#history will remember your cowardice

[their-name-is-fake]

When this is all over, and we bury our dead, and we get the chance to finally mourn our loses. I want you to know I will never forgive you. Not for keeping silent, not for standing with tyranny and not for rewriting history. When this is all over and your kids ask you how this could have happened, I hope you have the guts to tell them the truth.

When this is all over, Palestine will remain standing. We will still be here. But where will your humanity have gone?

Don’t mourn us, we have not died. Mourn the west, it’s humanity has fled.

[sirswooshnoodles]

Just because “it is” does NPT mean it “has to be”

“That’s just how it is” is the stupidest shit ever spoken.

I’m sure people said it when women wanted to vote, and women can now vote.

I’m sure people said it about slavery and or segregation, and we (mostly) got rid of those too.

Like bitches, get real, the laws and rules of our society are not permanent and unchanging like the laws of physics. We humans made them, we humans can destroy and change them. Stop being a baby and get ready to change.

[wilwheaton]

“The second Kevin went to Mar-a-Lago — actually, the second we saw that picture [of McCarthy with Trump] pop up — there was this understanding that he made his decision. Kevin made his decision, which is to resurrect Donald Trump, because Donald Trump had the money and it was the only way Kevin McCarthy could become speaker, because he did not have the time to take on the MAGA elements and then be able to put together 218 votes to be speaker. So he made the easy decision for him, if your only goal is to attain the speakership. And so that moment, literally, you could feel the energy in the conference shift into, ‘OK, I guess we’re doing this again.’ And I think it is important for people to see obviously, in this story, the bad guy is Donald Trump, but his chief enabler is Kevin McCarthy.” Kinzinger took McCarthy’s embrace of Trump personally, not only because of their former closeness but because he read it as placing individual ambition over the good of the country. “There is no red line he won’t cross for himself,” he told The Times. “He is morally vacant. He made a deal with the devil, and like every deal with the devil, you get something for a little bit until the devil wants his due. And Kevin got that due when he was kicked out of office. So for all of his moral failings, he got eight months of the speakership and he got the title of speaker for the rest of his life. I hope it was worth it. I don’t think it was.”

Kinzinger blames McCarthy for resurrecting Trump after Jan. 6

Where did this get McCarthy? Oh, right, out of Congress, out of politics, and remembered by history for his cowardice and ambition.

[calliesmemes]

DARKNESS STILL HAUNTS YOUR NARRATIVE

ASSORTED ASKBOX PROMPTS from various sources with dark and / or unsettling themes. The ominous feeling from before is still there, and its prominence has only grown …

* TRIGGERING THEMES MAY BE PRESENT, such as death, wealth inequality, and war. Please exercise caution and curate your space accordingly.

CHANGE gendered words and in-universe phrases as needed

SPECIFY muse for multimuses

❛ When I look at a person, I see a person — not a rank, not a class, not a title. ❜

❛ What a strange girl you are. ❜

❛ History is written by the rich, and so the poor get blamed for everything. ❜

❛ I could corrupt you. It would be easy. ❜

❛ How many centuries deep is your wound? ❜

❛ You’ll be remembered more for what you destroy than what you create. ❜

❛ Bitter are the wars between brothers. ❜

❛ Power comes with a price. ❜

❛ Your power might destroy you if you don’t learn to control it. ❜

❛ I’m not going to let you anywhere near a battlefield! ❜

❛ War is sweet to those who have never fought. ❜

❛ Cowardice is everywhere in this country. ❜

❛ Which appeals to you more? Power, or love? ❜

❛ Inside my head, the war is everywhere. ❜

❛ You look like your grief and guilt and rage are eating you alive, bit by bit. ❜

❛ Good and evil are a question of perspective. ❜

❛ The only difference between martyrdom and suicide is the press coverage. ❜

❛ Your place is at home; you will fight another day. ❜

❛ How many more children do we have to sacrifice in this war? ❜

❛ When you talk to the dead, the dead will talk back. They’re always there, even if you can’t hear them. ❜

❛ I am half child, half ancient. ❜

❛ You’re like me. You’ve seen too much, too young. ❜

❛ Every word from your mouth, every turn of phrase, will be judged — and possibly used against you. ❜

❛ I prefer the most unfair peace over the most righteous war. ❜

❛ A love like ours could burn down a city. ❜

❛ In my experience, men only call women ‘mad’ when they are doing something inconvenient. ❜

❛ I will do anything to keep you safe from harm. ❜

❛ You wield an incredible amount of power with just your voice. ❜

❛ You know, everything old can be made new again. Like democracy. ❜

❛ You laugh like a little girl, and think like a martyr. ❜

❛ What is a home if not the first place you learn to run from? ❜

❛ Do you understand what it means when you have nowhere else to turn? ❜

❛ The war is never over. ❜

❛ We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it. ❜

❛ I dream of the past as if it were yet to come. ❜

❛ You have endured terrible suffering, haven’t you? ❜

❛ Your beauty terrifies me. ❜

❛ This is war — you never know who’s listening. ❜

❛ This is a land of dreams and madness, where childrens’ stories come to life. ❜

❛ The Earth is littered with the ruins of empires that believed they were eternal. ❜

❛ I’ll never get used to being alive. ❜

❛ We’ve been fighting this battle for too long. ❜

❛ We swore we’d never bow to tyranny. ❜

❛ Young men fall, I see their agony. ❜

❛ We all carry things inside us that no one else can see. ❜

❛ Your suffering can’t end until you stop identifying with it. ❜

❛ You have to be a bit of a liar to tell the story the right way. ❜

❛ I’m so afraid of losing something I love that I refuse to love anything. ❜

❛ You collect scars because you want proof that you’re paying for whatever sins you’ve committed. ❜

❛ You can escape reality, but you can’t escape the consequences of escaping reality. ❜

❛ Is that all you want to be? Liked? Wouldn’t you rather be passionately and voraciously desired? ❜

❛ Sorrow found me when I was young. ❜

❛ The very heavens conspire against me! ❜

❛ Do you like the person that you’ve become under the weight of living? ❜

❛ The evil that men do lives on long after they themselves have gone. ❜

❛ You are not safe here. ❜

❛ I don’t know any places I can hide from the voices that are tearing me apart from the inside. ❜

❛ I am not a legend; I’m a fraud. ❜

❛ Destiny is a worrying concept. I don’t want to be fated; I want to choose. ❜

❛ I am not merciful, and I am not kind. ❜

❛ Until the lion learns how to write, every story will glorify the hunter. ❜

❛ Vulnerability is courage in you and inadequacy in me. ❜

❛ You cannot save people. You can only love them. ❜

❛ This isn’t going to be like last time. ❜

[acupofinkedblood]

Medkit x reader

TW: Mention of blood

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

• When Medkit left Blackrock, the one thing on his mind in that moment was to survive. Purely just that. The adrenaline rush had gotten the best of him, granted him the ability to run across the merciless snow of Blackrock without feeling tired. His emotions were drowned in determination to flee this place for once and for all. Blood from his empty eye socket kept dripping down, yet Medkit refused to live any trails behind as he covered it up by his hand

• The rest was a blurry mess. He couldn’t remember how far he had run or where did he end up at. The next thing he knows when he wakes up, Medkit immediately get rid of his uniform and deal with that empty socket of his by the only way in his mind: Sew it up. Please don’t ask where did he find the needle and thread, it’s not something pleasant to hear

• And the rest is history. He flees Blackrock and never looks back. Tired of living with a target on his skull, just in time as the Broker finds him and introduces him to the Family in exchange of protection, Medkit starts to do whatever it takes to survive

• Yet sometimes, his memory shifts elsewhere when he is alone with nothing but his cigarette to occupy his mind. In this case, it’s you

• The co-worker he has been pining over for quite a while, it’s you. Aside from a certain bastard that never failed to make him grimace ever now and then with high possibility of having his day ruined, you’re like a fresh air that shoo away all of the toxins around him. Your calm attitude makes his shoulder less tensed as he finds himself relaxed around you

• As much as he’d love to spend more times with you, his workload made it impossible for him to take a breather. Not to mention whenever he had his times to look for you, Subspace had already dragged you away to entertain his endless narcissistic rambling again. Medkit wouldn’t lie, he was jealous before. Yet he couldn’t really do anything

• He decided to savor the moment with you at any given chance to make up for the lack of time you two spent together. But he felt like his feelings were one-sided. Even when you didn’t say anything obvious about it, the bubble of insecurity when it came to you just exist inside him

• Medkit just hopelessly wished that you will understand his feelings one day. Or at the very least, he wanted to be by your side more often

• Yet when he ran away from Blackrock, his determination to escape has completely blocked out your image. Whenever Medkit thinks about it, he silently curses himself. He knows that he was selfish in that moment, he just can’t help it. But is leaving you back is a wise decision? Definitely not. Medkit is worried about your well-being

• His mind is disturbed with every single possibilities of ‘what if’ - What happens if he takes you with him? What happens if he finds you first instead of running away? He misses you. He knows he doesn’t have the audacity to do so anymore after he has left you because of his cowardice, yet he just can’t help it

• If he is given a chance to see you again, he will take it as long as he figures that he can come back in one piece

• And the day comes to him faster than he expected. But it’s not him meeting you, but it’s you meeting him in a pretty odd situation

• Scythe claims that she has found you lurking in the corner while she was harvesting. And since she partly recognizes you because of the picture Medkit keeps looking at, she decides to bring you back as a ‘surprise’ for Medkit before deals with you later

• Seeing you again eases Medkit’s worries somewhat, yet your current state makes him reconsider his thoughts. You were exhausted, both mentally and physically. What happened while he was gone to the point that you became like this? He works up his courage to ask you about it. And you just shakes your head, saying that ever since he leaves, Subspace has became such a mess and it’s your responsibility to care for him

• Because that’s your lover. And you are doing Mekdit a favor by cleaning up his mess. Even when your words are calm, it feels as cold as a knife pushing into his heart. That piece of information is not what he looks forward to hear at all. Like always, he has been too late. You and Subspace together, bases on how you look at that moment, seems like a self-destructive combination. His heart aches at the sight, yet he can’t get any words out of his mouth. His mind is such a mess at the moment

• You tell him that since you still value his company before anything happens, you will keep this meeting a secret from Subspace

• Before anyone can understand what you mean by that, a Biograft just breaks in. Something that Subspace has gifted you with certain modifications, but it was under your command and follow your orders. So instead of attacking anyone in the room, it just drags you to run away within a blink of an eye as you wish

• Medkit is pretty much numb at that point. He can only look at you for the very last time without doing anything, like how he used to leave you back and fun for his life. He is aware that he is indirectly responsible for the current you

• You have changed. And it is partly his fault for it. If only he has brought you to run away with him, things wouldn’t go this way. Guilt overflows his mind as his heart sinks to the pit of his stomach. Scythe has to smack some senses into him

• Scythe doesn’t seem to mind much, it’s not like the little you can do anything, so she leaves Medkit alone

• Later in that night, Medkit can’t focus on anything at all. He reaches out his cigarette, lightens it up and takes a drag to clear up his mind. His hand is shaking as he remembers that soulless look on your face. Medkit finds himself burying his face in the palms of his hands, overwhelming guilt keeps torturing him at this vulnerable moment

• As his tear finally escapes after being bottled up for so long, he only has one question spoken clear in his head

• Why does thing have to go this way?

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝

Note: Yup, this is connected to the previous Subspace green tea post

Note 2: I was about to sleep when I decided to write this what the heck did I just write

[bekolxeram]

Buck being Buck, of course he'll do something stupidly sweet to make sure Tommy won't spend the holidays alone. (Spoilers, he's asking everyone Tommy knows to keep him company.) Tommy being Tommy, of course he's already ordered a Christmas gift for Buck months ago. Here's what happens after Sal told Tommy a kid from the 118 tracked him down and begged him to stay in LA for the holidays instead of flying home. (Buck offered to pay for his entire family to fly to LA instead, Sal said "you're fucking crazy.") Please enjoy this tiny snippet of Bucktommy's continuing saga in my head.

"Dear Buck,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I got you these because I remember you said — "

Tommy crumples the piece of paper he’s been writing on in his hand. It didn’t sound right. It sounded too much like he got out of his way to buy his ex a thoughtful gift, nearly 2 months after he walked out of the door and tore his heart into pieces. It takes a special kind of bastard to do that, to think that he still has the right to do that. Ev… Buck is an amazing guy and a total catch anyway, he’s probably seeing someone new already, exploring his new found freedom, enjoying the joy of fully being his true self. The last thing Tommy wants is to overstep his boundaries, or worse, to throw a wrench into his gradually stabilizing life.

He picks up another paper and starts over.

"Mr. Buckley,

Thank you for your thoughtful gesture. I would like to express my gratitude by gifting you these — "

This too joins the growing pile of paper balls on Tommy’s table. It may be the worst one so far, it reads more like an official diplomatic address between two countries on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean. Who even calls him Mr. Buckley?

Staring at the box sitting on his kitchen island, Tommy seems to run out of idea even faster.

It’s about the size of a shoebox, it currently contains something Tommy ordered months in advance that would’ve been Buck’s Christmas gift. The package is wrapped up in simple matte gray with white snowflakes pattern throughout, adorned by a classic red ribbon tied into a bow. The only thing missing is a written message from the sender attached.

With an empty mind, Tommy starts writing again. This time, he lets his heart guide his pen.

"Dear Evan,

Thank you.

I can’t believe you did that for me, even after what I did to you.

I guess that’s just who you are, always caring, always considerate, always burning yourself to illuminate others.

You have a way to people’s heart, you know? Anyone would be lucky to have you.

And boy was I lucky. You almost made me believe I deserved a life with you.

But I also know once the initial excitement has passed, you’ll start seeing me for who I really am. Trust me, you’ll end up hating me. I’ve been there before.

I wish I was brave enough to stay, but I’m not an activist, I’m not a fighter, I’m just… broken. I spent most of my life hiding in the closet that I’ve hurt more people than I can count, I’ve hurt people I loved, I’ve hurt people you loved.

When you asked me to move in with you, even after… no, especially after you’d learned my history with Abby, I knew I had to walk away. No matter how much it hurt at the time, the thought of you despising me, being abhorred by my past, revolted by my cowardice, would quite literally kill me.

Maybe I should’ve cut things short earlier, and I’m sorry for being selfish, for being greedy. Every time I got to wake up next to you, to watch your beautiful face at peace in the land of dreams, I prayed for just one more morning like this. Every time I got to stay up with you, to hold you in my arms while you were diving deep into whatever obscure topic that perked your interest, I hoped for just another night basking in your presence.

Maybe I should’ve never accepted the invite to your sister’s wedding.

Maybe I should’ve never agreed to meet you at the café that morning.

Maybe I should’ve never asked you out to begin with.

But I did. I did all of that fully knowing my heart would be broken one way or another. And it was all my fault.

I don’t know what else to say except that I’m sorry.

Maybe I’ve always known deep down how it would end before it even started, but I guess I…

I loved you anyway."

Instead of adding to the pile of scrapped ideas, Tommy abruptly stands up, taking his heartfelt confession with him, and throws it into the fireplace.

He watches on as the searing hot flame engulfs the piece of paper, rendering his soul into tiny bits of black charcoal, which slowly dissipate into nothingness.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Knock, knock, knock*

"Hey, you’re early. I haven’t finished packi… Oh." Buck says as he’s opening the door.

Surprisingly, the person standing in front of him isn’t the one he’s expecting.

"Evan Buckley?"

"Yes, I am him."

"You have a package delivery. Just sign here and you’re good to go." The mailman hands him a clip board with a confirmation form on it.

"And… done, thank you. Happy holidays." Bucks trades the signed receipt for the nicely wrapped box in the mailman’s hand.

"You too."

Buck doesn’t recall having ordered anything to be delivered lately. That’s when he notices the small envelope attached to the ribbon tied around the box. There’s a handwritten note inside, the handwriting oddly familiar. It says:

"Dear Buck,

I ordered these many months ago when you told me you were running out of space for photos on your fridge.

I just want to thank you for everything you’ve done. You don’t have to get me anything in return.

Think of it as a parting gift, one last piece from the past, before you move on to a much brighter future.

To new beginnings.

- T"

Buck closes his eyes and takes a deep breath to calm down his rippling emotions. He then carefully unties the ribbon to unwrap the gift box. Inside it, there’s a set of magnetic digital picture frames.

While he’s debating what to do with this thoughtful gift from his ex, whether to put it up to use or not, he hears knocking on the door once again. Only this time, the right person is standing on the other side.

"Uncle Buck!😊"

(Inspired by this song, I do recommend listening to it while (re)reading)

Everything I've written exists in the same universe and timeline btw. If you've read my ficlet set in next March, you'll know it's not that sad. Anyway I hope I'd be able to turn all my headcanon in to a long series one day. (Sorry for the long addendum, I tried putting everything in tags but Tumblr stopped showing this post in the tags)

[luvtonique]

It has come to my attention

That people these days don't know the golden principles of debate, and I think I need to remind everyone very briefly.

Remember:

Never enter a debate knowing that you are correct.

Always consider the possibility that you are in the wrong.

Listen to your opponent and consider their views.

Empathize with your opponent's history on the subject.

Use constructive criticism while politely sharing your rebuttal.

Always be open to the possibility of agreeing with your opponent.

Do not mudsling, insult or attack your opponent.

Do not use strawman arguments.

Your argument is not that your opponent is incorrect, but rather that your stance is preferable.

Do not use labels.

Do not bring outside drama into an argument.

Always be open to compromise.

Always be willing to mend your argument, especially if presented with new information from your opponent.

Literally every single one of these is very regularly forgotten, especially on social media.

Edit: And while we're here, I guess I'll add one of my own

If you just block your opponent or silence their ability to engage in the argument, this is an act of desperation in knowing you have no ground to stand on and you're running away in cowardice.

Edit 2: Adding my responses to people in the comments.

Correction from my own argument: He's still doing that to this day, I thought he either passed away or stopped but turns out that's still what he's up to.

[oldgayjew]

zionazi. israel will be remembered the same as nazi germany, you have the same hate in your heart for palestinians that nazis have for jews.

Your stupidity with regards to History is truly nauseating ... the term "Palestinian" refers to an occupant of the fictitious nation of "Palestine", which had a chance to become a country, but was instead divide among the members of The Arab League in 1947 ... you call defending against a group of criminals who murdered 1,400 people "hate in your heart" because you're so blinded by your own hate for Jews and your cowardice is on display by hiding behind the mask of "Anonymous", just like the murdering cretins you defend ... put your head back firmly up your ass, breathe deep and turn on your brain before you post your shit next time ...

Have a nice day ... shit-fer-brains !

[thesandsofelsweyr]

What is the 'wild card' option do?

from Headcanon Game - A to Z (NSFW)

It means I get to share a sexy headcanon of my choosing, so of course it's gonna be scar related 😎

(This is not the aforementioned scar headcanon post. Still working on that one.)

⚠️ cw: here be more angst than smut 😅, torture mentions

W = Wild Card (Get a random headcanon for the character of your choice)

Scars: he’s covered in them—from his scalp to the soles of his feet. Joker made use of nearly every square inch of flesh available on his “canvas” for his “artwork” 😞 Jay doesn’t want them seen: by himself, by others, by you especially. He feels like anyone can read his entire humiliating history from his scars, because all he sees are flashing advertisements for his many failures, for his cowardice, for his weakness. So he wears hats and hoodies, long sleeves, pants, and even gloves year-round (sexy driving gloves in the warmer months 😎). He’ll let you tug down his pants and boxer briefs to his thighs, but that’s as much of his ruined flesh as he wants showing, especially since he’s already feeling emotionally vulnerable when you two are intimate.

Touching his scars brings up a knotted tangle of emotions in him. They’re ultra sensitive. Not physically, per se, but the sensation reminds him that they’re there, reminds him of what happened to him. He remembers all of the times he “let” Joker touch him… how the man would trace the ridges of scar tissue almost tenderly, admiring his masterpiece, his plaything, his boy toy… His… and that godawful feeling makes him want to puke. But then you touch them—the crude mockery of the Robin logo carved into his breast, the puckered “HAHAHA” cut into his stomach, the Clown’s laugh permanently imprinted into his flesh—you trace them gently, absently with your fingertip while you rest your head on his shoulder in bed, and he can’t help but feel as though you’re reclaiming them and him from the Clown.

You place a soft kiss on his brand, and immediately that red hot iron is sinking into his cheek again—he can feel the Clown’s cruel fingers twisted into his matted hair, yanking back his head, can hear his wail of agony echoing off the walls of his torture chamber, can smell his flesh as it cooks, can taste the salt of his tears pouring down his permanently disfigured face—but then it’s your fingers combing through his hair, your soothing voice reminding him you want him, love him even, it's the scent of your perfume filling his nose, the taste of you lingering on his lips…

Over time you carve out much of the hatred, the pain, the blackness left by the Clown, and fill that hollowed out shell back up with your love, your loyalty, your light… and he trusts that you see more than the scars that litter his naked body… that you don’t see him as a coward or a failure, that you’ll never abandon him like the others he thought had loved him, that you don’t care about his past mistakes, only his future. With you 💕

(A/N: GOD, I could talk about his scars all day long, hehe. I love that he finds them disgusting, while all of us find them sexy as hell 😋)

[reallysublimepoetry]

Unwelcome-ozian doesn't want or care about supporting survivors. If he knows someone, a kid who's actively being subjected to TBMC and RAMAOA he will make it worse, and publish stories of them being raped online. Along with their identifying information and location. He doesn't care if you're a kid. He will put that on the internet for you to deal with for the rest of your life, for anyone to find.

 He will publish your triggers and mental and emotional weaknesses, personally (re)traumatizing you purposely. As well as putting you through having each of those triggers brought up. He will make aspects of your life and trauma, the names of your abusers and their professions public before you're ready. He will threaten you and leave you in fear and in pain and he will gloat about it, and avoid any accountability or responsibility for how he treats the people he's supposedly here for.

He does this after he gains your trust, and asks you to tell him things. He's an abuser and a child predator who likes the supply of attention and validation and prestige he gets online, who sadistically tears down anyone who threatens his ego. He acts with extreme cowardice and childishness. Don't infantilize a grown man for his trauma history, remember his victims have a very similar history.  remember his hypocrisy.

[miffy-junot]

"Aux Ministres Anglais", a poem by Napoleon Junot

Written by Napoleon-Andoche Junot in 1843 in response to the British's government's apprehension towards Queen Victoria establishing an 'entente cordiale' with France.

To The English Ministers

We have sometimes seen politicians, To remain at the helm of public affairs, When their frozen souls were full of fear, To present to the crowd a tranquil face, And, under a mask feigned audacity and courage, To parade with a big heart.

If they did not succeed in deceiving everyone, The wise man, who pierced the deep envelope Who, out of human respect, took their cowardice, Smiled and said: "We must take them into account Of these pretences of honour; for, perhaps, the shame Had they feared!"

And they were content with tacit homage That courage made their value hypocritical. This scoundrel, after all, allowed himself to be excused. But you, men without faith, ministers of England, It's not by forcing your fear to shut up That you want to deceive us.

No! into the dark abyss of cunning and falsehood Where your politics incessantly plunges, You find a new way of dishonour! You dare, like another to display his courage, While nothing in heaven makes us fear a storm, Proclaim that you are afraid!

You have, in order to serve a stupid hatred, You have prevented your young Queen from Had she become, in Paris, the guest of our King! Her confidence in us would become fatal to him, Probably! It cannot in our capital Rest on our faith!!!

And it is you, a nation master in felony, Who dare we thus throw calumny..... Ah! The abyss of time is not deep enough So that we don't know who is responsible for the insult. Europe has not, O perjured cabinet! Forget the Bellerophon!

But that is not what made you uneasy, My lords! you knew very well that among us, the Queen, As well as at Windsor, at the Park, at the City, Did not compromise her royal person, And that the old honor of loyal France Vouched for her safety.

Why then prevent the poor young woman To accomplish the plan she had in her soul? On our old grievances, why come again Throw this new offense brutally? Too much precaution sometimes is imprudence! Don't say anything: the lion is sleeping!

It is because in the shadow of the name of your Sovereign, Imitators of Pitt, heirs of his hatred, You took advantage of this opportunity To throw, without having to fear war, A vile suspicion, a gross insult To our great nation!

What you feared was that, as she passed, Seeing this strong people whom your mouth insults, The Queen in her heart said to herself: "They are lying to us! Those whose proud disdain in our court is degrading France, our ancient and powerful rival, Deceive their Queen."

You said to her, 'mylords': "France is exhausted! Insulting him is now easy for you! It has no ships, no cannons, no soldiers! Glory is a forgotten ghost! Victory Betrays her! Highlights of A Brilliant History In France, we don't remember!"

And you said to your young Queen: "France has become a bloody arena A prey to the fury of a thousand factions! It has kept nothing of its past splendour: this Queen, think no more of it: France is effaced From the list of nations!"

And when you saw that in our capital, Of all our greatness where luxury is displayed, Victoria came, and would see with her eyes, You have feared, my lords (that is your only excuse), That she did not perceive the shameful cunning Of your slanderous speeches.

Because you knew that, in a magazine, The victor of Toulouse would offer to her view, In our Champs-de-Mars, more than a hundred battalions, Intrepid soldiers, burning to enter the plain; Of a solid army in the eyes of a Queen Great samples;

You feared that hearing the people, in the street, Speak with respect and with an emotional voice, Of the frightful death of an idolized Prince, The Queen did not begin to feel any esteem For this people who know of a magnanimous Prince Love the sacred memory!

These are the real reasons for your feigned terror. I tell you here, you had only one fear, Robert Peel, Aberdeen! It is that Your Majesty Of so many falsehoods destroying the phantom, Do not say to you in a dry tone, return to her kingdom "Gentlemen, I know the truth!"

source

[critical-skeptic]

When Will Enough Be Enough?

It would be so damn easy to stop this madness. We have the mechanisms—Congressional and military oaths, the UCMJ, constitutional authority—all of it designed for precisely this kind of moment: when a clear and present danger to the Republic emerges. And yet, what do we get? Nothing. Spineless platitudes, endless hearings that amount to nothing, and a collective shrug from those in power who have sworn an oath to protect this country. They have the ability—no, the duty—to act, but instead, they tiptoe around the edges, pretending the fire consuming our democracy is just another bad season of political theater.

The military, the politicians, the courts—they all cling to this farce of procedural propriety as if following the rules matters when the rulebook itself is being set ablaze. These are the same people who proudly invoke the Founding Fathers while utterly ignoring the revolutionary spirit of those men who risked their lives to create a system that wouldn’t be beholden to tyrants. They act like the mere suggestion of extreme measures is taboo, as if waiting for a magic moment of unanimous consent will suddenly fix everything. Newsflash: that moment isn’t coming. We’re already past it. The water is boiling, and instead of leaping out, we’re sitting here like morons, seasoning ourselves with denial and cowardice.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about one man or one movement. It’s about the absolute abdication of responsibility by everyone—the lawmakers who sit in chambers and bicker about decorum while the Constitution they claim to revere gets shredded; the judges who hide behind technicalities instead of delivering justice; the military brass who have forgotten that their oath isn’t just to follow orders but to defend the nation against all enemies, foreign and domestic. They know the stakes. They’ve seen the lines crossed, the norms obliterated. And still, they wait. For what? Permission? Consensus? A fucking parade?

Meanwhile, the citizenry is fed this endless, suffocating narrative that we must “avoid conflict” at all costs, as if conflict isn’t already here. It’s here in the erosion of our institutions, in the normalization of corruption, in the relentless assault on truth itself. This country was built on conflict when it was necessary to preserve freedom. Now, we cower in the face of it, deluding ourselves into thinking that restraint is virtue while the very fabric of our democracy frays to the point of no return.

At what point do we stop pretending this is business as usual? How much more blatant does it have to get? Do we need it in neon lights? Do we need a literal dictator standing on the Capitol steps declaring martial law before we acknowledge what’s happening? The fact that so many in positions of authority, with the power and the mandate to act, are choosing inaction isn’t just cowardice—it’s complicity. They are complicit in this decay, complicit in the destruction of the ideals they swore to defend. Their inaction is a betrayal—not just of their oaths, but of the people they serve and the generations yet to come.

There comes a point where the fear of doing something becomes far more dangerous than the act itself. We’re long past that point. Waiting only ensures the fall. So, to those with the power to act but who choose to sit on their hands instead: understand this. History will not remember your neutrality as wisdom. It will remember it as cowardice. And you will deserve every ounce of condemnation that comes with it.

[rmelster]

I read that you do fanfic and what are your ships.

Can you do an Arthur x Catherine ship.

The story would be modern au

When Cat was a child Ferdinand and Isabella went to England to do business. They stayed in a place that had a chapel nearby, Catherine went to the chapel every day, on one of those days she met Arthur as a child. They became friends, but that would end when Catherine returned to Spain. She sadly tells Arthur what happens and he tells her a story about a princess who fell in love with a boy in that same chapel, but her father did not want them to be together so the king gave the boy a task, the princess prayed for the prince to come back safe and sound. He was going to finish the story, but Cata's parents called her so the boy could not finish his story. Years later a teenage Catherine goes to school in London and is reunited with Arthur, but she doesn't know it's him. At graduation Catherine found the chapel from when she was a child, she enters, she remembers the history of the princess, when the doors open Arthur enters confessing his love (Arthur had seen and remembered Cat since he saw her on the 1st day of school, but out of cowardice he did not dare to tell her it was him until he realized he would never see Catherine again).

OMGGGGGG. I love this idea!

[blk-chauvinist]

‘The Catalogue of Anti-Male Shaming Tactics’

“Shaming tactics.”  This phrase is familiar to many Men’s Rights Activists.  It conjures up the histrionic behavior of female detractors who refuse to argue their points with logic.  Yet women are not the only ones guilty of using shaming tactics against men.  Male gynocentrists use them, too.

Shaming tactics are emotional devices meant to play on a man’s insecurities and shut down debate.  They are meant to elicit sympathy for women and to demonize men who ask hard questions.  Most, if not all, shaming tactics are basically ad homimem attacks. 

Anyway, it might be helpful to categorize the major shaming tactics that are used against men whenever a discussion arises about feminism, men’s issues, romance, etc.  The following list contains descriptions of shaming tactics, some examples of quotes employing the tactics, and even color-coded aliases for mnemonic purposes.  Enjoy.

Charge of Irascibility (Code Red)

Discussion: The target is accused of having anger management issues.  Whatever negative emotions he has are assumed to be unjustifiable.  Examples:

“You’re bitter!”

“You need to get over your anger at women.”

“You are so negative!”

Response: Anger is a legitimate emotion in the face of injustice.   It is important to remember that passive acceptance of evil is not a virtue.

Charge of Cowardice (Code Yellow)

Discussion: The target is accused of having an unjustifiable fear of interaction with women.  Examples:

“You need to get over your fear.”

“Step up and take a chance like a man!”

“You’re afraid of a strong woman!”

Response: It is important to remember that there is a difference between bravery and stupidity.  The only risks that reasonable people dare to take are calculated risks.  One weighs the likely costs and benefits of said risks.  As it is, some men are finding out that many women fail a cost-benefit analysis.

Charge of Hypersensitivity (Code Blue) �� The Crybaby Charge

Discussion: The target is accused of being hysterical or exaggerating the problems of men (i.e., he is accused of playing “Chicken Little”).  Examples:

“Stop whining!”

“Get over it!”

“Suck it up like a man!”

“You guys don’t have it as nearly as bad as us women!”

“You’re just afraid of losing your male privileges.”

“Your fragile male ego …”

“Wow!  You guys need to get a grip!”

Response: One who uses the Code Blue shaming tactic reveals a callous indifference to the humanity of men.  It may be constructive to confront such an accuser and ask if a certain problem men face needs to be addressed or not (“yes” or “no”), however small it may be seem to be.  If the accuser answers in the negative, it may constructive to ask why any man should care about the accuser’s welfare since the favor will obviously not be returned.  If the accuser claims to be unable to do anything about the said problem, one can ask the accuser why an attack is necessary against those who are doing something about it.

Charge of Puerility (Code Green) – The Peter Pan Charge

Discussion: The target is accused of being immature and/or irresponsible in some manner that reflects badly on his status as an adult male.  Examples:

“Grow up!”

“You are so immature!”

“Do you live with your mother?”

“I’m not interested in boys.  I’m interested in real men.”

“Men are shirking their God-given responsibility to marry and bear children.”

Response: It should be remembered that one’s sexual history, marital status, parental status, etc. are not reliable indicators of maturity and accountability.  If they were, then we would not hear of white collar crime, divorce, teen sex, unplanned pregnancies, extramarital affairs, etc.

Charge of Endangerment (Code Orange) – The Elevated Threat Charge

Discussion: The target is accused of being a menace in some undefined manner.  This charge may be coupled with some attempt to censor the target.  Examples:

“You guys are scary.”

“You make me feel afraid.”

Response: It may be constructive to point out that only bigots and tyrants are afraid of having the truth expressed to them.  One may also ask why some women think they can handle leadership roles if they are so threatened by a man’s legitimate freedom of expression.

Charge of Rationalization (Code Purple) – The Sour Grapes Charge

Discussion: The target is accused of explaining away his own failures and/or dissatisfaction by blaming women for his problems.  Example:

“You are just bitter because you can’t get laid.”

Response: In this case, it must be asked if it really matters how one arrives at the truth.  In other words, one may submit to the accuser, “What if the grapes really are sour?”  At any rate, the Code Purple shaming tactic is an example of what is called “circumstantial ad hominem.”

Charge of Fanaticism (Code Brown) – The Brown Shirts Charge

Discussion: The target is accused of subscribing to an intolerant, extremist ideology or of being devoted to an ignorant viewpoint.  Examples:

“You’re one of those right-wing wackos.”

“You’re an extremist”

“You sound like the KKK.”

“… more anti-feminist zaniness”

Response: One should remember that the truth is not decided by the number of people subscribing to it.  Whether or not certain ideas are “out of the mainstream” is besides the point.  A correct conclusion is also not necessarily reached by embracing some middle ground between two opposing viewpoints (i.e., the logical fallacy of “False Compromise”).

Charge of Invirility (Code Lavender)

Discussion: The target’s sexual orientation or masculinity is called into question.  Examples:

“Are you gay?”

“I need a real man, not a sissy.”

“You’re such a wimp.”

Response: Unless one is working for religious conservatives, it is usually of little consequence if a straight man leaves his accusers guessing about his sexual orientation.

Charge of Overgeneralization (Code Gray)

Discussion: The target is accused of making generalizations or supporting unwarranted stereotypes about women.  Examples:

“I’m not like that!”

“Stop generalizing!”

“That’s a sexist stereotype!”

Response: One may point out that feminists and many other women make generalizations about men.  Quotations from feminists, for example, can be easily obtained to prove this point.  Also, one should note that pointing to a trend is not the same as overgeneralizing.  Although not all women may have a certain characteristic, a significant amount of them might. 

Charge of Misogyny (Code Black)

Discussion: The target is accused of displaying some form of unwarranted malice to a particular woman or to women in general. Examples:

“You misogynist creep!”

“Why do you hate women?”

“Do you love your mother?”

“You are insensitive to the plight of women.”

“You are mean-spirited.”

“You view women as doormats.”

“You want to roll back the rights of women!!”

“You are going to make me cry.”

Response: One may ask the accuser how does a pro-male agenda become inherently anti-female (especially since feminists often claim that gains for men and women are “not a zero-sum game”).  One may also ask the accuser how do they account for women who agree with the target’s viewpoints. The Code Black shaming tactic often integrates the logical fallacies of “argumentum ad misericordiam” (viz., argumentation based on pity for women) and/or “argumentum in terrorem” (viz., arousing fear about what the target wants to do to women).

Charge of Instability (Code White) – The White Padded Room Charge

Discussion: The target is accused of being emotionally or mentally unstable.  Examples:

“You’re unstable.”

“You have issues.”

“You need therapy.”

“Weirdo!”

Response: In response to this attack, one may point to peer-reviewed literature and then ask the accuser if the target’s mental and/or emotional condition can explain the existence of valid research on the matter.

Charge of Selfishness (Code Silver)

Discussion: This attack is self-explanatory.  It is a common charge hurled at men who do not want to be bothered with romantic pursuits.  Examples:

“You are so materialistic.”

“You are so greedy.”

Response: It may be beneficial to turn the accusation back on the one pressing the charge.  For instance, one may retort, “So you are saying I shouldn’t spend my money on myself, but should instead spend it on a woman like you —and you accuse me of being selfish?? Just what were you planning to do for me anyway?”

Charge of Superficiality (Code Gold) – The All-That-Glitters Charge

Discussion: The charge of superficiality is usually hurled at men with regard to their mating preferences.  Examples:

“If you didn’t go after bimbos, then …”

“How can you be so shallow and turn down a single mother?”

Response: Average-looking women can be just as problematic in their behavior as beautiful, “high-maintanence” women. Regarding the shallowness of women, popular media furnishes plenty of examples where petty demands are made of men by females (viz., those notorious laundry lists of things a man should/should not do for his girlfriend or wife). 

Charge of Unattractiveness (Code Tan) – The Ugly Tan Charge

Discussion: The target is accused of having no romantic potential as far as women are concerned.  Examples:

“I bet you are fat and ugly.”

“You can’t get laid!”

“Creep!”

“Loser!”

“Have you thought about the problem being you?”

Response: This is another example of “circumstantial ad hominem.”  The target’s romantic potential ultimately does not reflect on the merit of his arguments.

Charge of Defeatism (Code Maroon)

Discussion: This shaming tactic is akin to the Charge of Irascibility and the Charge of Cowardice in that the accuser attacks the target’s negative or guarded attitude about a situation.  However, the focus is not so much on the target’s anger or fear, but on the target’s supposed attitude of resignation.  Examples:

“Stop being so negative.”

“You are so cynical.”

“If you refuse to have relationships with women, then you are admitting defeat.”

“C’mon! Men are doers, not quitters.”

Response: The charge of defeatism can be diffused by explaining that one is merely being realistic about a situation.  Also, one can point out that asking men to just accept their mistreatment at the hands of women and society is the real attitude that is defeatist.  Many men have not lost their resolve; many have lost their patience.

Threat of Withheld Affection (Code Pink) – The Pink Whip

Discussion: The target is admonished that his viewpoints or behavior will cause women to reject him as a mate.  Examples:

“No woman will marry you with that attitude.”

“Creeps like you will never get laid!”

Response: This is an example of the logical fallacy “argumentum ad baculum” (the “appeal to force”).  The accuser attempts to negate the validity of a position by pointing to some undesirable circumstance that will befall anyone who takes said position.  Really, the only way to deal with the “Pink Whip” is to realize that a man’s happiness and worth is not based on his romantic conquests (including marriage).

(This image may be freely distributed.)

[jesse-pinko]

I hope everyone still supporting Israel is looked back on by future generations with the same degree of contempt and disgust currently applied to Nazi sympathizers and Trump supporters. Y’all are on the wrong side of history and I hope it remembers you only for the cruelty you inflicted in your own self interest. I hope when the dust settles and you try to save face with a half-assed apology that the world does not accept it and never lets you forget what you did, that your descendants avoid speaking of you out of shame and that disgrace is all that’s left of you after you die. I hope you are only remembered for your complicity and cowardice because it is what you deserve.

[balladofthewhitehorse]

7, 14, 18, 22, 38 + d & g for Scotland, i love the way you write him :D (I know that’s so many I’m so sorry for being greedy don’t feel like you have to answer them all! <3)

Don’t apologise at all! I’m glad you love the way I write him. I took a lot of inspiration from your HCs as well as Stirringwinds, Oumaheroes and Fumblingmusings too! Thanks for sending in so many good asks >:)c I absolutely love talking to others about these characters. 7. What triggers nostalgia for them, most often? Do they enjoy that feeling?

Going fishing - a peaceful brisk morning for it too, with not a soul around to disturb him, on the banks of a sluggish river. It’s something he does every so often, and usually it gets him in a nostalgic mood. Things were easier once. Things were simple once, back when immortality was something that riveted Scotland’s spirit rather than left him brooding for hours on end. However, this puts Scotland into a miserable mood for the rest of the day - it’s frustrating, given that he genuinely enjoys fishing, but it reminds him too much of how easy it was to be a family - how easy it was to simply be able to view England, Wales and Ireland as his family without any of the politics and history to muddy it. Sure, he may be able to fish with England today - but the past hangs like a lantern, illuminating the darkest corners. 

It reminds him, too, of how easy it was to spend time with France - to kiss and hold them without being reminded of the contractual nature of their relationship, of the obligations and politics and the dreadful feeling that he was only ever stoking England’s fury and resentment towards France. It reminds him too, of their relationship with its ups and downs. Fishing is something of a gentle, peaceful past-time. It is one of his most mundane, most human moments and Scotland wishes, wishes with all his heart, that he could go back to being that young boy fishing by the river. 

14. What animal do they fear most?

I will approach this from a metaphorical angle first, and then put down some animals that he generally does not want to fuck around with in a literal sense. Sorry, I love animal symbolism too much not to approach it from a metaphorical sense - even though I think this question is intended rather literally; Firstly, Scotland is afraid of wolves and dogs - particularly big, black ones with white teeth and copper eyes. Collared ones are perfectly fine, Scotland loves a faithful pet, but the sight of a lone, shaggy dark stray is something that awakens an instinctual dread in him. Wolves too, set something primal and wary inside him - and reminds him all too much of his brother, red-eyed and hostile, barghest, black shuck, snarlyow…

He cannot help, but wonder if the plethora of black dogs south of the border are all England’s doing. After-all, humans talk and make stories and are fearful of the dark, and there is nobody quite like his brother who wears the night like a second coat. If Scotland considers himself a stag - noble, free and just - then England is the wolf, wily and furious. It is hard for Scotland to look into a wolf’s eyes for long - and he remembers hunting them down in the forests a long, long time ago and holding their skulls, their broad jaws in his hand and imagining that England was bleeding before him. Maybe that’s just daft of him, Scotland admits. But nevertheless…

Now in a more literal sense, because I think that’s the intention of the question: Scotland isn’t fearful of any animal. He’s wary of some, but Scotland is always quick to point out that caution is not cowardice - and he has quite a lot of disdain for those who are quick to mix up the two. Cows can flatten you if given the chance and while they’re usually docile, Scotland has seen far too many idiots get trampled by cows, and big cats are simply off the table - too stealthy, too agile and powerful. He doesn’t care for sharks either, and makes sure to avoid the sea. Can’t get him on dry land, can they now? All the same, Scotland is not fearful so much as wary most of the time.

18. What embarrasses them?

On a mundane level: Idiocy, Raised Voices, Being Emotional On a much more personal level, there is nothing that Scotland finds more embarrassing than when his siblings lose their wits or their temper. He’s someone who prides himself on being able to keep control of himself, of being level-headed and calm. He’s someone who’s always told himself that he needs to be in charge - needs to act like a leader while everyone else is freaking out. In that sense, one could argue Scotland is not unlike England (who harbours the need to be in control - but by contrast, England does it out of a sense of wariness, of paranoia while Scotland has a sense of duty). When he snaps or when he raises his voice - or perhaps makes a mistake - the embarrassment sticks with Scotland to the very end. It clings to him like ink to paper, like blood to carpet, like sins to a guilty conscience. Out, Damned Spot; Out, I say! - as Lady Macbeth once said. 

‘’You should just forgive him.’’ Scotland replied icily, jaw tense as he watched his sister pace the length of his sitting room - she was erratic, a little like a wasp, Scotland mused to himself. It had been unfair, that much Scotland understood, but then what else was new? ‘’I know him-’’ Wales whirled around, fury in her eyes (so much like her little brother). ‘’-He just…ah, fumbled his words?’’ He shrugged, feeling the tips of his ears going red - the same hue whenever his siblings argued, which was frequently. ‘’It’s not worth the embarrassment.’’ ‘’And what-’’ Wales spat. ‘’-is the embarrassment?’’ 

Scotland stared steadily back, taking a deep breath as he slowly rose to his feet. Wales was doing it again. Wales was twisting his words - and a feeling of frustration seeped into the core of his bones as he watched his sister cross her arms, tapping her foot expectantly. ‘’He will just blame you. And then you’ll get angry and then-’’ Scotland’s lip curled. ‘’-And then everyone loses their shit!’’ It always happened, and Scotland was always there to pick up the pieces (Why me? Why is it always me-!?) ‘’You wouldn’t understand, Wales, I’m just say-’’ ‘’You’re just saying to pick the easy way out, like a coward.’’ Wales scoffed, an icy veneer crossing her eyes as she jabbed a finger at Scotland. ‘’You’ve shoved yourself well up his arse, Scotland.’’

‘’I’m just being smart!’’ Scotland snapped. ‘’England will…will just use this as proof of your immaturity.’’ He sniffed, shaking his head as he leaned in towards Wales (Green eyes ran in the family, and they bore into his soul). ‘’Keep your cool and play your cards right. Just forgive him. It can be as empty or as meaningful as you want, just try not to fucking lose it.’’ Wales’ lips went thin, her back going rigid as she glared at Scotland. ‘’You don’t know how long I’ve been doing that. You fucking don’t know how long I’ve been doing that for already.’’ 

Scotland’s fists clenched. ‘’I do.’’ Whirlwinds of fire and clashing swords, Scotland took a deep breath (as if he were about to dive, to immerse himself in a cold sea - and never return). ‘’So pull yourself together, Wales. Suck it up.’’ Scotland winced as he said these words, face going pale as he watched his sister withdraw (coiled as a spring, wound up - he didn’t try to dodge, squeezing his eyes shut as Wales slammed the door shut). ‘’...Fuck.’’

22. How does jealousy manifest itself in them?

Deep-rooted and quietly seething, Scotland is the figure in the back of the room brooding angrily. Crossed-arms and stiff shoulders, features like stone, he is quiet and icy; A chilly lake in the darkest winter, contemplating what he wants and why he wants it, and most crucially how to get it. Really, Scotland does not think he’s being jealous - only protective, after-all it’s something that he has his sights on and that makes it his, no? Some people might consider England to be rather prickly and sharp - the most jealous out of the siblings, but where England spits fire - Scotland is ice. More specifically, the ice beneath your feet that is threatening to crack, echoing with promise - with threat, the water below to plunge you into his grasp. 

38. What memory do they revisit the most often? 

D. Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look?

I think I always kept Scotland’s design fairly consistent! When developing his character (I did this before I realised that Hetalia has a canon Scotland already, LOL!), I had a sort of typical body-shape and design in mind to go with his personality - and Scotland has always given me sort of rugged, outdoorsy vibes (stereotyping aside!) He’s always been broad-shouldered and strong, although I have recently started to toy with the concept of giving him some specific scarring or some leg issue, just because he’s been through a lot. For the most part, his design has been fairly consistent - with a few small changes (such as his height, originally I was going to make their heights consistent with the actual size of the country, so England would be taller than Scotland, but somewhere at some point, I changed my mind). 

G. What trait of theirs bothers you the most? Oooh, this is a good question. I think the trait that bothers me the most is - and I’m answering in terms of how easy it is to write - the fact I think Scotland can be quite self righteous. The issue is that I don’t know how to portray his self-righteousness - because he’s quite well within his rights usually, LOL! I guess I’m gonna try and consider how he can be a little cunning himself from time to time, but  I need to work on my Scottish history. Maybe some grave-robbing fic in the future, hmm? I always do think he’d be a bit of a surgeon back then and well…we all know about Burke and Hare, no? (but without the murder. Unless?)