasant/elven girls at the hands of nobles every day across Thedas.

No need to be sorry. :)

You’re right. Absolutely.

The thing is – take this in context. This is an answer written by a grand cleric to a nobleman who seems (we don’t have his side of the conversation, obviously, so we can only infer from the substance of the reply) to have been challenging the Chantry’s treatment of mages. If you look at it like that, then what the grand cleric is describing is what happens to almost every mage child in southern Thedas.

Armed men come to your door and take your child away. You have no right to say no. And you have no idea what they’re going to do with them. They may take your child to a Circle across the sea. They may murder them. They may make them Tranquil. They may rape them, beat them, torture them. Maybe you’ll be lucky: maybe your kid is Vivienne or one of the Warden mages. Maybe they’ll do okay.

But you don’t know. And you can’t tell the Templars to go away; that they can’t have your child. They live in a world where this happens to parents every day.

It’s almost too much to imagine. The Circle, the Templars, they’ve shaped my life. I was no more than twelve when they came for me. My mother wept when they fixed the chains to my wrists, but my father was glad to see me gone. He had been afraid, ever since the fire in the barn. Not just afraid of what I could do, but afraid of me, afraid my magic was punishment for whatever petty sins he imagined the Maker sat in judgement upon.

– Anders (short story)

Anders’s mum couldn’t say no. Maybe she wanted to. At bare minimum, it sounds as though she didn’t want to lose her son forever. But that’s what happened. Little Ella is desperate to get back to her parents, because the Templars didn’t even tell them where they were taking her – and when we encounter her, a Templar is threatening her with Tranquillity and strongly implied sexual assault.

Wynne gave birth to a healthy baby boy, whom she was allowed one day with before he was taken into Chantry custody. The child, who was names Rhys, was taken to Lydes and from there transferred to the White Spire in Orlais when it was discovered that he, too, was a mage.

– World of Thedas I

They kidnapped a newborn baby and took him to a different damn country. It took decades, and fighting an archdemon, for Wynne to even get the chance to find him again.

Dulci de Launcet was lucky: she’s a noble, so she at least had letters and some general idea of where her kid was, but she hadn’t laid eyes on her son since he was six.

Yeah. Good fucking job, Chantry. You really solved the problem of powerful people coming to your door to abduct your children.

But while, yes, given the context of the letter I think the irony is best understood in relation to mages, I definitely think it can be expanded upon:

The demon had impersonated the human man who had bought her from the slavers that took her in after her father died. She’d had no idea back then who those kind men really were, only that they offered her food and a warm bed to sleep in. Then an even kinder man came to take her from them, and she found herself in his luxurious home and thought herself the luckiest girl in the entire alienage.

How very naive she had been. Count Dorian, as she learned her new master’s name to be, had been in search of an elven whore he could keep as a pet, something he could put in a pretty dress and bring with him on one of his many trips to the capital, like baggage.

– Dragon Age: The Calling

Ah, look. The exact scenario Grand Cleric Francesca was fear-mongering about. A little girl abducted, enslaved and sold to a nobleman who abused and tortured her. Yes, a mage-child as it happens, but that wasn’t apparent at the time. Fiona was vulnerable because she was an elf – an orphaned elf considered expendable by society.

“What they wish is irrelevant.” Celene turned and stalked away from the window. “I am already fighting a war on two fronts. I cannot be seen to fight a war on three.”

“Then don’t.” Briala rose, putting herself in Celene’s path. “Give them justice.”

“A lord for the death of an elf? I … damn this thing.”

With a quick jerk, Celene tore her mask from her face. Her face was flushed beneath, her eyes red from another night of little sleep. “Shall I declare the elves equal citizens before the Maker and the throne as well, while I’m at it?”

“Why not?” Briala took her own mask off, stealing a quick moment to steady herself. “Unless you don’t believe that, and I’m just a jumped-up kitchen slut you haven’t tired of yet.

– Dragon Age: The Masked Empire

Or here: a revolt that ends in genocide, and that begins because it is unthinkable that they arrest a nobleman for murdering an elf. The victim’s name was Lemet. He was killed shielding an eight-year-old boy who threw a rock at a carriage. And the boy said he did it because his mother had been murdered by Orlesian nobility:

“They killed my mother,” the boy said, pulling against Lemet’s grip.

“Be quiet.” Lemet looked back at the coach and heard its joints creak as the guards jumped down to the street. The driver would want to have that oiled, some part of Lemet’s mind noted.

“They can’t come down this street after what they did to her,” the boy insisted. “They can’t!”

– Dragon Age: The Masked Empire

Or this, where soldiers rob, rape and murder their own citizens in the midst of a civil war:

“Two days ago, Lady Seryl’s men rode in and cur down every man and woman working the fields. Killed our guards, killed everyone in the village square. When they finished killing the other soldiers, they fired arrows out onto the water, killed most of our boys in the boats. They took all the food they could find. They spent the night.” A collective flinch splashed across the crowd. “Said we had been assisting enemies of the throne, that this was a lesson to anyone who’d help Gaspard’s men.” At the last, his voice broke. “My lord, I don’t even know who Gaspard is.”

– Dragon Age: The Masked Empire

Or the serial killer who is repeatedly allowed to walk free because he’s a magistrate’s son, and he targets elven children. Or the elven boys who fled to the Qun because a guard raped their sister – no one would arrest him, so they took matters into their own hands.

And yes, of course, you see the exact same thing in Ferelden in the alienage.

I’m sure everyone feels so much safer now they’ve locked up all the mages.

Orlais’s crimes don’t excuse Tevinter’s. That’s where they went wrong with Dorian’s … painful dialogue on slavery. You can’t point to the horrors of Orlesian society and therefore suggest that the Tevinter slave trade is not that awful. It doesn’t work like that. What you can do, though, is say that Tevinter’s crimes don’t excuse Orlais’s – particularly when they tend to do exactly the same shit:

Slavery still thrives in Thedas, even if the trade has been outlawed. Who hasn’t heard the tales of poverty-stricken elves lured into ships by the prospect of well-paying jobs in Antiva, only to find themselves clapped in leg-irons once at sea? And humans fall prey to this, too.

If they’re lucky, they end up in Orlais, which has only “servants.” Most nobles treat them decently because they are afraid of admitting the truth. Orlesians go to great lengths to maintain the fiction that slavery is illegal.

Of course, the greatest consumer of slave labor is the Tevinter Imperium, which would surely crumble if not for the endless supply of slaves from all over the continent. There, they are meat, chattel. They are beaten, used as fodder in the endless war against the Qunari, and even serve as components in dark magic rituals.

—From Black City, Black Divine: A Study of the Tevinter Imperium, by Sister Petrine, Chantry scholar

– Slavery in the Tevinter Imperium

Fiona is not an anomaly: Orlais kidnaps and sells people into slavery, too.

And this makes sense. Fantasy always draws on the real world, even if they mix and match the cultures and historical periods a bit. So, just like in the real world, you generally have to take anything the wealthy and powerful say with a grain of salt.

The Chantry has a very specific, empire building, agenda. It makes much of problems that aren’t really problems (demons and abominations are not widespread threats, and both are poorly understood); it pins the blame for actual crises on oppressed groups (the Blight is in no way the fault of this random peasant mage from Antiva); it uses racism and religious intolerance to create in- and out-groups (elves [and dwarves, but we haven’t conquered them yet] are degenerate heathens who are preventing the Maker from returning).

As much as I love Dragon Age, what Bioware does sometimes that is … uncomfortable … to use a mild word, is that it lets the powerful rule the narrative. Inquisition is worst at this, because it presents strong voices for people like Cassandra and Cullen, who stick fairly close to the party line. And then it takes characters like Varric and Sera, and distances them from their own cultures … which is fine for individuals but awkward when we’re not letting Briala or Fiona say much either – and where the fuck is Sigrun? No one’s spoken for Orzammar’s casteless since Awakening. But it’s there, to some extent, in all the games.

So the point, always, is that mages and Circles are misdirection. Mages are scapegoats in the Chantry faith who are held responsible for all the bad things, and represent a pretend evil nobility that the Orlesian Chantry is keeping under control.

But the actual problems of this fantasy world are more or less the same as the problems of the real world: powerful nations dominate the continent and force others to bow to their whims and adopt their culture, because empires are just shit; the rich and powerful hoard all the rights to themselves, and can do damn near anything to the poor – particularly where the poor are part of a marginalised group.

What Orlais doesn’t want people to realise is that they are Tevinter. It was never the mages that were the problem, it was the absolute power the Tevinter magisters held over their slaves – a power now held mostly by the Orlesian nobility, who use it in pretty much the same way. Not exclusively, no: of course the nobility of other nations can be, and bloody are, evil fucks. But even there, the Chantry view helps to obscure the truth: you should be scared of empires and those who rule them. Much more scared than you are of a possessed mage.

[scripttorture]

(1) Long ask here! I think you'll need context before the anti-torture character can be made, here's where story will be at time of introduction.  Chromain is the Arch Mage in the Imptulan royal court, a high ranking official. When my character Sab Sab starts causing trouble, he sees it as his personal duty to put a stop to this "Muse of Anarachy".  He eventually corners Sab Sab and Myrn (Sab's friend, not actually part of her stuff). In the scuffle, he grabs Myrn rather than arrest Sab Sab.

(2) Chromain begins by leaving a message that he will release Myrn if Sab turns self in/reveals the rebel group she's with. He threatens to hurt him in her stead until she does. Carries out his threats. Chromain escalates as he more desperate to make Sab Sab reveal herself. Tries getting Myrn to reveal secrets, but a.) isn't the kind to divulge secrets b.) doesn't know anything . Sab stops responding to the messages. In spite, Chromain leaves Myrn in a stress position until he dies.(3) What might be some ouch methods? Its a fantasy world, with steampunk elements, mostly sword&sorcery, renaisance-esque. Myrn doesn't die permanently (key story point, old gods stuff), but intents and purposes,this kills him. Long recovery even with magic, lasting nerve damage in at least 1 arm and hand, chronic pain, bad limp will be there for the rest of his life upon return. I was wondering what u think could cause that.(4)how long someone be left in stress position before they for sure are dead? Cause he gets left until after he's showing no signs of life. Lastly, mental issues. Chromain (who both employs poorer people and gets his own hands dirty) I was thinking would have suicidal thoughts, and develop alchohalism as a means of coping that got out of hand.

OK,I’m taking this to mean that you want some suggestions for torturesthat will cause the kinds of long term injuries you’re looking forbefore the character actually dies. I’m also assuming the characterdoes actually die and doesn’t just look dead.

Ifyou want something to make the character look dead then a stressposition isn’t a good choice. That’s because due to the way itkills a person can be taken out of a stress position and die days orweeks later from the injuries they sustained.

I’mnot sure I can make a good suggestion for a torture that would make acharacter appear dead. Some of them might, but only for a period ofseconds or minutes. Most torturers would stick around that long andtry to revive the victim. And- since I’m not sure you wantsuggestions for things that could make a character appear dead I’mgoing to leave that there.

IfI’ve misunderstood the ask by all means send another so long as theask box is open.

Forthe record torture does not work as an interrogation technique evenon the rare occasions when victims doknow useful information. The situation you’ve outlined here, wherethe victim doesn’t know anything and is being tortured primarily toinstil fear in other people, isrealistic and reflects the circumstances and motivation behind a lotof torture.

Thesymptoms you’ve chosen for the torturer seem plausible to me. I’vedefinitely read interviews with torturers that seemed to suggest boththose symptoms. If those are the symptoms you feel fit the characterand story best then there’s nothing wrong with choosing them.

Theway I’m going to handle this is by suggesting tortures that mighthave caused the injuries you wanted if the character had been rescuedbefore being killed. I’m going to assume the magic is as good or alittle better then modern medicine.

Ithink the best way to treat the tortures isn’t as an ‘escalation’but as abuse continuing past the bodies point to recover from it. Thejudgement of which tortures are ‘worse’ is subjective. Some ofthem are more likely to cause particular lasting injuries. Some ofthem are more likely to be fatal. But our judgements of what’s‘worse’ often underestimate the amount of pain torture causes andthey usually also ignore the fact that we process pain differently.

Theworst possible pain means different things for different people.

Goingback to the injuries-

Thecauses of chronic pain can be complex and aren’t always obvious. Itcan be caused by direct physical injury that can’t be repaired. Butit can also be psychosomatic or a combination of the two.

Asan example of how that combination can work in reality I’m going tosummarise something I read in an account from an abuse survivor. He’dbeen subjected to standing stress positions fairly regularly. Laterin life he found that he’d often get shooting pains in his calveswhen he was under a lot of stress.

Eventuallyhe and his doctor found the cause: when he was stressed he’d changethe way he stood and tense his calves. This posture and theinstinctive tension of muscles put additional pressure on his calfmuscles and caused the pain.

Thesekinds of subconscious reactions can be almost impossible to stop.

Andthey mean that whatever the torture there’s a chance of chronicpain. Some tortures do seem to be more likely to cause it becausesome are more likely to result in physical injuries that lead tochronic pain. But there’s always a chance there.

Fornerve damage in the hands and arms I think your best bet is asuspension torture.

Forhopefully obvious reasons I’m going to focus on the ones thatattack the arms.

Themost straight forward suspension torture is when the victim’s handsare tied in front of them and they’re hoisted off their feet. Afterabout twenty minutes that starts causing permanent nerve damage.

NowI don’t know if there’s a way to limit that damage to one arm ifthe character is suspended from both arms. With this form ofsuspension the character could potentially be suspended from one arm.Although this would mean there’s a chance he’d be able to freehimself and that could mean he’d sustain injuries from falling.

Ifhe was suspended a significant distance (several meters off thefloor) you could use that to cause the injuries that result in thelimp. Being suspended and then dropping could result in broken bones.Complex or untreated breaks could result in a permanent limp.

Anothercommon suspension torture is tying the victim’s hands behind theirback and suspending them that way. In some cultures victims weresuspended like this, dropped and then suspended again.

Icall this ‘strappado’ which is the Italian name, but it was alsoused in Japan and a number of other countries historically.

Thistype of suspension dislocates the shoulder as well as causing nervedamage in the hands and arms. It can’t be done with one arm. Onceagain the drop can cause injuries if it’s a long enough drop.

Bothof these suspension tortures can cause chronic pain via long termphysical injury.

Thetechnique the British call ‘dorsal flexing’ could alsopotentially cause nerve damage but my understanding is it’s lesslikely then it is in suspension tortures. Dorsal flexing involvedpinning or restraining the victim and pulling their arm up behindthem.

It’sessentially putting someone in a painful armlock and keeping themthere. It can damage the joints and ligaments which can result inlong term chronic pain.

Ifyou wanted to have chronic pain in both arms but would prefer to onlyhave nerve damage in one arm dorsal flexing could be a good fit forthe story.

Thereare other tortures that could cause nerve damage to the arms andhands, butI’m struggling to think of tortures that are both deliberate andwouldn’t also come with a significant risk of losing the limb.(Restraint tortures can sometimes cause nerve damage but this isn’tguaranteed and it’s not a deliberate injury, it’s more likely tobe the result of something going ‘wrong’).

Thefirst thing that comes to mind for the limp is a badly treated brokenbone somewhere in the leg or foot and there are a lotof ways that could happen in a torture scenario. I describedaccidental injuries from drops during suspension and there areprobably a lot of other ways breaks could occur accidentally.

Torturers(more often historically) did sometimes inflict deliberate breaks.This was usually done with a heavy object like a hammer.

Anotheroption would be scarring falaka.

Falakais beating the soles of the feet with an object, and depending onwhat the object is it can be a clean torture, it can be scarring orit can be lethal. Something like a hard wooden cane would bescarring. That would likely cause cuts on the feet and could causebreaks or fractures in the bones of the feet.

Thatcould end up causing the limp. Falaka is also one of the torturesthat often causes chronic pain.

Amuch rarer torture that could result in difficulty walking would becutting the soles of the feet, filling the wounds with alcohol soakedcotton and lighting it. The cuts themselves can potentially be deepenough to cause the limp and burns to the sole of the foot can shrinkthe skin, resulting in difficulty balancing and walking.

Ifyou want the limp to be deliberately and intentionally inflicted thiswas often done by cutting tendons in the leg, either the achillestendon at the back of the heel or one of the tendons at the back ofthe knee.

Ifyou want the character to die because he was left in a stressposition, well the chances of death increase if a victim is in astress position longer then 48 hours. But the exact time of deathwould have quite a bit of individual variation. Considering that thischaracter has been tortured for quite some time before this attack,well his health would probably be pretty poor and he’d probably diemore quickly then someone who was fit and healthy at the beginning ofthis ordeal. Somewhere between 48 and 72 hours should be a realistictime frame.

You’vealready got quite a few options to pick from here. But you might notwant to use all of them. If you wanted to add in more the most commontortures globally are beatings, sleep deprivation and starvation.Poor prison conditions and neglect are also incredibly commonglobally and many cultures used a form of whipping historically.

Idon’t recommend using every torture I’ve suggested in your story.Pick something like 3-5 to use based on what you feel comfortablewriting and what fits the story.

Youcan also take a look at my posts on National Styles herefor modern torture and herefor torture during world war two. They might provide someinspiration or have something you could link to the culture yourfantasy culture is based on.

Ihope that helps. :)

Availableon Wordpress.

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[massielandnetwork]

Thriving in an Economic Bubble during Anarchy

15. The Christian Succession – Navigating Chaos without a Compass except God

Executive Summary:

Crossing the Atlantic in the 15th century was done without the aid of a compass so boat captains dragged a rope off the stern to guide them in a straight line while navigating/ setting their course by the stars at night. In effect, they measured their direction by checking progress from where they had been. That is also the benefit of understanding history and why Marxists destroy historical landmarks a society uses to measure their direction and progress. It creates chaos.

As those in public office today destroy our historical markers, attempt to force Americans to behave in a manner opposite to their desire, and treat Americans with contempt, confusion is leading to chaos. Is the accelerant in this volatile mix a fraudulent election that put in elective office folks who do not reflect the desires, hopes and dreams of the majority? College football stadiums across the country the last two Saturdays have displayed in dramatic fashion a disconnect which will get worse until it is resolved. We may see a constitutional crisis.

Meanwhile, the China Evergrande situation deteriorates. A Bloomberg article stated that in addition to the $300 Billion in Bonds, Evergrande also owes approximately $147 Billion to suppliers and trades PLUS 1.5 million home buyers their deposits. Evergrande has an estimated 200,000 employees but the ripple effects will impact an estimated additional 3 million jobs with suppliers, etc. The article also estimated that Evergrande would have an impact equivalent 10 Lehman Brothers. The ripple effects will hit the USA. Cinch up your saddle.

Background:

An email from my Republican Party County Committee informed me that early voting starts September 17 and urged me to vote early because last November folks that waited to vote on election day were often told that they had already voted. Do you think that just happened to Republican voters? Vote fraud here in Virginia? Yep.

After four years of unrelenting abuse and disruption did the DMs underestimate the number of fraudulent votes needed to steal the election from Trump forcing an error when they had to scurry to complete their plan? Something resulted in perhaps 10,000 affidavits signed by Americans of both parties, genders, and races who were appalled at the fraud they saw.

That exposure led to a series of events which will begin to bear fruit with the report on the Arizona Senate’s audit of Maricopa County. A separate canvass in Arizona has already determined that approximately 300,000 fraudulent votes were counted. I believe seven states have now announced their intent to audit the 2020 election. A petition is being circulated by Arizona State Senator Wendy Rodgers to DE-Certify the Arizona election.

Viewed from the perspective that a thread of logic exists, the last five years were the crescendo of at least a fifteen-year effort of events designed to set the stage for November 2020. Fifteen years of abuse capped with nonsensical “mandates” by the current administration has led Americans to display amazing disrespect for Biden. The first Saturday of college football I saw three streaming videos of college stadiums “saluting” Biden. This past weekend I counted videos of eight stadiums “saluting” Biden capping a week of some amazing similar events.

The disconnect between American “leaders” and the average American citizen is approaching a truly dangerous level. Equally fascinating is the fact that the DMs in Congress continue to pursue legislation that is out of step with the desires of the Average American as they champion “the largest tax increase in history” as an accomplishment along with CRT aka racial hatred.

Add to the toxic mix the discontent with Biden’s retreat from Afghanistan which:

1. Armed muslim terrorists with $85 BILLION Dollars of our military equipment (described by Victor Hanson as the financial equivalent of 7 new nuclear powered aircraft carriers);

2. Both showed China, Iran, North Korea, and the other evil actors in the globe that the USA is in retreat and our allies that we are undependable.

3. Abandoned American citizens leaving their recovery from Afghanistan to private citizens thus demonstrating Biden’s complete disregard for them.

4. Showed our military leaders supported this absolute disaster, no resignations nor firings.

Economic Forecast:

The major event you need to watch is Evergrande. One analyst estimated the impact of the coming Evergrande default to be the equivalent of 10 Lehman Brothers. It is the ripple effects, the ripple effects, the ripple effects! Similar to the early days of Lehman Bros, no one is asking “What will be the ripple effects of Evergrande?”. The American stock markets have ignored it so far.

In the last week, there are three other items buried in the news are enormously significant:

1. The Dallas Fed President, Robert Kaplan, announced that he would be selling his stock in 27 companies valued at over $1M each and putting the funds into cash and/or a managed stock fund to “address criticism he has received”. But consider this – a member of the very small group of folks in the country with the most control over our economy is moving his money out of the stock market into cash, in whole or part.

2. In another report The Fed is interested in replacing our paper currency with digital currency because it will enable them to employ negative interest rates more effectively.

3. Meanwhile, reports from China suggest internal turmoil including a possible “purge” of the CCP which may be President Xi eliminating opponents. Xi’s threats against Taiwan include the frequent invasion of Taiwan’s air space by as many as 19 planes including bombers. Practice runs? Economic turmoil?

Both the Reagan and Trump administrations proved that slashing taxes, decreasing the size of government, and providing tax incentives to build the American manufacturing economy made us more secure while increasing the size of the American economic pie allowing more assistance to those who need it. America prospered under the hand of God because our country enjoyed the combination of Christianity, capitalism, and democracy.

In contrast, Biden and the DMs have us on a path to Marxism which fails because it everyone is a victim and so the pie needs to be redivided. That is a self-destructive exercise that decreases the size of the economic pie. Everyone loses except the “Elites”.

Add to that the increased risk of China’s economy experiencing a financial panic and devaluing its currency as a ripple effect of the Evergrande collapse. The Fed would either delay tapering their Quantitative Easing (QE) and would have to increase QE which will devalue the Dollar leading to higher inflation and creating a downward spiral of our economy. Our economic decline will be worsened by Biden having made us dependent on OPEC for oil, forcing us to more expensive and less reliable “Green Energy”, an unsupportable increase in our national debt plus dramatically raising taxes. That combination is known as “Stagflation”. Get ready for UGLY.

Pray that our Lord and Savior raises up and protects the Patriots that demand forensic audits of the 2020 election in every state. Honest elections are the fulcrum of our American experiment. It is not vengeance to demand honesty and that everyone play by the same laws. Men make plans, but God ALWAYS wins. Every portfolio should contain some cash and a great piece of land remains The Best investment long term.

“For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.”

(Romans 8: 18) New Revised Standard Version, Oxford University Press)

Stay healthy,

Ned

September 15, 2021

Copyright Massie Land Network. All rights Reserved.

[antoine-roquentin]

ARON MATÉ: It's The Real News, I'm Aaron Maté. The opioid drug crisis is the deadliest in US history. On Thursday, President Trump indicated he will formally declare it a national emergency.

DONALD TRUMP: The opioid crisis is an emergency and I'm saying officially, right now, it is an emergency. It's a national emergency. We're going to spend a lot of time, a lot of effort, and a lot of money on the opioid crisis.

AARON MATÉ: Joining me now is Dr. Gabor Maté, a physician and author of several books, including, "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction." Full disclosure, he is also my father. Hello there.

GABOR MATÉ: Hi.

AARON MATÉ: Thank you for joining us. Let's start first with what this crisis is. The figures on overdose deaths in the US are something like 140 every single day, two-thirds from opioids. Describe for us what kind of crisis we're dealing with here.

GABOR MATÉ: As the President's Commission said, every three weeks in the US you have the equivalence of a 9/11, so that every year, currently, you have 14, 15 9/11s happening. In that sense, it's reasonable to speak about it as an emergency. Another sense, of course, it's been going on for a long, long, long time, it's just that the numbers have increased in the recent years.

AARON MATÉ: The numbers and also in terms of who the victims are, right, demographically?

GABOR MATÉ: Yes. It's now been found that the life expectancy of the white, working, and middle class is decreasing because of alcoholism and drug overdoses. It's a question of who it's hitting. It was always certain sections of the population, but now it's hitting the mainstream.

AARON MATÉ: The implication there is that that's the reason why it's perhaps getting so much more attention and resources now?

GABOR MATÉ: Well, there was an article in New York Times earlier this year which said exactly that, that because it's now hitting the white middle class, people are really starting to wonder what it's all about, and what else can you do beside the usual ineffective responses. It's interesting enough that, in the 2016 election, Trump got some of the biggest support in areas that are hardest hit by alcoholism and the opioid crisis and suicides.

AARON MATÉ: Why do you think that is?

GABOR MATÉ: That speaks to the very heart of addiction and what drug use is all about. It's all about an attempt to escape from desperation. Those areas are the areas of the country with the greatest desperation. Those are the ones that most were susceptible to Trump's message.

AARON MATÉ: Okay, let's talk about that. You talk about addiction being an attempt to escape desperation. You've worked with addicts over many years. You were a physician at the Portland Hotel Society, which is a residential and hospice service for residents of Vancouver's downtown east side, an area with a huge drug problem. Talk more about that, addiction being rooted in an attempt to escape adverse conditions.

GABOR MATÉ: If you look at the opioids, what are they? The opioids have been used in medicine for thousands of years. Used for what? Used for pain relief. They're the most powerful pain relievers that we have. They don't only soothe physical pain, they also soothe emotional pain. It turns out that the same area of the brain that experiences suffering from physical pain also experiences suffering from emotional pain. In other words, the primary question in any addiction, but especially in opioid addiction, is not why the addiction, but why the pain?

We have to look at what is the pain that people are trying to escape from. For that, there are two major causes. One cause is childhood trauma. We talk about how childhood trauma actually affects the brain in such a way as to make it more susceptible to addictions later on. Childhood trauma is one source of deep pain and all the addicts I worked with have been traumatized significantly so. That's what the large scale studies in the US shows about it, the more trauma in childhood, exponentially the greater the risk of addiction. Childhood trauma is a huge problem in our society and in American society.

The other question is, what's going on right now? That's stress. What we also know is that stress makes the brain more susceptible to addiction and stress also makes people more desires of escape from the stress. If you look at what's happening socially, economically, politically, culturally, is increasing insecurity, increasing stress, increasing uncertainty, increasing difficulty for people. Therefore, people will turn to short-term measures to escape those difficulties, or at least the awareness of them, by escaping into addictions, including drug use. What we're looking at is, A, childhood trauma, and B, severe social stress. It's not surprising that the areas where Trump got the greatest support are areas of great social stress.

AARON MATÉ: Right. Taking your analysis and looking at this response now, Trump poised to, it appears, declare this a national emergency. Looking at how this problem is discussed, what do you think is missing from the conversation and from the actual policy choices that are being made to respond to it?

GABOR MATÉ: The conversation in the mainstream media and political circles, and I would say even in medical circles, largely excludes the central importance of trauma and stress. They talk about the problem of addiction as it was simply a matter of a choice that somebody makes, in which case, two things you can do. One, is you can try to deter people or at least dissuade them from making that choice. That's what your attorney general, the American Attorney General Jeff Sessions talked about, about reviving the old Nancy Reagan "Just Say No" ethic, where you're just telling people how bad drugs are and then they won't use them [crosstalk 00:06:30]-

AARON MATÉ: You know what? I'm going to cut in. It wasn't just Sessions, it was also Trump. This is him speaking just a few days ago. Let's hear what he says and you can respond to this as well.

DONALD TRUMP: The best way to prevent drug addiction and overdose is to prevent people from abusing drugs in the first place. If they don't start, they won't have a problem. If they do start, it's awfully tough to get off. We can keep them from going on and maybe by talking to youth and telling them, "No good. Really bad for you in every way." If they don't start, it will never be a problem.

AARON MATÉ: "If they don't start, it will never be a problem."

GABOR MATÉ: Yes. That, again, is based on the view that just telling people how bad drugs are will keep them from using them. If that strategy worked, why do we have the crisis right now? If the Nancy Reagan "Just Say No" and telling people how bad it is to use drugs strategy worked, why has the heroin use rate in the US gone up five-fold in the last 10 years and why the current crisis? Clearly, that doesn't work.

The reason it doesn't work is is drug addiction is not a choice that anybody makes. Nobody chooses to do that. The real question is, how do we get that information across? The problem is that the children, the young people who are listening to adults, are not the ones at risk. The ones who are at risk are not listening to adults. It doesn't matter what we tell the kids, because again, the ones that don't need it, they'll get it, and the ones who need the information won't get it, because they're the hurt ones, and the abused ones, and the alienated ones to whom this kind of message falls on deaf ears. Yes?

AARON MATÉ: No, go ahead.

GABOR MATÉ: Well, the second perspective is that addiction is this disease that people inherit. Again, that excludes looking at people's lives, looking at their childhood trauma history, at the family history, of modern generational trauma perhaps, and looking at all the social factors that put stress on people. While the addiction to the brain looks like a disease to the brain, it's truly not.

What the disease [inaudible 00:08:44] is that that disease is the result of life experiences and social factors. Simply talking about trying to stop or prevent the addiction without looking at those social factors and those personal historical factors and then when you treat people without treating their trauma and treating their pain, you [inaudible 00:09:08].

AARON MATÉ: What about the side, though, that says the main problem is the supply, especially from in the case of opioids from big pharmaceutical companies? Purdue Pharma, it's well known that they entered Oxycontin into the market in the mid '90s. They concealed some of the impacts of it and that did lead to a huge spike in addictions and overdoses.

GABOR MATÉ: It's certainly true that the pharmaceutical companies profit, and very happily, over the overuse of pharmaceuticals. That's true. It's also true that Purdue, which engaged in subterfuge that contributed to the deaths of hundreds of people, paid a very small price and none of their executives went to jail, contrary to a small-time drug dealer who's responsible for much less degradation.

That's true, however, as an American judge very astutely said that you can no more control or suppress the law of supply and demand than you can suppress or control the law of gravity. The real issue is not just the availability, because people will use something. People that need to escape will use something. If they will not use available prescription drugs, they'll use illicit heroin. There's a lot of cheap heroin available in the United States right now.

If they will not use that, they'll use crystal meth. They'll use cocaine. They'll use alcohol. They'll use something. Ultimately, while it's certainly true that the pharmaceutical companies have contributed to this, and it's also true that physicians have contributed to it because of their insufficient understanding of chronic pain and how to deal with it, ultimately we still have to look at the broad social factors. In individual cases, we have to address those factors when we're treating people.

AARON MATÉ: Right. On the issue of treatment, I went to a event recently where I heard people who have experienced dealing with rehab facilities, having loved ones who are in rehab facilities. It was just a series of complaints about these facilities did not properly address their loved ones' issues. Specifically, there was very little therapy and attempts to address people's internal pain. I'm wondering your thoughts on that, the issues that the rehab approach and then treatment in general might face?

GABOR MATÉ: The problem is that most addiction specialists, physicians, psychiatrists, and counselors do not get trained in trauma. In fact, it's quite possible, for most training physicians in the United States or in my country, Canada, to graduate without ever hearing the word "trauma," let alone learning how to deal with it.

It's not surprising that, when people go to rehab facilities, the attention and the emphasis is put strictly on the behavior of addiction and trying to get them to stop the behavior and not on the causes that made them addicted in the first place. People go to rehab and then they're never helped to integrate and deal with their emotional pain, with their trauma. They're never given the help to learn and to help them rewire their brains in such a way that they can go out there and deal with stress more effectively and more consciously, with more awareness.

AARON MATÉ: Right. As we wrap, I have two questions about the psychological dynamics of addiction. The first is one that you touched on a bit earlier. What is the neuroscience of addiction? Why is someone with trauma, with unaddressed childhood pain, more wired to become addicted?

GABOR MATÉ: Well, first of all, because of the pain itself. All addictions, in my view, are an attempt to escape from emotional pain, discomfort, distress. The more distress, discomfort, pain, shame you have, the more likely you'll want to escape from it through addictions. That's an impact of trauma. Secondly, the childhood experience itself wires the brain. This is not controversial, this is just state of the art brain science, how the human brain develops depends very much on your early environment and, particularly, the emotional atmosphere, so how connected and attuned and emotionally present or, on the contrary, how stressed, absent, perhaps traumatized themselves the parents are will actually affect the wiring of the brain.

For the healthy brain development, you need a calm, connected and non-stressed parenting environment, which is less and less available to American kids or with social circumstances. Then, thirdly, if you look at the brain circuits involved in addiction, the opioid circuits where the opioid medications work, over the incentive motivation circuits where all the drugs and all the behaviors of addiction, from gambling, to sex tend to network, if you look at the circuits of emotional stress regulation and self-regulation, if you look at the circuits of impulse regulation, where we can make decisions not to engage in something even though we want to, if we know that it's bad for us, all these circuits develop or don't develop in response to the early environment.

In other words, the greater the early stress and the trauma and the less calm and supportive the early environment, the greater the risk that person is at for addiction later on. Not to mention not only for addiction, also for mental health problems. As this interim report by the President's Commission pointed out, about 40% of substance users also have correlated mental health issues, which also need to be addressed. By the way, I would say 40% is a gross underestimate. It's probably closer to 80, 90%.

AARON MATÉ: Quite likely, they're using drugs to deal or cope with those mental health issues?

GABOR MATÉ: Very often drugs are, apart from the general escape that provide from stress and emotional pain and distress, they're also specifically self-medications for diagnosable mental conditions such as post traumatic stress, such as depression, such as anxiety, such as attention deficit hyperactive disorder, such as bipolar illness, such as social phobia and so on. Again, these conditions and their basis in trauma all have to be addressed if we're to help addicts, addicted people really overcome their problem.

AARON MATÉ: Okay, so a final question, and it's also about psychology, I'm curious your thoughts on what is the psychology of those who stigmatize addicts, who have a hard time seeing them as people in need, people with pain, more seeing them from a criminal perspective? What, in your view, is going on there?

GABOR MATÉ: That's a great question. I think there are three levels that we can distinguish here, one is on the level of thought. They just don't understand. They haven't actually looked at what drives addiction. They see it as a moral question, because this is how they've been taught, and they have no other perspective. [inaudible 00:16:59], it's just shallow thinking based on a lack of information.

On the level of emotion, though, there's a tremendous hostility towards drug users and addicts in a part of a lot of people. What is that all about? I think what that's all about is something that Jesus talked about, when he said, "Don't judge, lest ye be judged." Basically, he points out that all the judgements you make of others are always, in the end, come back to ourselves.

If you look at American society or Western society in general, it's a highly addictive culture. People have all kinds of addictions. There's not really a deep difference between drug addictions, and sex addiction, and gambling addiction, and shopping addiction, and eating additions, in terms of their causes, in terms of their brain circuits, and in terms of negative impact. What I'm saying is [crosstalk- 00:17:52]-

AARON MATÉ: Well, but listen, a lot of people would push back on that and say, "You can't compare the impact of heroin use to the impact of gambling or sex or whatever else."

GABOR MATÉ: Well, first of all, we can make a more direct comparison if we look at cigarettes use or alcohol use. You can make a direct comparison between cigarette use and alcohol use and, on the one hand, in heroin use and the other. You know what the comparison says? The comparison says that heroin use is far safer. In other words, if you take a thousand people who smoke or drink heavily or who inject heroin, as long as they don't overdose, 30 years from now, there'll be a lot more disease, a lot more death in the alcohol and cigarette groups than in the heroin group.

AARON MATÉ: This is assuming, though, that the heroin is clean, right? Obviously, street heroin is far different.

GABOR MATÉ: That's what I'm saying. We have this arbitrary decision as to what drugs are acceptable and what drugs are not. What I am saying is that people don't have the same [inaudible 00:18:59], the same negative, hostile response to smokers and people who drink. In fact, drinking is publicly advertised on the Superbowl. It's totally arbitrary.

In other words, it's fueled in emotional reaction. What I'm saying is that the emotional reaction is based on the fact that addictions are so rife in our society, we just don't want to admit it, so we want to see the addict as somehow different. We want to see them as inferior to us. Now, if we want to judge them, and then we can feel superior, and that's on the emotional level.

On the neurological level, this part of the brain here, in the front part of the brain, the mid frontal cortex, has a function which is called "response flexibility," which means that when we are confronted with the situation, we can consider the facts. We can calmly evaluate what's best and respond from a flexible, rather than an emotional reactive point of view.

Now, for a lot of people in our society, that response flexibility is not available. They tend to react from an emotional-based patterned reactive ground. They don't have the equipment themselves. They're not mindful enough to really consider what's actually going on. Instead of being responsive, they're being reactive. That reaction is an emotional one of hostility.

AARON MATÉ: Okay. Very quickly as we wrap, because we haven't talked about it yet, but it relates to what we're talking about right now, which is that clean heroin is provided to people at safe injection sites, like the one that you worked at in Vancouver's downtown east side. I'm wondering if you could talk about that quickly and the impact that that has had on the community?

GABOR MATÉ: Well, the first thing you have to realize is that much of the negative impact of drug addiction is due to the illegal situation, where people have to use unreliable supplies polluted by whatever, what medication, particularly fentanyl, which is lethal. Nobody's advocating that drugs should become legal, in the sense of being freely available on the streets or corner stores, like cigarettes or alcohol is, but there are programs in Canada and in Europe, which have provided clean heroin to confirmed addicts who cannot be helped by methadone or suboxone or other medications. These people actually get a prescription, not that they take home, but they inject in the clinic.

It's been shown over and over again that people who are given access to such programs have much less disease, passed on much less disease to other people, far more economically viable, they have better family lives and far fewer health risks and incur far smaller health cost to the system.

What I'm suggesting is that, although supplied heroin will not be the answer to most people or certainly not to everybody, but there needs to be response flexibility in the healthcare system. Right now, the approaches are way too narrow, way too reactive, and way too limited. If we actually looked at all the possible ranges of what we already know is available to us and all the programs that we could actually use here, we will do much better than we're doing right now.

AARON MATÉ: Just to clarify, in Vancouver, there's two facilities, right? There's the facility where people are provided with prescription heroin and one where they're not provided with heroin, but they can go and inject safely. I believe, in both these facilities, the overdose deaths around that area have declined sharply, right?

GABOR MATÉ: There are two clinics, yes. One is the Supervised Injection Site, where people bring their illegal drugs, but they inject them under supervision with no harassment from the police. They're given clean needles, sterile water. In other words, they don't pass on or receive disease from other people. If they overdose, they're actually resuscitated. A lot of lives have been saved.

At another clinic, just one clinic in Vancouver, they prescribe and supervise prescribed heroin to people under the principles I just explained. Now, unfortunately, Vancouver's also seen a great increase in the overdose deaths and the clinics have not been able to keep up with that because of the introduction of fentanyl and still because of the retrograde drug laws that drive people underground. We're far from having solved the problem in Vancouver, but those two initiatives have demonstrated, in many studies, a lot of promise.

AARON MATÉ: Dr. Gabor Maté, physician, author of several books, including, "In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction," thanks very much.

GABOR MATÉ: Thanks for having me.

AARON MATÉ: Thank you for joining us on The Real News.