#i once believed love would be black and white

[in4newz]

To my Asian, European, African, and Canadian friends...do y'all wanna know how the United States found itself under a fascist, Hitler-loving dictator named Donald Trump?

In another post, I started my timeline in 1980. The year I was born. But, it was also a turning point in US politics.

First, let me share my credentials.

- Bachelors of Arts - History

- Juris Doctor - Public Interest Law (Critical Race Theory)

- Masters of Philosophy (research degree) - Sociology (Race, Ethnicity, Conflict)

Just recently, we buried President Jimmy Carter, who was the president, when I was born. Jimmy was from Georgia, like my grandmother, and he came from a Southern Baptist background. Southern Baptists are known for being very conservative Christians who did not support abortion.

Jimmy, despite that background, actually supported LGBTQ rights by lifting a federal ban. He supported Roe v. Wade which protected access to abortion. And, he established the federal Department of Education.

However, Jimmy had an antagonistic relationship with Congress, and that alienated several Democrats, including Ted Kennedy, who was the brother of John F. Kennedy, a president who was assassinated.

The Kennedy family has an established name brand due to JFK and Robert F Kennedy (another brother and JFK's attorney general who was also assassinated). Ted was the younger, drunken brother who caused the accidental death of a college friend.

In 1980, Ted challenged Jimmy for the presidency even though they were both Democrats. Jimmy has the incumbent shouldn't have faced a challenge from his own party, but he had just been that bad.

So, this internal strife weakened the Democratic Party entering the 1980 election. In that same year, Jimmy boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Russia due to Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. Furthermore, there was a recession.

The Republican Party nominee was a former Hollywood actor turned politician named Ronald Reagan. Ronald was the governor of California and was trailing Jimmy in the polls until a presidential debate in which Ronald used his acting skills to make Jimmy seem incompetent.

Ronald believed in "trickle down economics." He believed that if the wealthiest people were taxed less, then they would spend more, thus boosting the economy and allowing prosperity to "trickle down" to the working & Middle class.

He also believed in increased military spending as this was the height of the Cold War with Russia. My own parents voted for Reagan because my dad was in the military.

Instead of trickling down, the wealthy just grew wealthier. Republicans continued to lower taxes for these individuals and businesses, so the money never trickled down. Social services were underfunded & unemployment increased. Reagan's response was to blame Black "welfare mothers" for abusing the system.

Republicans latch onto this. They implement work requirements for government assistance and make it harder for folks to pull out of poverty. As a result, a wealth gap separated white folk from the rest. White folk felt their hard earned money was supporting lazy white & Black folk, so they continued to constrict welfare programs.

[Section added] During Reagan's term, an unknown illness is killing young, gay Black & Latino men. It's AIDs. Reagan deemed it a gay disease that only affects gay people, so no funding is allocated to study this disease. It's viewed as retribution for their homosexua lifestyle. However, overtime, they learn about HIV once non-gay men were infected. Children die from the disease because blood is not tested for it, so some are born from it through their mothers while others were given transfusions.

Under Reagan, the Fairness Doctrine ends. Under this doctrine, news agencies had to report both sides of an issue. Because of this, television stations can now present one side. Fox News opens as a conservative network.

Ronald is well-loved by white folk. He gets elected to two terms. By the end of his term, the economy has recovered, and white folk are prospering. Then, his VP, George H.W. Bush, is elected.

Under George I, the Cold War ends, but we have the Gulf War in Kuwait. He signs trade agreements that result in several American companies, namely the auto industry, to shutter their doors and build factories overseas. This is due to a change in tariffs!

Millions of Americans lose their jobs as factories close. Detroit, as the leading auto manufacturer city, is devastated. Back in the 90s, Detroit was the 4th largest US city after Chicago. These factory closures hit the Midwest, especially hard.

This makes Bush unpopular. He is challenged by a young, charismatic Democrat named Bill Clinton.

Bill was a southerner like Jimmy, but Bill was a very well-known ladies' man. Bill appeals to Black Americans, though, and that allows him to defeat George.

Bill continues expanding trade agreements. He's a fiscal conservative despite being a Democrat, and under Bill, military spending is reduced.

[Section added] The rise of AIDs leads to further hate directed at the LGBTQ. During the 90s, several queer people are murdered. One such kid was Matthew Shepard. A college kid in Wyoming, he is beaten by a gang of white men. His family was terrorized so much, that they couldn't bury him because of fears his grave would be desecrated.

[A white woman Bishop in DC invites Shepard's parents to bury him in their graveyard. That Bishop is Marian Edgar Budde, the same Bishop who gave Trump his inaugural sermon this past week. She pleaded for Trump to have mercy on the queer community because she was the Bishop who buried Shepard!]

Bill is a popular president. The economy is booming, but he's still a lady's man, and he gets in trouble with a college intern.

This scandal adversely impacts the last few years in office so much so that his VP, Al Gore, loses the presidency to George W. Bush.

George Bush won the Electoral College while Al Gore won the popular vote. There was such a tiny margin that there were numerous recounts because of faulty ballots (hanging chads). Eventually, the Supreme Court intervenes and tells them to stop the count and certify George as president.

George II is the son of George I.

George II is a popular Texan with swagger. He wants to build up the military once again.

Clinton left a surplus of money, so what did George II do? He implemented tax cuts for the wealthy. That damned "trickle down economics" again. The wealthy get wealthier, increasing the wealth gap between white folks and everybody else.

They cut taxes while cutting social services. One of his biggest "achievements" was a restructuring of our educational system called "No Child Left Behind."

NCLB emphasizes test scores. School administrations are penalized if they don't meet these standards. They lost funding, so electives such as home economics, art, Music, etc are trimmed to make room for these test standards. By this time, my dad has retired from the military and is a school principal, and I remember the stress of trying to meet these standards.

These standards emphasize STEM at the expense of liberal arts. This is happening just as the internet becomes available to all.

Amazon opens as an online used book store. Facebook is started as a college message board. There's a tech boom, so everyone is being pushed into tech fields. Liberal arts education was devalued.

During his term, 9-11 happens. We declare war on Afghanistan. Islamophobia spikes. Fox News helps drive this narrative. Christianity is now being pushed into schools, whereas schools were previously secular.

[Section added] In 2004, the assault rifle ban was lifted. Now we are seeing a dramatic spike in school shootings. The Far Right embraces the expansion of the 2nd Amendment.

Then, we go to war in Iraq.

We aren't quite sure why we're at war with Iraq. We overthrow Suddam Hussein (from the Gulf War). George declares victory, then terminates the Iraqi Army.

This triggers an insurrection. Massive casualties are coming out of Iraq. The war in Afghanistan is overshadowed.

George serves two terms, but his VP is so unpopular that he doesn't run for president. Instead, the Republican nominee is John McCain.

Two Democrats fight for the nomination. Hillary Clinton, the wife of Bill, and Barack Obama.

Barack was a young, biracial Senator from Illinois. I attended law school in Illinois, and one of my classmates had been his legislative aide. I met Barack twice while a student. The first time, he had come to campus to propose a college-savings account. After his press conference, I latched onto his arm and refused to let go until he heard me, and I explained that his proposal was unrealistic because it assumed that a single mother would have the resources to save for an education when it was more likely her money would go towards groceries & rent or other immediate needs. (Fast forward two-three years, and the dude is repeating my line during the State of the Union! I had changed his mind!)

Barack beats Hillary for the nomination. He defeats McCain and is sworn in as the 1st black (not Black) president.

Obama is popular and well-loved by most Americans. Under his tenure, gay marriage is legalized.

Fox News triples down on their hatred.

Their network booms. They push Islamophobia 24/7. Highlight the fact that Obama's father was Muslim and that his middle name was Hussein.

Older Americans are watching program after program of this negativity. A movement starts called the Tea Party movement, which positions itself as a fiscally conservative movement. A bankrupt slumlord with a reality TV show gains popularity with these folks.

I wrote my master's dissertation on the Tea Party movement. It's called "Jesus and the White Man."

Donald Trump

Donald latches onto the Islamaphobia. He calls Barack by his middle name and questions his birth certificate. Donald grows popular with older Americans.

At the end of Obama's term, the son of VP Biden dies. This devastated Biden. He had lost his infant daughter & first wife in a car accident. He decides not to run for president.

Obama supports Hillary.

It is now Hillary v. Trump.

Trump pushes misogyny and Islamaphobia. Hillary is Bill's wife and a woman. She is the most qualified presidential candidate to ever run (at that time).

During Obama's last year in office, Justice Antonin Scalia* dies. Obama has the privilege to nominate that next Justice, but Mitch McConnell stalls through the election.

But older white Americans were barely okay with a black president. They were not about to let a woman serve as President. At the same time, an organization called Cambridge Analytica began to fine-tune an ultra conservative agenda.

With the help of Russian intelligence, they use Facebook ads to try to persuade voters to support Trump. They succeeded with white folk, but they did not succeed with the Black vote.

Russians used African bot farms in order to try to persuade Black Americans to support Trump. We rejected him at 90%.

Donald wins the Electoral College but not the popular vote.

Donald is a corrupt and ineffectual president. He tried to bribe foreign leaders and shared US intelligence with Russia.

However, as a populist, he latches onto the Christian Right. He nominates 3 Supreme Court Justices who lie during their confirmation hearings. These Justices will ultimately vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The Christian Right love this. But then COVID hits and the incompetence of Donald leads to millions of deaths. These Christian folk refuse to get vaccinated or wear masks.

Donald is an unpopular president and ranks as the worst president of all time.

Biden challenges him and wins.

Donald refuses to accept that he lost, so he organized an attempted coup. January 6th.

He's impeached. Twice.

McConnell refuses to take the step to have him permanently barred from office.

Biden takes office when COVID is still rampant. The Christian Right continue to push their agenda, seeking to remove protections for the LGBTQI.

Right wing media generates a lot of money. Podcasters jump on the bandwagon. Red pill content spills into the mainstream.

Kids who were isolated during COVID are now at home watching Joe Rogan & Theo Von. They spend hours upon hours on TikTok.

But unbeknownst to these kids is the history of Russian interference.

Schools emphasize STEM. They don't emphasize liberal arts or social sciences such as history or literature. The literacy rate plummeted to an all-time low. The average white American's reading level is at the 4th grade. They aren't able to engage in critical thinking.

They don't know the history of the Spanish Influenza. They don't know the history of a trade war that triggered the Great Depression. They don't know that our government has imprisoned citizens in internment camps. They don't know Hitler's rise to power.

In fact, Fox News frequently features individuals who deny the Holocaust.

Russia move their troll farms from Facebook to TikTok, where the algorithm serves as an echo chamber. Uneducated, illiterate folks gobble up 30-second videos but can't be arsed to watch anything over 5 minutes so complex issues are stripped down to sound bites.

The algorithm pushed right-wing fascist talking points. They rehabbed Donald while shifting Gen Z to the far right. They do not know how to verify information for themselves, so they gobble up misinformation and disinformation.

If a TikTok creator has millions of followers with thousands of views and likes, these kids assume that that info is factual. They do not vet shit for themselves.

Russia pushed anti-American propaganda that posed as pro-American talking points. Pushed isolationism. Pushed anti-democratic rhetoric. In fact, one of their greatest accomplishments is convincing Gen Z and uneducated, white Millennials into thinking we aren't a democracy.

We are a fucking Democratic Republic. Our constitution begins with: "We the people".

So, because of TikTok, Trump won.

That's why Biden was pushing for it to be banned before the election. The algorithm was being corrupted. But folks couldn't part from their addiction.

Folks who had been anti-Trump just 5 years ago are suddenly Trump supporters. They were brainwashed.

So, how did we get here?

We got here because most Americans are fucking STUPID.

Source

[cherryxbooo]

Left in the past and forgotten

Summary: Seeing your ex-lover after four years wasn’t something you ever expected. The memories of your time together, flooded back, making the moment even harder to face.

Note: Hey guys! I've finally decided to update my K-pop fics. I'm planning on adding more members soon, so keep an eye out for that! Also if you want me to add other groups/actors, let me know!

Kim Taehyung x Reader

Genre: angst/fluff

Snowflakes drifted lazily outside the café window, melting the moment they kissed the glass.

The world outside was a blurred canvas of white and gray, the winter storm painting Seoul in a soft, muted haze.

Inside, the café was warm, filled with the rich aroma of coffee and freshly baked pastries, the gentle hum of conversations blending seamlessly with the faint jazz music playing overhead.

I curled my fingers tighter around the steaming mug in front of me, letting the heat seep into my skin.

Even with the warmth surrounding me, a coldness had settled deep in my bones, one that no amount of hot coffee could chase away.

I shouldn’t have come back.

The thought had been circling my mind since the moment my plane touched down, but now, sitting here in the heart of the city I once called home, it weighed heavier than ever.

Seoul was no longer just a place, it was a graveyard of memories I had buried, ghosts I had spent years trying to outrun.

And yet, they clawed their way back the second I stepped onto its streets.

Especially the one tied to him.

Kim Taehyung.

A name that had once been synonymous with love, with warmth, with the kind of happiness that felt boundless.

A name I had forced myself to forget.

But forgetting had never been my strong suit.

The bell above the café door chimed, signaling a new arrival, but I barely registered it.

My gaze remained fixed on the snowfall outside, my mind lost in the past, until I heard it.

A voice.

Deep, familiar, haunting.

“Y/n?”

My fingers stiffened around my mug.

My breath caught in my throat.

That voice.

Slowly, I turned my head, already knowing, feeling, who I would see.

And there he was.

Kim Taehyung stood a few feet away, frozen in place, his presence as effortless yet overwhelming as ever.

He wore a long beige coat over a black turtleneck, snowflakes clinging to the fabric like they were reluctant to melt.

His dark brown hair was slightly tousled from the wind, and his eyes, those deep, expressive eyes that had once held entire universes, were locked onto mine.

Shock? Regret? Relief?

I couldn’t tell.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

We just stood there, caught in the eerie stillness of an encounter that felt both impossible and inevitable.

His lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but no words came.

And I understood why.

Because what do you say when the person you once loved, the person who disappeared without a word, reappears like a ghost from your past?

What do you say when the wound you thought had scarred over rips open again with just a glance?

Finally, I swallowed against the dryness in my throat, forcing myself to breathe.

“Taehyung.”

It was barely above a whisper, but it was enough to make something flicker across his face.

Something unreadable, something raw.

He took a hesitant step closer, his eyes searching mine like they were looking for answers, answers I wasn’t sure I could give.

“Is it really you?” he murmured, almost like he didn’t believe it.

I let out a shaky exhale, offering a small, hollow smile.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

His lips pressed together, his hands slipping into the pockets of his coat.

It was a nervous habit of his, one I hadn’t seen in years, but still recognized immediately.

I wanted to look away. I wanted to run.

But I couldn’t.

Not when the past was standing right in front of me.

Not when Taehyung was looking at me like I was still the person he used to know.

But I wasn’t.

I wasn’t sure if I ever could be again.

Loving Taehyung was like holding onto a fleeting dream, warm, intoxicating, beautiful, but never quite real enough to keep.

Six years ago...

I was standing in line at a small café, completely overwhelmed by the drink menu, and someone, chuckling behind me as I changed my order for the third time.

"You know, if you keep doing that, we’ll never get our coffee," the person teased, voice dripping with amusement.

Flustered, I turned around to see a man in a black hoodie and a face mask, only his sharp, smiling eyes visible.

"Maybe I just like weighing my options," I shot back, trying to sound confident.

His grin widened. "Or maybe you just don’t know what you want."

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop myself from laughing.

He was easy to talk to, effortlessly charming, and when he finally pulled down his mask, revealing who he was, my breath caught in my throat.

"You're—"

"Taehyung," he interrupted before I could say his full name, tilting his head playfully.

And you are?"

That was how it started.

A conversation over coffee turned into exchanged numbers. Then came the late-night texts, the phone calls that lasted until dawn, the stolen moments in between his busy schedule.

Before I knew it, he had become my favorite part of every day.

Two years after we had first met flew by and being with Taehyung was like stepping into a world that wasn’t meant for me, but somehow, he made me feel like I belonged.

"Come here," he would say after a long day, opening his arms as I curled into his chest.

His fingers would gently trace patterns on my back, his voice a soft whisper against my hair.

"I missed you today."

I missed him too. Always.

But I never told him how much, because I was afraid he would hear the sadness in my voice.

Our love lived in moments stolen from time, laughter tangled between bed sheets, whispered promises in darkened hallways, the way he would pull me into his arms just before he left and say,

"Wait for me."

And I did. I waited.

I waited when his texts became less frequent, when our dates were pushed back, when his voice on the other end of the phone started to sound more exhausted than excited.

I waited, even when it felt like I was slowly fading into the background of his life.

Then it slowly started to crack.

I felt like I was holding him back.

Holding him back from doing the things he liked.

But I was a human after all I craved my boyfriend's attention too. I wasn't going to tell him that though.

"Hey, can I see you tonight?"

I stared at his message, my fingers hovering over my phone.

I wanted to say yes. God, I always wanted to say yes.

But something inside me hesitated.

It had been three weeks since I last saw him, and even then, our time together had been cut short.

A meeting ran late. A rehearsal went overtime.

I knew that his life as an idol wasn't easy and that his life was always packed and busy.

I knew that before I started dating him but still...

He had held me for five minutes, kissed my forehead, and whispered, "Next time, I’ll make it up to you."

But next time never came.

So instead of answering immediately, I let my phone sit beside me as I stared at the half-eaten dinner on my table.

It was the third time this week I had eaten alone.

It wasn’t just the missed dates. It was the way he had started to feel like a guest in my life instead of a part of it.

When I finally picked up my phone, I typed out my response.

"I don’t know, Tae. It’s late."

He called me immediately.

"Are you okay?" His voice was laced with concern.

"I’m fine." The words felt like a lie.

"I can come over," he offered quickly. "Even if it’s just for a little while."

I squeezed my eyes shut. That was the problem. It was always just for a little while.

"It’s okay," I whispered. "Get some rest."

There was a pause. Then, quietly, "Are you upset with me?"

I swallowed past the lump in my throat. "No, I just... I just miss you."

His sigh was soft, almost guilty. "I miss you too, love. Things will calm down soon, I promise."

I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. "Yeah. Soon."

But I was starting to wonder if soon would ever come.

The night I decided to end things, Taehyung showed up at my apartment unannounced.

"Surprise," he said with a grin, holding up a bag of takeout from my favorite restaurant.

I wanted to be happy.

I wanted to throw my arms around him, pull him inside, and pretend that this was enough.

But something inside me cracked.

"You didn't text," I said quietly, arms crossing over my chest.

His smile faltered. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Tae... I waited for you last night."

His face fell completely. "I know. I'm sorry."

"You're always sorry," I whispered, voice breaking.

"But nothing ever changes."

The room fell into silence. He set the food down on my counter, his hands trembling slightly.

"I’m trying," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

I believed him. That was the worst part, I knew he was trying.

But love shouldn't have to feel like this.

It shouldn't feel like constantly reaching for someone who is always just out of grasp.

"Taehyung, I can’t do this anymore."

His entire body tensed. He looked at me like I had just taken the air from his lungs.

"You don’t mean that," he whispered,

stepping closer, eyes searching mine for something, anything, that would prove this wasn’t real.

But I did mean it.

"I do."

His jaw clenched, his hands balling into fists at his sides.

"You're giving up on us?"

"No," I said, shaking my head as my eyes burned with unshed tears.

"I held on for as long as I could. But I can't keep waiting for you to have time for me."

His breathing was uneven now. "You are my world, you know that."

I smiled sadly, my heart breaking with every word.

"I don’t doubt that, Tae. But love isn’t just about words. I need to feel like I belong in your life, not like I’m waiting on the sidelines, hoping for a moment that never comes."

His lips parted like he wanted to argue, to fight for us, but nothing came.

No promises, no reassurances. Just silence.

A silence that told me everything I needed to know.

Tears burned behind my eyes as I took a shaky breath and stepped back, putting space between us.

My fingers curled around the doorknob, the cool metal grounding me.

"You should go."

Taehyung didn’t move.

His jaw tensed, his hands twitching at his sides, but he didn’t fight me.

"Please," I whispered, voice barely holding together.

"Don't make this harder than it already is."

For a moment, I thought he’d refuse.

That he’d reach for me, pull me into his arms, tell me he would fix this, that he would stay.

But he didn’t.

Slowly, he reached for his coat, movements stiff, hesitant, as if every second that passed was another piece of his heart shattering.

He lingered for a moment, standing in the doorway, his dark eyes searching mine like he was trying to memorize every detail before he walked away.

"I love you," he murmured, voice breaking.

I pressed my lips together, trying to hold back the sob threatening to escape.

"I love you too."

And then, before I lost the last bit of strength I had left, I turned away.

I didn’t watch him leave.

I didn’t listen for the sound of the door closing behind him.

But when the silence settled around me, final and unforgiving, I knew.

He was gone.

And what we had was simply left in the past and forgotten.

"Y/n?"

I snapped back to reality, blinking as Taehyung slid into the chair across from me.

His scent, clean and familiar, hit me instantly, making my stomach twist.

I had spent years wondering what it would feel like to see him again. If my heart would still react the way it used to.

If I would still feel that same ache, that same pull toward him.

And now, as he slid into the chair across from me without waiting for an invitation, I had my answer.

My stomach twisted, and my fingers curled around my coffee cup in a desperate attempt to steady myself.

"Taehyung." His name tasted unfamiliar on my tongue, yet it felt like it belonged there.

He studied me for a long moment, his gaze slow and deliberate, as if he were trying to convince himself that I was real.

"You look... different, still beautiful though," he finally said, his voice softer than I remembered.

A small, tight smile formed on my lips. "So do you."

And he did.

There was something more refined about him now, his jawline sharper, his presence more composed, his energy quieter.

His hair was styled in a way I hadn't seen before, and his outfit, though simple, carried an effortless elegance.

But beneath it all, the Taehyung I knew was still there.

It was in the way his fingers tapped absently against the table, something he always did when he was deep in thought.

In the way his eyes, though slightly guarded, still held that quiet intensity that had once been my undoing.

"Four years," he mused, shaking his head slightly.

"I thought maybe I'd run into you sooner."

"I wasn’t exactly trying to be found," I admitted, stirring my coffee even though I had no intention of drinking it.

"So I figured." He exhaled through his nose, leaning back slightly in his chair.

"You just… vanished."

I looked away, focusing on the steam rising from my cup. "I had to."

Taehyung nodded slowly, as if he understood. Maybe he did. Or maybe he was just pretending to.

"Where have you been?" he asked, tilting his head slightly.

"Here and there," I replied vaguely.

"I moved for a while. Focused on work. Traveled."

"You always said you wanted to travel more," he murmured, a small ghost of a smile playing at his lips.

"Yeah," I said softly.

"And you? How’s life treating you?"

His lips twitched, but there was something almost tired in his expression.

"Busy, as always."

That didn’t surprise me.

He had always been busy. His world had never stopped spinning, and I had long accepted that I would never be able to keep up.

"I saw your latest projects," I continued, keeping my tone light.

"You’ve been doing well. Congratulations."

He let out a small hum. "Thanks. It’s been… a lot."

"I bet."

Another pause stretched between us, but this time, it wasn’t as heavy.

It was just… there. Lingering. Holding all the things we weren’t saying.

"And now you're back," he finally said, breaking the silence.

I gave a small nod. "Just for a while."

He seemed to process that, his fingers stilling against the table.

"Are you staying long?"

"Not sure yet," I admitted, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I guess it depends."

"On what?"

I hesitated. "A lot of things."

Taehyung's gaze softened for a brief second, but just as quickly, he masked it with a neutral expression.

"Are you happy?" he asked, his voice careful.

My breath caught for just a moment.

I hadn’t expected that question.

I thought he’d ask about my work, about my travels, something simple, something safe.

But instead, he asked that.

I glanced down at my coffee cup, at the tiny ripples forming from my slightly unsteady hands.

"…Are you?" I countered, finally looking up.

His lips parted slightly, as if I had caught him off guard.

He hesitated, just for a moment, before exhaling deeply.

"I don’t know."

Neither did I.

Before I could say anything else, the café door swung open, and a gust of cold air rushed in, followed by a chorus of loud voices.

"YAH! Taehyung, you were supposed to get us coffee, not disappear!"

The familiar voice sent a jolt through me.

My breath hitched as I turned toward the commotion, my fingers tightening around my cup.

Jungkook, Jimin, and Namjoon strode into the café, brushing off the winter chill.

Their laughter and complaints filled the space, but the moment their eyes landed on me, everything stopped.

Jungkook froze mid-step, his mouth parting in shock.

His wide eyes scanned my face like he was seeing a ghost. "No freaking way..."

Jimin, who had been in the middle of playfully nudging Namjoon, nearly tripped over his own feet.

He grabbed onto Namjoon's arm, his jaw dropping. "Is that—"

"Y/n?" Namjoon's deep voice carried pure disbelief.

I couldn’t move.

For a split second, I considered bolting.

The weight of their stares, the flood of memories crashing over me, it was overwhelming.

But I stayed, frozen in place as the reality of the moment settled in.

Jungkook was the first to break from his trance.

In a blink, he was sliding into the seat next to me, eyes scanning my features like he needed to confirm I was real.

"Where the hell have you been?" His voice was low, raw.

I swallowed, suddenly feeling like all the air had been sucked out of the room.

"It’s... a long story."

Jimin crossed his arms, tilting his head, his eyes narrowed in a mix of confusion and hurt.

"Good thing we have time, then."

Back when Taehyung and me used to date I had this amazing bond with the other members.

It was almost as if they were my actual brothers.

I knew that my disappearance didn't only hurt Taehyung but also the guys.

Taehyung, who had been watching the interaction in silence, shot them a sharp look, but Namjoon placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"We’re not attacking her, Tae," Namjoon said quietly, though his voice carried an edge of emotion.

"We just... thought we lost her for good."

A pang of guilt hit me square in the chest.

My throat tightened as I lowered my gaze.

"I'm sorry."

Jungkook let out a scoff, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his hair.

"You're sorry?" His voice cracked slightly.

"Y/n, we thought something happened to you. We thought—" He cut himself off, clenching his jaw, frustration evident in his dark eyes.

Jimin's posture softened, and he leaned forward, his voice quieter now.

"Why did you leave?"

I could feel Taehyung's eyes burning into me, waiting, searching, but I couldn’t look at him.

Not yet.

My fingers trembled slightly as I exhaled. "Because I was scared."

The words felt heavy as they left my lips.

A thick silence settled over the table, stretching uncomfortably long.

Jungkook let out a slow breath, shaking his head as he leaned back in his chair.

"You should’ve at least told us. We were your family, too."

My chest ached. I had always known that leaving them would hurt, but I had convinced myself it was necessary.

That disappearing was the only way to protect my heart from breaking beyond repair.

But seeing the hurt in their eyes made me realize just how much damage I had left in my wake.

I forced a small, sad smile. "I know. And I regret it every day."

Namjoon studied me carefully, his sharp eyes searching for something beneath the surface.

After what felt like an eternity, he gave a slow nod.

"You’re back now. That’s what matters."

I wanted to believe that.

I really did.

But as I finally lifted my gaze to meet Taehyung’s, I knew the past wasn’t done with me yet.

And neither was he.

My mind was still reeling from the overwhelming reunion, the weight of guilt and nostalgia pressing against my chest.

Jungkook hadn’t stopped looking at me, like he was afraid I’d disappear again if he blinked.

Jimin kept stealing glances, his expression a mix of happiness and unresolved emotions, while Namjoon sat in quiet contemplation, observing everything.

And Taehyung, he hadn’t said much, but his presence was suffocating in the best and worst ways.

"Come with us," Jungkook blurted out suddenly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

I blinked. "What?"

"Come with us," he repeated, standing up and stretching as if the conversation was already decided.

"We're heading back to the dorm, and you’re coming too."

I hesitated, my fingers tightening around my coffee cup.

"I don’t know if that’s a good idea—"

"Too bad," Jimin cut in, grabbing my wrist playfully.

"You don’t get a say in this. We need to properly yell at you for ghosting us."

Namjoon smirked, shaking his head.

"Ignore him. We just… we missed you, Y/n. And the others should know you’re back."

I opened my mouth to protest, but Taehyung finally spoke, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.

"Come with us."

I met his gaze, and for a moment, neither of us said anything.

There was something unreadable in his expression, something careful, like he wasn’t sure if he could handle me being here, but he wasn’t ready to let me go either.

And just like that, I caved.

The second we stepped inside, the warmth of the dorm wrapped around me like a familiar embrace.

The scent of home-cooked food lingered in the air, and the faint sound of a television echoed from the living room.

Before I could even take in my surroundings, Hoseok’s voice rang through the space.

"Tae, did you even get the coffee or—"

His words cut off as he stepped into view, his eyes widening as they landed on me.

"Holy shit," Yoongi muttered from his spot on the couch, his entire body tensing.

Jin, who had been in the kitchen, peeked his head out, a wooden spoon still in his hand.

"Is this a fever dream? Or did Y/n just resurrect after four years?"

Jungkook let out a dramatic sigh.

"Yep, she’s alive and breathing. Can you believe it?"

I shifted awkwardly under their stares. "Hi."

My voice came out softer than I intended, uncertain.

There was a beat of silence before chaos erupted.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"

Jin practically shouted, walking over and inspecting me like I was an illusion.

"You really just disappeared on us!" Hoseok added, still in shock.

"I thought Jungkook was lying when he said you were here," Yoongi admitted, rubbing his temple.

I winced at the wave of questions thrown my way.

"Okay, okay, one at a time!" Jimin laughed, waving his hands to calm the room down.

Namjoon, ever the leader, stepped in.

"Guys, let’s not overwhelm her. She’s here now. That’s what matters."

Slowly, the tension eased.

One by one, the members softened, replacing their initial shock with quiet relief.

Jin pulled me into a tight hug, his usual playful demeanor laced with something more serious.

"Don’t ever do that again, okay?"

I nodded, my throat tightening. "I won’t."

As the night went on, the questions died down, replaced by laughter and inside jokes.

It was like I had never left.

But there was still an unspoken weight in the air, a conversation left unfinished.

And Taehyung felt it too.

Eventually, the members started heading to their rooms, leaving only me and Taehyung in the dimly lit living room.

The TV played quietly in the background, casting a soft glow across his face.

I sat on the couch, pulling my knees up as he settled beside me, his presence close but not overwhelming.

For a while, neither of us spoke.

Then, finally, he broke the silence.

"Why did you really leave? I mean I knew I wasn't the best boyfriend and didn't give you all my time but still. I know you and I know that there is more to it."

I exhaled, my gaze dropping to my hands. "I told you. I was scared."

"Scared of what?" His voice was gentle, but there was something else laced within it, something raw.

I swallowed, gathering my thoughts.

"Scared of losing myself in your world. Scared of becoming someone who was always waiting for you, always watching from the sidelines. You had so much ahead of you, Tae. And I felt like I was just… holding you back."

He let out a shaky breath, his fingers curling slightly against his knee. "You never held me back, Y/n."

"It felt like I did." I finally turned to face him, my heart hammering.

"I loved you so much, and it hurt. It hurt to watch you get further and further away from me. And I knew, eventually, I’d become someone you’d have to choose between. And I didn’t want that for you."

Taehyung’s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable.

"That wasn’t your choice to make."

I blinked at the quiet frustration in his voice.

"I know," I admitted softly.

"But it was the only way I knew how to protect myself."

He looked away for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

"Do you regret it?"

I hesitated. "Yes. And no. I think… I needed to leave to understand what I wanted. But I hate that I hurt you."

Taehyung exhaled sharply, leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

"You did hurt me, Y/n. A lot. I spent years wondering what I did wrong. Wondering why you couldn’t at least tell me."

His voice cracked slightly, and my chest ached at the vulnerability in his words.

"I’m sorry," I whispered. "If I could take it back—"

"You can’t," he interrupted, but there was no malice in his tone. Just quiet acceptance.

I nodded, my fingers gripping the fabric of my sleeves.

"I know. But… I’m here now. And if you’ll let me, I want to make it right."

Taehyung turned to face me fully then, his dark eyes searching mine.

"Do you still love me?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

I sucked in a breath, my pulse thundering.

"I never stopped."

His shoulders slumped slightly, like he had been bracing for a different answer.

For a long moment, he didn’t speak.

Then, finally, he nodded, a small, tired smile tugging at his lips.

"I’m not ready to just jump back in, Y/n." His voice was careful, measured.

"But… I don’t want to lose you again."

I nodded, understanding completely. "Me neither."

He reached for my hand then, hesitating for just a second before intertwining his fingers with mine.

"Let’s take it slow," he murmured.

"Okay," I whispered back.

It wasn’t a perfect ending.

But it was a new beginning.

The days that followed felt like stepping into the past, only this time, it wasn’t clouded with uncertainty.

Taehyung and I weren’t rushing into anything, but we were gravitating toward each other again, rediscovering what we had lost.

We took it step by step.

One night, Taehyung showed up outside my apartment, leaning casually against his car, hands tucked into his coat pockets.

"Come on," he said with that familiar glint in his eyes.

"Let’s go for a drive."

It was something we used to do all the time, no destination, no plans, just music and the city lights.

I didn’t hesitate.

With the windows rolled down and the cool night air brushing against our faces, we drove through the empty streets of Seoul.

The radio played softly in the background, and Taehyung hummed along, his deep voice making my heart ache in the best way.

"You still sing along to every song," I teased, smiling at him.

He smirked, flicking his gaze toward me.

"And you still stare at me when I do."

I rolled my eyes, looking away, but the warmth in my chest only grew.

Another afternoon, Taehyung showed up with a picnic basket. "We need fresh air."

We spent hours at the park, lying on a blanket under the shade of a tree.

I watched as he tossed crumbs to the birds, his eyes crinkling when a small flock gathered around him.

"They trust me," he said proudly.

"That’s because you’re bribing them with food," I laughed.

But I couldn't deny it, watching him interact with the simplest things, the way he found joy in moments like this, made my heart feel lighter.

At one point, he turned to me, resting his head against his arm.

"It feels like old times, doesn’t it?"

I nodded, my fingers playing with the edge of the blanket.

"Yeah… it does."

One evening, it started pouring just as we were leaving a café.

"Shit," I muttered, looking up at the sky.

"We’re gonna get soaked."

But instead of running for cover, Taehyung stepped into the rain, tilting his head back as water dripped down his face.

"Come on, scaredy-cat," he grinned, reaching for my hand.

I hesitated, but then, just like before, I let him pull me into the downpour.

We laughed as we splashed through puddles, our clothes drenched, hair sticking to our faces.

He spun me around like we were in some cheesy movie, his eyes never leaving mine.

"You’re ridiculous," I giggled, breathless.

"And you love it," he shot back.

I didn't deny it.

That night, we ended up back at the dorm.

The other members were out, leaving the place unusually quiet.

Taehyung handed me a towel, both of us still damp from the rain. "Here. Dry off before you get sick."

I took it, rubbing my hair, watching as he did the same.

He looked so soft in that moment, his usual sharp features relaxed, his warm eyes full of something I couldn’t quite name.

"Tae," I started, my voice quieter now.

He looked up, waiting.

I hesitated, but then let the words spill.

"I’m really happy we’re doing this again. I was scared that too much time had passed, that we wouldn’t fit the way we used to."

He walked over, sitting beside me on the couch.

"You’re not the only one who was scared, Y/n."

I turned to him, my heart hammering. "You were?"

He nodded. "I thought I lost you forever. And even now, I keep wondering if this is real. If you’ll leave again."

I reached for his hand, squeezing gently. "I won’t."

His gaze flickered down to our intertwined fingers, then back to me. His voice was softer when he spoke again.

"Then prove it."

I swallowed, nerves buzzing under my skin.

"How?" I whispered.

His eyes searched mine, and before I could think too much, his fingers brushed my cheek, tucking a damp strand of hair behind my ear.

"Stay."

And just like that, the space between us disappeared.

His lips met mine in a slow, lingering kiss, one that spoke of lost time, of years of longing, of a love that had never really left.

When we finally pulled away, my forehead rested against his, both of us catching our breath.

"We’re really doing this, huh?" I murmured, smiling.

"Yeah," he whispered back.

"But this time, we take it slow. We prove it to each other."

"Deal."

A moment of peace settled between us until the sound of a loud thump broke it.

We both turned toward the hallway, where muffled whispers and scrambling footsteps could be heard.

Jungkook’s voice came first. "I TOLD YOU THE FLOOR WOULD CREAK!"

Jimin hissed back. "Shut up, you were the one leaning too close!"

Namjoon sighed. "I swear, you’re all children—"

Taehyung groaned, rubbing his temples. "Are you seriously spying on us?"

The door swung open slightly, revealing Jin with a smug grin. "Not spying. Just… confirming suspicions."

Yoongi peered over his shoulder. "Took you two long enough."

Hoseok beamed. "So, are you guys official now, or do we need to suffer through more slow burns?"

Taehyung threw a pillow at them. "GET OUT!"

Laughter erupted as they scattered like kids caught doing something bad.

I shook my head, laughing as I leaned into Taehyung’s side.

He sighed dramatically. "This is our life now."

"Yeah," I grinned, squeezing his hand. "And I wouldn’t have it any other way."

The end

[perfectlysunny02]

i once believed love would be 🩷💜💙 but it’s 🩷🤍🧡

[catcastielart]

[prythiansprincess]

can we please get some rhys fluff?

daylight.

i don't wanna look at anything else now that I saw you i don't wanna think of anything else now that I thought of you i've been sleeping so long in a 20-year dark night and now I see daylight

author's note: i'm such a simp for rhys it's not even funny. just think about cuddling a soft, sleepy rhys after a night out and tell me you don't want to scream into the void. song inspiration: daylight by taylor swift.

The moon’s glow kissed your mate’s sleeping form with its silver light and enveloped Rhysand in glorious night.

You paused in the doorway, heels in your hand as you admired the High Lord with a small smile. It was nearly dawn when you finally stumbled out of Rita’s from your monthly girl’s night out. You thanked the Mother for giving you the ability to winnow because you sure as hell wouldn’t have been able to survive the ten minute walk home. Especially not in the tiny little dress and ridiculously high heels that Mor had talked you into wearing. 

Regardless, it had been a fun outing. But as the bruised violet skies made way for spears of sunlight, you were more than glad to be home. 

You padded softly across the wooden floor and slipped into bed as quietly as you could, trying your best not to wake your sleeping mate. Rhys was all but dead to the world, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Propping your head up on one arm, you took the opportunity to admire him in all his glory. 

When he was awake, Rhysand was all seductive smiles and sultry gazes and while you certainly appreciated the sensuality that seemed to pour out of him with effortless grace, you’d come to love this softer side of him even more. There was something about these unguarded moments when he was sprawled across the bed, his large body nearly taking up half the mattress as he laid on his stomach, those dark lashes fluttering against his cheekbones, his soft lips slightly parted, raven hair sticking up in different directions as he cuddled against the pillow, his body half-turned to where you usually lay as if he'd sought you out even in his sleep, that made your heart absolutely ache. 

It had taken a long time for Rhys to allow himself to be vulnerable like this. When you were first mated, he was often plagued by nightmares, so much so that he rarely slept and spent the night staring at the ceiling. You’d woken up countless times to find him observing you, his fingers tracing mindless patterns on your skin, to remind himself that he was here, he survived, and he had fought for this life with you. You remembered taking him into your arms and holding him, whispering that this was real. That it was safe to sleep because you’d still be there in the morning. 

Night after night, you chased away those dark memories together. The nightmares came fewer and farther in between and now Rhysand could sleep through the night without even waking. Tears welled in your eyes as you reached out to caress his cheek. You were so proud of him. 

This brilliant, selfless, resilient male that you were lucky enough to call your mate. Your heart squeezed in your chest and the emotions poured out of you in waves. You loved him so much that it was impossible to contain. That devotion rippled through your bond and made that connection sparkle in your soul. 

Rhysand’s lashes fluttered, skimming the tops of his cheeks as he sleepily blinked up at you. Those violet eyes greeted you like the starkissed night and a slow grin crept across his handsome face. Wordlessly, he tugged you towards him. 

You chuckled as Rhys cuddled against you, burying his face in the crook of your neck and inhaling deeply. 

“Did you have fun?” he murmured sleepily. His body was warm as he pressed you against him, his arm snaking possessively around your waist.

“I did,” you confirmed, twining your fingers through his silky locks. “But I think I owe Rita a new chandelier.” Rhys raised a brow in response, waiting for an explanation. “It’s a long story.”

Your mate only chuckled. “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself, but I might be willing to risk Mor’s wrath and steal you from your friends the next time they try to take my mate away from me.” 

“I was only gone for a few hours.”

Rhys pouted, his lips brushing against your neck. “It was a few hours too many,” he said as he tangled your legs together. “I missed you, darling.”

“My needy, clingy mate,” you teased, poking his nose. Rhys responded by digging his fingers into your side, causing you to giggle uncontrollably. You swatted his hand away and stuck out your tongue. “I missed you too, Rhys.”

Just as daylight streamed in through the windows, Rhysand smiled. A full, bright smile that put the rising sun to shame. 

“I’m here,” you whispered. You hadn’t said the words in a long time. Not since the nightmares stopped. But with the dawn of a new day, you felt like it was important to remind Rhys how far he’d come. 

How far you've both come.

You weren't just mates. Rhys was your friend, your lover, your anchor to reality when the world fell into chaos. He was the other half of your soul. Your love for each other was a story written in the stars.

Violet eyes filled with emotion as you held him against you. “You’re here,” he repeated. 

“This is real.” 

Rhys caressed your cheek, anchoring himself to the present. ��This is real.”

“And we made it, against all odds." You fought and clawed and bled your way to this moment. Just so you could find each other. You would've done it all over again for your mate. "We made it.”

“We made it, darling.”

Your mate kissed your forehead, the gesture soft and intimate. He opened up the bond and let his emotions spill out over the connection. Rhysand felt cared for and loved. That warm light grew in your heart, twining your very existence with his. All of that love and devotion washed over you like a flood as Rhys let you in. In your arms, your mate knew that he was safe and sound. You held back the tears as you pressed a gentle kiss against his lips.

“I love you, Rhys.”

“I love you, darling.”

[duahauuoplanh]

I hope uri Sarangie will be dearly loved in this relationship. Thanks guys, I am.

[backtowolfstar]

the way i probably wont update my fic until july because thats when i get back from my 5 week long internship in london!!!! and they said ao3 writers were nobodies 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[madisoncounty]

i really thought i was 100% over ted lasso & had fully purged it from my life/brain... i regret to inform everyone that that was a lie

[salem-xx]

the way I always associate Daylight - taylor swift with dick and kory and then they had this scene of them dancing to a pink sunset.... I am not okay ​

no bc the lyric "I've been sleeping so long in a 20 year dark night (now I'm wide awake) and now i see daylight I only see daylight" is so Dick and Kory being the light in his life now ughhhh

[zaiinab]

alexa play daylight by taylor swift

[astralcrewarch]

why are hsr ships so taylor swift coded. anyways daylight by taylor swift is jingfeng :)

[livvyofthelake]

watching rise of the pink ladies makes riverdale season seven look so fucking dogshit in comparison i almost want to stop watching it so i can at least try to pretend riverdale doesn’t suck now. unfortunately i love grease and i need to watch this. but i’ll have you all know i’m mad about how good it is.

[duahauuoplanh]

and I understand now why people hold hands. I’d always thought it was about possessiveness, saying ‘this is mine’ but it’s about maintaining contact. it is about speaking without words. it is about I want you with me and please don’t go.

[backtowolfstar]

currently sat in an apartment in london writing fanfiction bc i saw a wolfstar cosplay tiktok on the way home from my internship. what is my life?

[buttacake80]

To my Asian, European, African, and Canadian friends...do y'all wanna know how the United States found itself under a fascist, Hitler-loving dictator named Donald Trump?

In another post, I started my timeline in 1980. The year I was born. But, it was also a turning point in US politics.

First, let me share my credentials.

- Bachelors of Arts - History

- Juris Doctor - Public Interest Law (Critical Race Theory)

- Masters of Philosophy (research degree) - Sociology (Race, Ethnicity, Conflict)

Just recently, we buried President Jimmy Carter, who was the president, when I was born. Jimmy was from Georgia, like my grandmother, and he came from a Southern Baptist background. Southern Baptists are known for being very conservative Christians who did not support abortion.

Jimmy, despite that background, actually supported LGBTQ rights by lifting a federal ban. He supported Roe v. Wade which protected access to abortion. And, he established the federal Department of Education.

However, Jimmy had an antagonistic relationship with Congress, and that alienated several Democrats, including Ted Kennedy, who was the brother of John F. Kennedy, a president who was assassinated.

The Kennedy family has an established name brand due to JFK and Robert F Kennedy (another brother and JFK's attorney general who was also assassinated). Ted was the younger, drunken brother who caused the accidental death of a college friend.

In 1980, Ted challenged Jimmy for the presidency even though they were both Democrats. Jimmy has the incumbent shouldn't have faced a challenge from his own party, but he had just been that bad.

So, this internal strife weakened the Democratic Party entering the 1980 election. In that same year, Jimmy boycotted the 1980 Olympics in Russia due to Russia's invasion of Afghanistan. Furthermore, there was a recession.

The Republican Party nominee was a former Hollywood actor turned politician named Ronald Reagan. Ronald was the governor of California and was trailing Jimmy in the polls until a presidential debate in which Ronald used his acting skills to make Jimmy seem incompetent.

Ronald believed in "trickle down economics." He believed that if the wealthiest people were taxed less, then they would spend more, thus boosting the economy and allowing prosperity to "trickle down" to the working & Middle class.

He also believed in increased military spending as this was the height of the Cold War with Russia. My own parents voted for Reagan because my dad was in the military.

Instead of trickling down, the wealthy just grew wealthier. Republicans continued to lower taxes for these individuals and businesses, so the money never trickled down. Social services were underfunded & unemployment increased. Reagan's response was to blame Black "welfare mothers" for abusing the system.

Republicans latch onto this. They implement work requirements for government assistance and make it harder for folks to pull out of poverty. As a result, a wealth gap separated white folk from the rest. White folk felt their hard earned money was supporting lazy white & Black folk, so they continued to constrict welfare programs.

[Section added] During Reagan's term, an unknown illness is killing young, gay Black & Latino men. It's AIDs. Reagan deemed it a gay disease that only affects gay people, so no funding is allocated to study this disease. It's viewed as retribution for their homosexua lifestyle. However, overtime, they learn about HIV once non-gay men were infected. Children die from the disease because blood is not tested for it, so some are born from it through their mothers while others were given transfusions.

Under Reagan, the Fairness Doctrine ends. Under this doctrine, news agencies had to report both sides of an issue. Because of this, television stations can now present one side. Fox News opens as a conservative network.

Ronald is well-loved by white folk. He gets elected to two terms. By the end of his term, the economy has recovered, and white folk are prospering. Then, his VP, George H.W. Bush, is elected.

Under George I, the Cold War ends, but we have the Gulf War in Kuwait. He signs trade agreements that result in several American companies, namely the auto industry, to shutter their doors and build factories overseas. This is due to a change in tariffs!

Millions of Americans lose their jobs as factories close. Detroit, as the leading auto manufacturer city, is devastated. Back in the 90s, Detroit was the 4th largest US city after Chicago. These factory closures hit the Midwest, especially hard.

This makes Bush unpopular. He is challenged by a young, charismatic Democrat named Bill Clinton.

Bill was a southerner like Jimmy, but Bill was a very well-known ladies' man. Bill appeals to Black Americans, though, and that allows him to defeat George.

Bill continues expanding trade agreements. He's a fiscal conservative despite being a Democrat, and under Bill, military spending is reduced.

[Section added] The rise of AIDs leads to further hate directed at the LGBTQ. During the 90s, several queer people are murdered. One such kid was Matthew Shepard. A college kid in Wyoming, he is beaten by a gang of white men. His family was terrorized so much, that they couldn't bury him because of fears his grave would be desecrated.

[A white woman Bishop in DC invites Shepard's parents to bury him in their graveyard. That Bishop is Marian Edgar Budde, the same Bishop who gave Trump his inaugural sermon this past week. She pleaded for Trump to have mercy on the queer community because she was the Bishop who buried Shepard!]

Bill is a popular president. The economy is booming, but he's still a lady's man, and he gets in trouble with a college intern.

This scandal adversely impacts the last few years in office so much so that his VP, Al Gore, loses the presidency to George W. Bush.

George Bush won the Electoral College while Al Gore won the popular vote. There was such a tiny margin that there were numerous recounts because of faulty ballots (hanging chads). Eventually, the Supreme Court intervenes and tells them to stop the count and certify George as president.

George II is the son of George I.

George II is a popular Texan with swagger. He wants to build up the military once again.

Clinton left a surplus of money, so what did George II do? He implemented tax cuts for the wealthy. That damned "trickle down economics" again. The wealthy get wealthier, increasing the wealth gap between white folks and everybody else.

They cut taxes while cutting social services. One of his biggest "achievements" was a restructuring of our educational system called "No Child Left Behind."

NCLB emphasizes test scores. School administrations are penalized if they don't meet these standards. They lost funding, so electives such as home economics, art, Music, etc are trimmed to make room for these test standards. By this time, my dad has retired from the military and is a school principal, and I remember the stress of trying to meet these standards.

These standards emphasize STEM at the expense of liberal arts. This is happening just as the internet becomes available to all.

Amazon opens as an online used book store. Facebook is started as a college message board. There's a tech boom, so everyone is being pushed into tech fields. Liberal arts education was devalued.

During his term, 9-11 happens. We declare war on Afghanistan. Islamophobia spikes. Fox News helps drive this narrative. Christianity is now being pushed into schools, whereas schools were previously secular.

[Section added] In 2004, the assault rifle ban was lifted. Now we are seeing a dramatic spike in school shootings. The Far Right embraces the expansion of the 2nd Amendment.

Then, we go to war in Iraq.

We aren't quite sure why we're at war with Iraq. We overthrow Suddam Hussein (from the Gulf War). George declares victory, then terminates the Iraqi Army.

This triggers an insurrection. Massive casualties are coming out of Iraq. The war in Afghanistan is overshadowed.

George serves two terms, but his VP is so unpopular that he doesn't run for president. Instead, the Republican nominee is John McCain.

Two Democrats fight for the nomination. Hillary Clinton, the wife of Bill, and Barack Obama.

Barack was a young, biracial Senator from Illinois. I attended law school in Illinois, and one of my classmates had been his legislative aide. I met Barack twice while a student. The first time, he had come to campus to propose a college-savings account. After his press conference, I latched onto his arm and refused to let go until he heard me, and I explained that his proposal was unrealistic because it assumed that a single mother would have the resources to save for an education when it was more likely her money would go towards groceries & rent or other immediate needs. (Fast forward two-three years, and the dude is repeating my line during the State of the Union! I had changed his mind!)

Barack beats Hillary for the nomination. He defeats McCain and is sworn in as the 1st black (not Black) president.

Obama is popular and well-loved by most Americans. Under his tenure, gay marriage is legalized.

Fox News triples down on their hatred.

Their network booms. They push Islamophobia 24/7. Highlight the fact that Obama's father was Muslim and that his middle name was Hussein.

Older Americans are watching program after program of this negativity. A movement starts called the Tea Party movement, which positions itself as a fiscally conservative movement. A bankrupt slumlord with a reality TV show gains popularity with these folks.

I wrote my master's dissertation on the Tea Party movement. It's called "Jesus and the White Man."

Donald Trump

Donald latches onto the Islamaphobia. He calls Barack by his middle name and questions his birth certificate. Donald grows popular with older Americans.

At the end of Obama's term, the son of VP Biden dies. This devastated Biden. He had lost his infant daughter & first wife in a car accident. He decides not to run for president.

Obama supports Hillary.

It is now Hillary v. Trump.

Trump pushes misogyny and Islamaphobia. Hillary is Bill's wife and a woman. She is the most qualified presidential candidate to ever run (at that time).

During Obama's last year in office, Justice Antonin Scalia* dies. Obama has the privilege to nominate that next Justice, but Mitch McConnell stalls through the election.

But older white Americans were barely okay with a black president. They were not about to let a woman serve as President. At the same time, an organization called Cambridge Analytica began to fine-tune an ultra conservative agenda.

With the help of Russian intelligence, they use Facebook ads to try to persuade voters to support Trump. They succeeded with white folk, but they did not succeed with the Black vote.

Russians used African bot farms in order to try to persuade Black Americans to support Trump. We rejected him at 90%.

Donald wins the Electoral College but not the popular vote.

Donald is a corrupt and ineffectual president. He tried to bribe foreign leaders and shared US intelligence with Russia.

However, as a populist, he latches onto the Christian Right. He nominates 3 Supreme Court Justices who lie during their confirmation hearings. These Justices will ultimately vote to overturn Roe v. Wade.

The Christian Right love this. But then COVID hits and the incompetence of Donald leads to millions of deaths. These Christian folk refuse to get vaccinated or wear masks.

Donald is an unpopular president and ranks as the worst president of all time.

Biden challenges him and wins.

Donald refuses to accept that he lost, so he organized an attempted coup. January 6th.

He's impeached. Twice.

McConnell refuses to take the step to have him permanently barred from office.

Biden takes office when COVID is still rampant. The Christian Right continue to push their agenda, seeking to remove protections for the LGBTQI.

Right wing media generates a lot of money. Podcasters jump on the bandwagon. Red pill content spills into the mainstream.

Kids who were isolated during COVID are now at home watching Joe Rogan & Theo Von. They spend hours upon hours on TikTok.

But unbeknownst to these kids is the history of Russian interference.

Schools emphasize STEM. They don't emphasize liberal arts or social sciences such as history or literature. The literacy rate plummeted to an all-time low. The average white American's reading level is at the 4th grade. They aren't able to engage in critical thinking.

They don't know the history of the Spanish Influenza. They don't know the history of a trade war that triggered the Great Depression. They don't know that our government has imprisoned citizens in internment camps. They don't know Hitler's rise to power.

In fact, Fox News frequently features individuals who deny the Holocaust.

Russia move their troll farms from Facebook to TikTok, where the algorithm serves as an echo chamber. Uneducated, illiterate folks gobble up 30-second videos but can't be arsed to watch anything over 5 minutes so complex issues are stripped down to sound bites.

The algorithm pushed right-wing fascist talking points. They rehabbed Donald while shifting Gen Z to the far right. They do not know how to verify information for themselves, so they gobble up misinformation and disinformation.

If a TikTok creator has millions of followers with thousands of views and likes, these kids assume that that info is factual. They do not vet shit for themselves.

Russia pushed anti-American propaganda that posed as pro-American talking points. Pushed isolationism. Pushed anti-democratic rhetoric. In fact, one of their greatest accomplishments is convincing Gen Z and uneducated, white Millennials into thinking we aren't a democracy.

We are a fucking Democratic Republic. Our constitution begins with: "We the people".

So, because of TikTok, Trump won.

That's why Biden was pushing for it to be banned before the election. The algorithm was being corrupted. But folks couldn't part from their addiction.

Folks who had been anti-Trump just 5 years ago are suddenly Trump supporters. They were brainwashed.

So, how did we get here?

We got here because most Americans are fucking STUPID.

[malcontentswanns]

@celtigxr

“Some hearts understand each other, even in silence.”