#the ceasefire is meaningless

[news4dzhozhar]

Because the United Nations (like the ICJ) is toothless and requires for countries to police themselves and abide by the decisions passed (and international law), Israel is simply refusing to acknowledge the ceasefire. The video above was shot last night (March 26th). Considering the ceasefire was to only be 2 weeks long it really shows the belligerence and bloodlust on the part of Israel. It also reaffirms that Netanyahu and the IOF don't give a damn about hostages as the agreement would have seen them ALL released.

[cuties-in-codices]

one year of ongoing genocide against palestinians and the brandenburg gate in berlin is being lit with the israeli flag while chancellor scholz reaffirms german solidarity with israel

[maslows-pyramid-scheme]

The final count is in:

Trump received 76,458,390 votes, an increase of just over 2 million votes from 2020. It's a very minor increase, and it doesn't match republican voting trends - in almost every election since the 1940s, Trump and Romney being the sole exceptions, Republicans have steadily increased their number of votes (usually by around 4 million).

Harris received 73,764,589 votes, a decease of around 7 million votes from what Biden got in 2020. A small number may have gone to Trump (no more than 2 million, though given Trump's targeting and the minor increase in support Trump received I'd assume that few of the 7 million who voted for Biden in 2020 voted for Trump in 2024), but the biggest problem is the non-voters - the people who couldn't be bothered, or didn't want to vote for a biracial woman, or who thought their moral comfort was far more important than keeping Trump out of power.

The election results show that people who voted for Biden in 2020 didn't vote for Harris in 2024; in 2020, Biden received a record-breaking 81 million votes, whereas Harris, in 2024, has only received 70 million votes so far. If current trends continue, Harris can expect to have gotten about 73-4 million votes.

The election results also show that, contrary to popular opinion, Trump didn't make huge, nation-wide gains with minority voters: in 2020, Trump received 74 million voters, and in 2024, he has received - wait for it - 74 million votes so far. If current trends continue, Trump can expect to have gotten about 77-8 million votes.

Now, I've been seeing people blame marginalised groups for Trump's victory - it's white women voting along racial lines, it's Black, Asian, or Hispanic men voting along sex lines - but I don't think the results actually support that analysis given how small Trump's vote actually increased by (from the Dems or from non-voters?). I think the results show that, while Trump did made some gains, his victory can primarily be attributed to the 7-8 million people who voted for Biden in 2020 but did not vote for Harris in 2024, either because they flipped sides, or, more likely, because they just didn't vote at all...

[librarycards]

Writers who try to do this work are told that our words don’t mat­ter. When we demand a ceasefire and an end to occupation, we are told that those words are meaningless, that they do not prompt action, and that they cause tremendous injury (as in, to demand a ceasefire or to demand that the genocide in Gaza end is to cause injury and not to demand the cessation of injury). To name a per­son, institution, state, or a set of acts as racist or anti-Palestinian or antiblack is to cause injury. It is not the racism that injures, it is not the bullets and bombs that injure, it is the words that seek to name the injury—that name a murderous structure like apartheid or settler colonialism—that cause injury.

Meaning is in crisis. And we are embroiled, everywhere, in contests over meaning—which are also contests of power, contests over living. And dying.

When Anne Boyer resigned as poetry editor of The New York Times Magazine in November 2023, she wrote on her Substack,

Because our status quo is self-expression, sometimes the most effective mode of protest for artists is to refuse. I can’t write about poetry amidst the “reasonable” tones of those who aim to acclimatize us to this unreasonable suffering. No more ghoulish euphemisms. No more verbally sanitized hellscapes. No more warmongering lies. If this resignation leaves a hole in the news the size of poetry, then that is the true shape of the present.

Christina Sharpe, The Shapes of Grief: Witnessing the Unbearable

[komsomolka]

The Abandon Biden campaign that for months worked in key swing states to turn voters away from US President Joe Biden over his unwavering support for Israel’s war on Gaza has officially relaunched its movement with a new aim: Abandon Kamala Harris. [...]

"In terms of electoral strategy, at the very minimum, we ask the American people to make sure that they never vote for the genocide or Kamala Harris," Abdel Salam said. [...]

"There really is no focus on what has been happening in Gaza beyond meaningless platitudes. Just alone [Harris] saying Israel has the right to defend itself after 10, 11 months of what we can see is by default an endorsement of the genocide in Gaza," Hudhayfah Ahmad, the campaign's communications director, told MEE. "When you put it in that context, you start to see exactly what kind of candidate Kamala Harris is. I genuinely believe that she has not spoken in any meaningful way about Gaza because she believes she can win without addressing it." [...]

"The closer we get to November, the clearer we will see for who genocide is actually a red line and who is going to prioritise short-term interests over morals and values and ethos," Ahmad said.

[navree]

You keep saying refusing to vote for Biden on moral grounds because of Palestine is ineffective because Trump would be worse, but that really isn't the point. Largely (with the exception of a few extremists and a contingency of people who wouldn't have voted anyways) the philosophy of a movement that has people withhold their vote is to force a significant policy change that wouldn't have changed otherwise. Its a form of protest. I understand from your perspective, election-focused and pragmatic, it is a threat to whoever is running, but if Biden had wanted the votes being withheld he would have capitulated.

Not that this isn't a moot point since he's out, but whatever.

See, this is intensely fucking dumb.

"force a significant policy change" it would not. One, because Biden is the president of the United States, and Israel is not one of those states. Short of sending the CIA to, idk, assassinate Netanyahu in his bed, which most of these people would be against I think because of how much they bitch and moan about US foreign policy at any given opportunity, he cannot actually make an independent foreign power do what he wants and what is electorally convenient for him. Like, I'm very sure Biden would love it if Netanyahu and his partisans stopped acting like fucking freaks for five minutes, if only so that it would stop being a PR nightmare for him. But that's not happening, because he cannot control what Netanyahu does. He could vastly reduce the support the US is providing Israel, and in my view he should, but that's not going to stop what Netanyahu and the Israeli government is doing. Because, I hate to break it to you, but the reason they're carpetbombing Gaza is because they want to be carpetbombing Gaza, and even without US aid they will continue to do it, even it just means with older and less effective weapons. Ultimately, the change that leads to a ceasefire and an end to the war is going to come from the actual parties involved, not Joe Biden.

Two, you've already gotten the significant policy change. Biden has, on multiple occasions now, come out in favor a ceasefire. He has actively been working, along with the Qatari government, to try and broker some kind of peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, but those two keep on fucking it up because they're both run by bloodthirsty psychopaths who don't care one iota about the people they're meant to be governing and only on killing whoever they want. That's been open fact for months now. And it has meant fuckall. The people doing their moral purity about how they'd never vote for Biden were still doing it, just moving the goalposts on what they wanted. First it was ceasefire, then it was 'no ceasefire until [insert impossible demand here] is given', because moving goalposts is what these people do. It's the same mentality as people who saw that Biden was doing COVID stimulus, or cancelling student loans, or reclassifying marijuana, and decided that the issue now was that he wasn't doing enough of it. It's a movement that's been consistently comprised of dogs that caught the car, and are angry that they caught the car because now they can't complain, and they don't want to actually affect meaningful change, they just want to complain because that's easier. And if that's what these people have been doing for his entire presidency, why on Earth would any reasonable person suddenly believe it's different on this one specific issue?

Three, cool you're protesting, then what? Your protest is utterly unserious and completely meaningless if it's not going to have any tangible effects, so what's the next step? You've decided to make your moral purity stance an issue that the vast majority of you learned from infographics on Instagram rather than listening to the voices involved (which is why the red triangle brigade is still a thing on Twitter), so what happens now? No political party is ever going to capitulate entirely to it, because the constituency is just too small (that "uncommitted" gambit was only getting like 10% of the vote wherever it was happening, Biden won over it as a literal write-in candidate in at least one state), so other than the compromise that's already happening, the goalpost movers are gonna withhold their votes because blah blah blah my morals. And their next step is, what? Trump gets elected. And their movement, which has no thought or serious effort put behind it or any actual attempt to provide material aid to the people actually suffering, has helped put a man who is going to be far worse for it in power. The "significant policy change" is going to be that Trump gives Netanyahu whatever he wants and he proceeds to wipe Gaza off the map. The "significant policy change" is that President "Trump Heights" actively makes things worse for the people this protest is supposed to help, as a consequence of that very protest.

It's not about me only being concerned with being "election focused" or some cold hearted bitch. It's about me, as a person who thinks what Israel has been doing since the start is godawful and deeply horrendous, realizing that this entire "protest" is not only asinine but will result in deeply negative consequences and very real harm for the people this protest is purported to be for, and being sickened by that. I live in the real world, and in the real world action speaks far louder than intent. I don't have to acknowledge that the protest wants this or that outcome or what the hypothetical impossible asks that are never going to be answered are, because I understand that they will not matter. What matters is what you get out of your protest, what gains are received, how that protest actually affects change, not the change it gives wishy washy lip service to.

[eretzyisrael]

By  Ryan Saavedra

The Hamas terrorist organization played the mainstream media on Monday by claiming that they accepted the ceasefire agreement offered by Israel.

The claim instantly went viral on social media and dominated breaking news headlines across the media landscape as the war in Gaza enters its seventh month.

Israeli officials quickly came out and disputed Hamas’ claims, noting that the Palestinian Islamic terror group agreed to things that were never offered by Israel.

Hamas agreed to a deal that it came up with Egypt that did not include any discussion with Israeli officials, The Times Of Israel reported.

Israeli officials said that Hamas lied in an effort to control the media narrative and to falsely portray Israel as the side that is refusing to negotiate even though Israel has made highly generous offers, including releasing dozens of convicted Palestinian terrorists and criminals for each hostage released by Hamas.

Israel said that proposal that Hamas accepted was “far reaching” and could never be accepted.

The White House said that they were looking over the bogus offer that Hamas accepted but would not give further comment.

Israeli officials, media figures, and advocates pushed back on news reports that falsely conveyed the situation.

“Let us all be very clear on what is happening right now: Hamas has not agreed to any known proposal for a ceasefire,” said Jerusalem Post editor-in-chief Avi Mayer. “Its announcement that it has agreed to ‘a ceasefire’ is meaningless, an obvious ploy and delay tactic meant to prevent the imminent military operation in Rafah.”

Former Israeli government spokesman Eylon Levy posted: “It looks like Hamas didn’t agree to ‘the ceasefire.’ It agreed to ‘a ceasefire,’ i.e to a proposal Israel hasn’t agreed to and maybe hasn’t even seen. That’s not how negotiations work, but it is how media manipulation works.”

“This reported Hamas approval looks like textbook deception: approving a deal that isn’t on the table in order to apply pressure on Israel to accept Hamas terms,” said former IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus.

[pocketsizedquasar-3]

you know. white liberals would be far less annoying (still deeply annoying) and far less difficult to take seriously (still deeply difficult) if they stopped lying to themselves and everyone else about what they were doing. ‘cause y’all either sound completely stupid and removed from reality at best or violently callous at worst.

(and before anyone fails their reading comprehension here, i am not telling anyone to vote or not vote or who to vote or not vote for. get off my dick.)

but no, you’re not doing “real leftism” by voting for kamala (something i have actually seen countless people say. “real leftists” would vote for kamala!!1!!1!! if you don’t vote for her ur not a “real leftist!!!!”). that’s not what that is. words mean things. you’re actually engaging in pretty textbook liberalism. it’s not “real leftism” to vote for a genocidal fascist who is actively employing genocidal fascistic policies both overseas and domestically, and who has pledged gladly to continue doing so. (again, bc this is the bad reading comprehension website, i’m not telling you if you vote for kkkamala ur not a “real leftist” (mostly because that’s meaningless); i’m saying that that act itself is not a """leftist""" action). if you feel the need to justify what you’re doing to yourself by pretending you’re doing ~real leftism~, stop.

you're not “stopping fascism” or “saving democracy” or whatever else. you’re not “stopping fascism” by voting for a fascist. you’re not “saving democracy” by voting for a fascist. if you genuinely can’t see in this current moment that kamala harris & the democrats are fascists, you are deliberately ignoring and excusing fascism as long as it’s happening to nonwhite people. it is willful, deliberate ignorance at this point and it is violent. you genuinely do not see victims of fascism unless it happens to white people.

you’re not “protecting palestinians” by voting for kamala. you’re not making their chances better or being better for them or improving their conditions. you’re not “more likely” to sway kamala on palestine; you can’t even threaten to withhold your support for her because of her wanton slaughtering of palestinians. 13 months of ongoing genocide and ongoing mass protest movements and multiple polls showing that she would literally guarantee the win in key swing states if she would just call for an arms embargo / ceasefire as part of her platform have not swayed her. she constantly, constantly reaffirms her willful, enthusiastic support of this genocide. she has said over and over again that she will not end her support for israel, that she would not have done anything differently than biden, that she has no intentions to stop sending israel arms and money so they can keep slaughtering palestinians and now lebanese. you are not “protecting” or helping palestinians by voting for her. keep their names out of your mouths.

you’re not protecting """minorities""" or """poc""" either. not when the candidate is a cop whose administration has already funneled billions of dollars into the police and the military, who is priding herself on wanting to create the most lethal military, on being tougher on the border&immigration than trump, who is happily continuing to perpetuate racist atrocity propaganda to justify the mass slaughter of palestinians, who continues to reaffirm and support the escalation of imperialism and war even elsewhere in the so-called middle east, who is gladly seeking (and securing) endorsements by racist white supremacist republicans (like dick fucking cheney. come on), whose administration has been for four years enthusiastically accelerating the climate crisis, whose campaign has been littered with examples of both their supporters and the politicians themselves being virulently racist. you’re not protecting us. you’re not helping us.

your candidate wants us dead. your candidate wants me dead. your candidate wants my people in iran dead. your candidate wants my sister peoples in palestine and in lebanon dead. your candidate is actively orchestrating their slaughter.

kamala might be better for you, white liberal american. fine. vote for her if you wish. no one is stopping you. but stop white knighting about it. stop pretending you’re doing this for anyone but yourself. stop lying to yourself and everyone else about what you’re doing. stop speaking over us the with fucking audacity that you’re somehow doing us a favor, and stop talking down to us, palestinians especially, like they are children who need to be ~explained~ the right way to save them. stick your white savior complex up your ass.

vote however you want, but stop lying about what you’re doing and who you’re protecting.

and if you want my vote too? fucking earn it.

[yuri-alexseygaybitch]

The second C*nada voted for the ceasefire in the (non-binding, meaningless) UNGA resolution I immediately got swamped with emails from all of my "representatives" who had ignored me for 2+ months talking about how measured and humanitarian and liSteNinG tO pALeStiNiAn vOicEs they are now while still managing to sneak in the "Israel's right to self-defence" line. Actual fucking spineless scum all of them.

[theivorybilledwoodpecker]

"Vote for Biden because it's clear he can be pushed to change."

No it's not. He's not calling for a ceasefire; he's calling for a pause. Which is what he's been calling for for months.

The airdrops are crumbs and meant as distractions. If he truly wanted aid to reach Gaza, he could threaten to withhold aid to Israel until Netanyahu let in trucks. He refuses to even do that because his sugar baby might refuse to suck Biden's wrinkled old cock.

The port will take months to build. Look at these pics and tell me this kid has months to spare:

All the aid in the world will not save Palestinians from the bombs Biden continues to drop on Gaza.

Yes, the moves show that Biden is scared of losing the election. But even with that fear, it's clear he's trying to take actions that loom good but are meaningless.

[news4dzhozhar]

The useless ceasefire vote by the UN the other day remains in existence on paper only as Israel just flat out refuses to abide by it. The bombing and blocking of aid, food and medicine continues. The death toll continues to rise. Children like this poor helpless baby continue to die slow & painful deaths needlessly. Meanwhile the US wrings its hands and continues to act like they have no control over what is happening.

[calaroseeey]

You are the Dawn

Adar x Galadriel. Rated G. 3825 words. One-shot.

Together they walked in darkness, yet apart. Now a star shines upon the valley that will one day be known as Rivendell, and it's never too late - not for Adar, or even for Galadriel.

My Adariel Secret Santa gift for Silvershade

───── ※※※ ─────

There was a time when Galadriel still saw the world in color. During the Years of the Trees in the naivety of her youth, she would go down to the shore. Sometimes she was in company with her brother Finrod, closest to her in kin. Other times she was alone, but never lonely. The cold water rushed up the shimmering shore and ran over her feet. The Gold Tree Laurelin reflected her light on the topaz-blue surface of the waters, while the brilliant shore was filled with gems beyond count such as diamonds, rubies and opals. The salted air was fresh and filled her lungs with an ambition and hunger for what lay beyond the Sea. It was easy to imagine the adventures that await her in Middle-earth before the War. She could not foresee the death, betrayal, and utter loss that would find her.

Finrod was gone with the rest of her brothers, Celebrimbor was no more, the great city in Eregion and its smiths had fallen, and Halbrand- she could not even think of him. The very thought of him sickened her and the wound to her chest burned with echos of pain.

She remembered the ring, shining bright on Adar’s hand. Adar. Memories rushed into the front of her mind. His hand trembled as he held it out to her, the same hands that killed too many of her kin. When he turned around for her to see what Nenya had healed, it was as if she saw him for the first time.

She called out his name. “Adar…”

“When last I looked like this, I was known by a different name.”

“What was it?”

“A meaningless name. It does not matter now.”

Galadriel was silent, awaiting for Adar to say more. He slipped off the ring without saying anything else. She stepped nearer to him, and reached out her hand. She let him brace her wrist as he slid it on her finger.

“There has been great pain and sorrow I have caused, Alatáriel.”

“Nor am I blameless, I have killed many of your children. I was prepared to kill you as well.”

“I forgive you.” The wind blew gently through the forest, rustling her hair as it shone in the sunshine. They were still so close. “No more flame. No more darkness. I have much wisdom received from your ring, but it remains yours. I know I cannot vanquish Sauron with this, and it would be selfish to keep it for myself.”

She looked in awe at the ring on her hand, then at him.

“He will not find us here in the forest.” she turned to the hillside they came from. “I must find Elrond. Command your army to ceasefire-”

“Us?”

Her gaze darted back to him. “You can come or not, Adar. But I would much prefer if you did.”

Although she had multitudes of reasons to feel hatred for him, she knew she could trust him now. With her life, with her ring, with the future of the world.

There was no going back now.

Yet, between the holly trees and pine in the forest, there was a Maia clad in false light who had assumed control over the Uruk. And while the spell that kept Adar constrained in darkness was broken, his children had now fallen under the same shadow.

The memory retreated as Galadriel’s surroundings came into focus, and her chest ached again from the cold burn of Morgoth’s crown. She heard the voices of her kin, the wind running through the valley. The rest of what followed rushed into her mind. She remembered the Uruk had found her and Adar first, followed by their enemy. There was a clash of swords and there was shouting, and Sauron had played a cruel dance with her, while Adar was left to fend against his fallen Uruk. Upon opening her eyes she could see the top of the tent softly rippling like waves in the wind.

“Galadriel?” A voice called her out of her lull. She saw at the entrance to her tent Adar standing there. She shouldn’t be surprised by now, as he had taken to frequently checking in with her, although it was he who had sustained far worse physical injury. Her wounds had been of a deeper nature. Adar seemed to be aware of this and was all too familiar, as he had drank of the same cup that had been poured upon her. He could sit with her in shared silence or in conversation. Although their time spent at each other’s bedsides had been at first hesitant and strange, quickly they had grown accustomed and familiar to each other’s presence. His insight had been more keen than even that of her closest friend Elrond.

She repositioned herself on her bed to sit up, bracing herself against the headboard. Adar walked around to a seat by her bedside. “You slept all night,” he stated.

“It would appear so,” she said.

“Come,” he stood up. “I have something to show you.”

He left the tent and waited for her outside. Their camp was made some ways north of the fallen city in a cloven valley settled next to the Misty Mountains guarding them to the east. The river Bruinen narrowed in the valley and several streams came from the river, with small waterfalls cascading down the mountains and even smaller ones in and around the dell.

Galadriel found him waiting outside. Then, he led her to a small open meadow in the forest where elves were planting seeds in the fertile ground. Adar invited her to work with them, and she joined. Although the other elves kept their distance from him, the atmosphere grew a little less anxious with her presence.

Her heart fluttered when his hand brushed against hers by accident, or when the silence between them was brimming with words left unsaid.

───── ※※※ ─────

Galadriel had stayed in the valley to help Elrond establish a fortress. She felt like she was sinking further and further since the siege of Ost-in-Edhil. Sauron taunted her with every worry spoken of the future, every conversation she shared in council with the High King, in the way Adar appeared resigned to his sorrow and how utterly broken his sense of self was. An unnamed hunger dug itself into her, and it fueled her to help her kin, but it was unbearable alone. Most of all, she wanted to know what it is she longed for.

The shame of the siege of Eregion was now laid fully on the shoulders of Sauron. Adar had led the siege on Ost-in-Edhil against Sauron and many Elves had died both by his hand and the Uruk army. Despite this, Adar’s role was overshadowed by the greater enemy in the midst of collective recovery.

Still, there was doubt and a little unrest, but nobody said anything to go against a guest of the High King, and Adar remained a guest of the valley under Elrond, even after the departure of Galadriel to Lindon.

The temporary camp soon grew fortified and became a stronghold of military might, as well as shelter for those who fled Sauron’s continued onslaught on Eregion. But before the people had fully established the fortress, Sauron led a siege on the valley. Galadriel arrived under the High King Gil-Galad’s forces. But it was too late, for many Elves had been killed by Uruk. Adar had been unable to bring himself to kill any of the Uruk, unable to see them as anything other than his children. Although Sauron was driven out again, what the Elves had established had to be rebuilt, like autumn’s harvest was pulled up half-wrought by summer storm.

Destruction and death weighed heavy on the people from fallen Ost-in-Edhil. There were whispered hopes of sailing to Valinor. Some had spoken of remaining in the valley they now called Imladris.

Within those years war brought Galadriel and Adar united against the forces and allies of Sauron. But a distance remained between them. Elrond noticed from then on Adar remaining by himself. This was not uncharacteristic of him before, but there was a new sadness Elrond sensed in him.

───── ※※※ ─────

Adar awoke from dreams of slaughter and death. Pale moonlight spilt through the open window into his room. He laid atop the cold sheets on his bed. The house was quiet and the trees outside were still. True, restful sleep had eluded him for weeks. Whenever he started to feel like he belonged here, the glimpses of peace he had tasted turned bitter with the reminder of what Sauron had stolen from him.

The cool breeze from the window carried the subtle scent of spring flowers. He left his room and made his way to the gardens outside the Homely House. The moon was bright but emitted no warmth. The stars, though outshone by the moon, flickered like jewels set in the mural of the night sky. He followed a lowly path between the trees up the mountainside to an overlook where he could see across the valley.

The stars seemed all too distant. The ghost of the memory of his endless nights and years atop a nameless peak came to dance in his mind’s sight. His thoughts turned then to Galadriel’s ring, and from there to the greater beauty of the ring-bearer. He thought of her often, far too often. The memory of her was a light in the shadows when healing was more of a battle than a straightforward path. It had been autumn when he had last seen her, after the valley was besieged by Sauron and she came with her forces as aid. But a small and selfish part of him wondered if she thought sometimes of him with the same warmth in her heart.

The horizon between the valley to the east became a dusted blue. There somewhere, a light dwelt that evil could not touch. Adar was sure that there was a place in Arda where he could afford such peace. It would not be in this valley, that much was sure, although it had started to feel like a home. He was unsure if the rest of Elvenkind would welcome him as Elrond had. But if he could live among the people of fallen Eregion, perhaps there was a place out there where he was not only welcomed but wanted. And perhaps, he would not be alone.

His sight grew weary at the coming of the dawn.

───── ※※※ ─────

Years had come and vanished like vapor in the wind. It was summer again, and Galadriel had reached a standstill in the war against Sauron. The passage of time felt far more fleeting after the fall of Eregion than it had before.

Her heart grew weary from worry gnawing down her defenses. Hope was more of a wave than anything. Sometimes she was sinking and rough waves tossed her under, while other times she was above the surface managing to get a breath in before the waves grew strong again. There was a yearning that dwelt within her. In her dreams she saw visions of bountiful green forests filled with mallorn trees. Somewhere beyond the reach of Sauron, somewhere safe and hidden where good things could grow and live. She also dreamt, on occasion and often fleetingly, of Adar.

Too much time had passed. And so she returned to Imladris. She missed the company of Elrond, or at least that’s what she told herself was the reason for her visit. On horseback she rode under midsummer sun across the bleak northern terrain. The setting sun shone bright on the eastern side of the Misty Mountains, illuminating the tips of the peaks with molten sunlight and bathing the whole forest in the sun’s warm gaze. She vaguely remembered the sensation of the light of Laurelin on her skin while the land basked in her glory. The newly laid white stone path zig-zagged across the otherwise rocky and steep earth. The air was warmer as she descended into the hidden valley.

There were guards posted on the path. They welcomed her with recognition and a quick bow of their heads. She had only sent word to Elrond of her visit the day of her departure from Lindon. She wasn’t sure if Adar knew yet of her arrival.

She crossed on horseback a bridge of stone without a parapet over the rushing river. Elrond was at the entrance of the grounds ready to meet her, embracing her. There were more people up and about the grounds than she expected. Most of them were unfamiliar to her.

“Galadriel!” he said. “It is good to see you, my friend!”

“Thank you for welcoming me on such short notice.”

“That’s what this valley is for now, you see.” Elrond walked with her towards the Last Homely House. “How long do you intend to stay?”

“Until I find the reason I have been drawn back to this valley.”

“You will always be welcome here.” He turned to her, and laid his hand on her shoulder. “Know that.”

“Thank you,” she said. “This looks more like a sanctuary now than a fortress.”

“Can it not be both?” Elrond smiled.

───── ※※※ ─────

There was a feast that night to commemorate Galadriel’s visit. For some reason or another a nervous sensation settled in Adar’s stomach as he prepared to leave his quarters.

Dusk had bathed the valley in a blue hue as some of the stars above began to glimmer in the darkening sky. A gentle haze settled over Rivendell, the white fog sheer like a layer of one of Galadriel’s gowns.

Elrond had invited his guests to an open grove for the feast. Adar was already outside when Galadriel emerged from the house. She was wearing a gown blue as sky topaz decorated with flowers embroidered with silver thread, and her partially braided hair was draped around her shoulders bright like the last touch of summer over September dusk. Perhaps she caught Adar’s gaze, because he soon found her beside him. He was suddenly very aware of his plain, unadorned clothes and second-guessed his decision to have his hair loose.

“Adar.” she said, her eyes with a glint of delight.

“Alatáriel,” he said, “too much time has passed.”

“It’s barely been a few months since last autumn.” she smiled, before they began to walk down a path through the gardens. Fireflies danced in the bushes among gardens, and the summer air was perfumed by the forest flowers and pine. “There is peace here.” she said.

“There is.” he agreed. “Although still I am discontented. I will not deny Elrond’s kindness, nor the peace that dwells within this valley. Yet I do not belong here.”

“You do belong among us, Adar.”

“Perhaps Elvenkind, yes. But not among these Elves. It is a place for healing, and there can be no peace while the war still goes ever on and on. Not for us.”

“You grieve for your children?” It was more of a statement of what she already knew than a question.

“My heart, no- my whole soul aches for my children who are lost. There is nothing I can do. Here I am, healing and safe in Rivendell, while they are damned to be slaves of Sauron.”

“I will help you.” The words came out before she could catch up to them.

“What? Why would you do that?”

“Because I am your friend,” she stopped and turned to face him. “I do not share your love for them, Adar. But I too am acquainted with loss. If my brothers had been taken by the enemy, if they had been captured rather than killed, I would not rest until I had done all I could. Let me help you, to do what we can.”

“I will accept your help, my lady.”

She could see the surprise and joy in his expression, and it brought a little bit of hope to warm her heart. Merry laughter and conversation was already ignited when they arrived. Elrond gave Adar a quick but kind smile as they approached. The grove - sheltered between pine and aspen - was lit up by lanterns hung upon the trees. The aroma of roast meat with herbs and vegetables was enchanting.

Once the rest of his guests had arrived, Elrond announced Galadriel’s arrival and sat down at the head of the table. Galadriel settled into a seat near Elrond, and Adar sat beside her. During their feasting they drank fine wine from Rhovanion east of the Misty Mountains, and the table was filled with laughter and song mingled with sorrow. Elrond told of the progress of Imladris, and of those, both Elf and Man alike, they had sheltered. Many Elves shared stories of a time long past. Nearly a year had passed since the Elves last had seen war. The loss they had sustained started to settle into the hearts of the people in this momentary peace. Grief was too recent to become history, but healed enough not to weep for. Some had mentioned those who departed Middle-earth and sailed west over the Sea. The enemy was not mentioned by name, but they spoke of the war, of the dead, and of the greatness of that which was lost. Adar caught glimpses of fear in her eyes when the war was mentioned and when they spoke haphazardly of what is to come.

Galadriel, though he knew she carried secret sorrow, laughed and drank and sang songs with their kin that night. Perhaps it was the lanterns or the moonlight spilling through the trees, but she looked aglow. He understood why Men considered the light of Alatáriel’s hair to be magical, or attribute the feats of Elven craft to the magic of wizards and sorcerers.

He wondered if those of their kin who sat around him had casually dismissed such things as ordinary.

Adar was becoming re-accustomed to beauty. Before, his sight was sullied and grey after Sauron, and now the light shone out the clearer in the world around him. He wondered if the ring’s power truly was responsible, or if it simply gave him the clarity to do with it as he will.

The hour was late when the celebration ceased and they returned to the Homely House. Adar lingered longer, as did Galadriel.

“Walk with me?” he asked her. He half expected her to decline but she smiled and even more surprisingly took his arm in hand. A warmth settled in his heart as he guided her to the white-stoned path. She let go of his arm when they began to walk, the echos of her touch left on his arm.

“Often have I walked this path during the night.” Adar said. “Much time has been spent in quiet contemplation, or silence, or lament.”

They walked close beside each other along a white stone path between the beech and oak. The silence was heavy, though not unbearable. Although the eastern mountain range and the shelter of the valley hid some of the sky, still overhead the moon was bright and the stars glistened like jewels.

The path descended to reach a soft trickling stream, the water gently gliding over mossy rock. The warm air, thick and rich with the smell of flowers, was interrupted by a cool breeze. The gloom of war was lifted, if just for them this night.

They came to a small fall in the stream. White gushing water ran over the moss covered rocks and earth. Beneath the water were little blue flowers while white flowers grew upon the surface.

Adar sat down beneath a beech tree, then Galadriel sat close beside him. The light came not just from her ring. There was a light in and of herself, soft and cool, as if she were drenched in starlight. Had he not noticed before?

“I have dreamt of you.” she said. “And of forests, of a secret place beyond the reach of war.” She turned to sit in front of him.

“Come with me.” she said.

“Where would we go?”

She laughed, sweet and melodic. “We could go anywhere, but first come with me to Lindon. There is work yet to be done.”

He turned to look at her hand where the ring glimmered bright like a pulsating star. She reached for his hand and took it within her own. The cool metal of the ring buzzed against his skin. He wrapped his other hand around hers and pulled her a little closer. Night birds sang sweet melodies as the wind blew through the tops of the trees.

“Galadriel,” he whispered, reluctant to interrupt the song of the forest. “The stars pale against your countenance. I have never been witness to such beauty; if I had, I do not want to remember it. Perhaps I can only see it now, with the clarity that came from your ring.”

“Shhh.” she pressed her finger gently to his lips.

Silence hung between them for a moment, before Adar closed the distance and gently pressed his lips against hers. She returned the kiss, with a desperation and desire he did not expect. As her heartbeat quickened, the tension in her body relaxed.

The sounds of the gently splashing water, the birdsong, the swaying of the trees when wind rustled them, had interwoven with the gentle thud of her heartbeat, and the song her beauty was already singing.

The thorns in his heart had been ripped out, and in that wound left in its wake, he felt the embers of hope begin to burn again. All of the suffering and grief, from when she held him at knifepoint in the Southlands, to the fall of Eregion, every enmity between them seemed in this moment like an ugly dream from which they had been awakened.

He pulled away for a moment. To his surprise her reaction was kind and soft as moonlight. He had never seen the Two Trees or the blessed land of the Valar, yet he didn’t feel the need to. For the very light of Laurelin and Telperion was captured within Galadriel's countenance. Fate had been untangled to reveal that Adar’s life was not fixed. There were many paths he could choose now. He had lived in that waiting in this valley, but now only one path was clear.

“I will come with you.” he whispered, just loud enough to chime in with the songs of the forest. “You are as bright as the morning star, Alatáriel, and your beauty surpasses all the jewels set in the heavens and on earth. You are my dawn.”

She reached for the side of his face, gently tracing her fingers over his scars. Perhaps in another lifetime he would’ve flinched from her touch. But not now. He leaned into her embrace and closed his eyes.

“You are my ocean of color.” she said, before he felt her lips, soft and warm, meet his again.

[gorgeousgreymatter-x]

Posting this because I have already seen people spreading misinformation about the ruling

Obviously everyone wants a ceasefire. But this is a huge step today. I'm not saying people can't mad or sad or disappointed, but it's very disingenuous to say it was "meaningless"

It wasn't any court case that stopped apartheid in SA. It was the international pressure after the fact.

[scromulus]

I try not post political shit on my tumblr because I think its kind of meaningless but I truly don’t understand how you you can be like “This politician is not far left enough for me, and therefore I will not vote, allowing her opponent, a man who will make life tangibly worse for almost every marginalized group in this country (and others) to gain ground in what very likely be a very close election”

And its not like Donald Trump is pro Gaza? The man is bros with Benjamin Netanyahu. Allowing him to win with some half assed protest vote is going to further perpetuate harm to the people in Palestine who you claim to care about. Why would you want to be complicit in that. Elect the politicians who might listen to anti-war protesters instead of tear-gasing them.

To clarify: The murder of tens of thousands of innocent children and civilians should absolutely be a key issue for voters! It’s fucked there are basically no establishment politicians who unequivocally support Palestine. But you should probably vote the ones who are willing to negotiate a ceasefire. If you want to make a tangible difference take actual meaningful direct action if you care about causes you claim to support beyond farming likes on instagram and twitter. Donate to a charity. Volunteer. Do something to meaningfully affect change other than complaining into an echo chamber.

[girlactionfigure]

🟩HAMAS SAYS HOSTAGE DEAL FLEXIBILITY WITH NO FLEXIBILITY - Real time from Israel  

▪️2 HERO SOLDIERS HAVE FALLEN.. in battle in Gaza: Eitan Israel Schkenzi, 21, from Eli, and Dvir Zion Revah, 28, from Jerusalem.  May their families be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem, and may G-d avenge their blood!

▪️DID 82,000 REALLY LEAVE ISRAEL THIS YEAR?  The Central Bureau of Statistics's report of a negative immigration was a shocker, but is it real?  A review of the details shows the bureau changed some definitions, where foreign workers, illegal immigrants and tourists in the country over 1 year were counted as residents.  

The changes were apparently to reach the magic 10 million population figure but unexpectedly resulted in a negative migration count.

▪️MIN. COMMUNICATIONS vs. HIGH COURT.. Minister: ‘The High Court today issued an illegal interim order in a petition to extend the term of office of 6-7 members of the corporation's board (two extreme leftists) who have completed their term’, stating that the law explicitly says only the minister may extend terms, and only with the approval of a committee.  Therefore, ‘the (High Court) order is void, non-binding and meaningless.’

🔹LEBANON - The Lebanese Army entered the town of A-Naqura in the western sector, for the first time since the beginning of the ceasefire and after the IDF withdrawal from the town.

.. Reuters: The Biden administration will transfer $95 million from the US military aid budget to Egypt to strengthen the Lebanese army.

.. US envoy Amos Hochstein informed the Lebanese that Israel is not staying in Lebanon and the withdrawal is proceeding according to plan (that is, the Israelis leaving is per plan - the Lebanese army gathering up Hezbollah weapons and closing their attack positions is not).

🔹IRAQ - Muqtada al-Sadr, major Shi’ite leader in Iraq, calls for the disbandment of the militias (including Hashd al-Shaabi) supported by Iran, on the anniversary of the establishment of the Iraqi army.

🔹IRAN - The Revolutionary Guards announced today that they have placed several new, secret air defense systems near sensitive facilities in Iran.

.. Wall Street Journal report: Western officials confirm that Iran has recently increased its efforts to transfer cash to Hezbollah.

🔹X AND THE HOUTHIS - X has deleted all accounts related to the Houthis on X.  As these were some of the open source intelligence sources - the rate of threats being tied to likelihood of attacks - deleting such accounts is a two edged sword.

♦️COUNTER-TERROR DRONE STRIKE.. IDF drone attacked an armed terrorist cell that was endangering forces in the town of Tamun, south of Tubas, Samaria.  3 terrorists killed.

🎗️HOSTAGE DEAL NEWS.. Hamas representative in Lebanon Ahmed Abd al Hadi: “The negotiations for the deal this time are much more serious than any time before.  Hamas has shown great flexibility in order to resolve all issues.

Most of the issues were resolved while maintaining the principles presented by Hamas in the past, which are: a complete ceasefire, a full Israeli withdrawal, the return of displaced persons, and a prisoner exchange.”

(( In other words, no flexibility, no change in impossible conditions. ))

[sapphia]

The idea that the only way you can support a gaza ceasefire is by threatening to not vote for the democrats, and that every other form of political action is meaningless compared to voting, is another example of how American democracy (all democracies really, but America leads the pack) have convinced the public that voting is the most worthwhile political action you can take and the only true way of expressing your voice in politics. It’s the “ultimate action”, voting or not voting, and any political action you take outside of that is to facilitate better voting on poll day, not a valid political action in itself.

And that’s just not true. You can never vote in your life and have more political impact than someone who votes in every election. You can take one single political action that makes more impact anything you will do for the rest of your life. And that’s not to downplay the the small political actions you take, from liking a tweet to conversing with your coworker about a politician or policy, because these are the ingredients that make up the conversation of democracy. Thats why the right have invested so much in bot accounts. “Participating” in the conversation can be more effective than a person’s vote, for the right participant (or the right number of fake participants).

The negotiations are in their final stages, and are being held up by Israel, who won’t be moved faster by US politics or pressure from US politicians. The pressure needs to be maintained on Biden and the democrats, to see this through, to advocate for actual peace and not for a situation that will set this conflict to collide again in ten years time. But it doesn’t need to be ramped up at this point. There is very little, if not nothing, that democrats threatening not to vote for Kamala can realistically do, except convince people not to vote for Kamala.

So carry on doing that if you want, I guess. If you actually cared about Palestine you would probably be more concerned with the terms of the ceasefire, the rhetoric around that and how it leads to shape the solution that will be forced on the region in exchange for peace, and the aid and protections they will need to rebuild free from the tyranny of Israel.

But scuppering an election is a fun side project I guess. As long as you feel you’re doing something to help, that’s what’s important.