#y’all want a commune but you can’t even bring yourself to vote in a way that will SAVE PEOPLE’S LIVES

[hamletthedane]

y’all want a commune but you can’t even handle one (1) voting block lmao

[popwasabi]

“The Matrix Reloaded” deserves a re-watch in 2020

Here’s a burning hot take for, y’all; “The Matrix Reloaded” is not bad actually!

In fact, it’s more than not bad, it’s actually pretty good and perhaps a bit misunderstood by the fans.

Now, I’m not here to tell you it’s the best Matrix film. That honor will remain always and forever with the first movie, as it remains not just one of the best action films of all-time but one of the best science fiction films ever, period. It’s a classic and simply one of my all-time favorite films.

(Not to mention turned me into a Rage Against The Machine fan.)

But somehow, over the course of my lifetime, you know what movie I have watched exponentially more than “The Matrix?” The fucking “Matrix Reloaded!”

I used to think maybe it was an ironic infatuation. To a certain extent, I think it still is, as its overly indulgent action, bad lines at times, cringey new characters, and over the top moments can make it about as comical as many so bad it’s good movies. But growing up time can change perceptions, sometimes for the better, and can help you see things in new ways that you didn’t before and “The Matrix Reloaded,” especially this year, was one of them for me.

(My plans vs 2020)

I could defend the much controversial sequel by going in on its ambitious action film-making (the car chase is still my all-time favorite in any movie), pulse-pounding score, or its eye-popping cinematography that, honestly, holds up even to today’s standards but I think these are all things that even the film’s detractors generally agree on. 

No, I’m going to defend this film by talking about its most controversial scene: The Architect room.

I can hear the groans already and I don’t blame you. I found this scene preposterous and mightily confusing when I first saw it.

“The One is actually a part of the Machines’ system?? WTF!?”

(I remember having a similar feeling after playing Mass Effect 3...)

To be fair, its set up is a bit muddled, given the clunky script and pacing issues of the movie but when you start thinking about the message more deeply, given current events, and its relation to the real world it hits about as hard and fits as neatly as the first film’s more positive message.

The first Matrix film has a pretty dark setup, obviously. Neo finds out that he’s a part of gigantic computer program meant to create the illusion of free will for humanity while they are quite literally eaten for power by the Machines like cattle. Of course, Neo discovers he’s more than just another human connected to The Matrix but a prophesized messiah who has the ability to combat the system beyond its considerable control. By the end of the film he fulfills his destiny by becoming The One and beginning a new revolution against the Machines that control the human race.

(And looking fucking cool and totally 90s while doing it!)

It’s a pretty positive and uplifting story when you really break it down. It shows the viewer the lengths at which power tries to maintain its control and the Machines are a worthy avatar for this metaphor, but it also shows that power can be fought against when someone begins to empower themselves. When Neo says he will “show you a world where anything is possible” at the end its an earned moment of catharsis for not just him but the audience as well. We begin to start to believe in hope and beating the system too.

“The Matrix Reloaded” however goes several steps further showing that power can maintain its control in far more nefarious ways. Throughout the film Neo is told about the illusion of control and choice by characters like The Oracle and the, admittedly cringey, Merovingian. It feels strange at first because Neo is supposedly someone who is above the system but you can tell there is sense of jadedness, with some optimism of course, when The Oracle explains his role in saving Zion, like someone who has seen someone try to do this before, and The Merovingian simply mocks him for being another in a long line of “predecessors” who is completely “out of control.”

But then Neo finally does get to the Architect after being led there by The Key Maker and it’s here he learns his true nature; that he is the sixth in a long line of previous “Ones” in the Matrix and a part of The Machine’s control. He is less a prophet and more just another cog in the machine meant to lead humanity in one direction over and over again in order to create an illusion of free will for the resistance, the same way The Matrix does its human cattle.

Neo was a part of their plan and had been from the start.

(In case y’all need a refresher...)

There were tons of fans, including myself at one point, who couldn’t square with this strange narrative turn. Like Morpheus at the end of the film, there was refusal to believe it. It seemingly rewrote how one could view the first film and Neo’s role in it.

It changed the way a lot of people could see the positivity of the first film and understandably that could, and did, make a lot of people upset. Neo wasn’t sent to save humanity; he was there to keep them in line. It was like saying “actually Emperor Palpatine always wanted Luke Skywalker to blow up the Death Star.”

(I mean he does say this a lot though...)

But “The Matrix” was always about the lengths at which power works to maintain its control over the masses and “Reloaded” asks how can a corrupt and evil system be a part of the solution? How can it be reformed?

It can’t.

Way back in 2008, I cast my first vote as an eligible American for Barack Obama for president. Like many millennials at the time I found his mantra of “hope and change” sincere and uplifting and I truly felt the country was going to take a turn for the better the night he was inaugurated. For a moment it really did feel like things would be different after eight years of Bush.

Fast forward to 2011 however, and things changed dramatically for myself when I found out about the drones.

I’m aware of the fact that in leadership positions hard choices are made but after spending the previous decade vociferously calling out the Bush Administration for what they did in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars this was a truly rude awakening for me. Combine this with finding out about him continuing Bush era tax cuts, re-upping the Patriot Act, the mass deportations, the major corporate donors, his mishandling of Flint, and The Standing Rock Crisis it became clear Obama was just as much a part of the machine as Bush was.

(Also, no matter how much you hate Trump, DO NOT participate in the the gas-lighting of this man’s record...) 

Now, I can already hear the pitchforks picking up and I’m not here to tell you that the Obama presidency didn’t have its moments or that it was worse than what we have now BUT this does not excuse what would be considered awful behavior by liberals under any conservative president.

Each Democratic presidency or nomination I’ve seen in my lifetime, from Clinton to Obama, has always touted themselves as a chance to “fix America” and bring “hope and change” to a largely corrupt system. But neither of these presidencies really changed much of what the previous conservative administrations did, in fact in some ways they got worse. Minimum wage hasn’t risen in over a decade, we still have the world’s largest prison population by far, the wealth gap has only INCREASED regardless of who held the White House, and need I remind some of you Black Lives Matter started under the Obama administration.

At some point the problem goes beyond just conservative stonewalling and political impasse. You can’t blame everything on Mitch McConnell (though a lot of it can too, admittedly). The system is behaving exactly as its supposed to because corrupt people hold power.

(They’re not laughing with you, they are laughing AT you...)

The extremely cynical Biden-Harris ticket we got going right now is being pitched, more or less, the same way as a "fight to fix everything terrible” that Trump has done. Look, I’m not going to tell you Trump hasn’t been terrible because that should be obvious to EVERYONE at this point, but when you have Wall Street goons actively cheering the announcement of the Democratic party nomination, a DNC that is running more conservative speakers in its first day than Latinx across the entire event, you have to wonder to yourself if they are really “The One.”

(A reminder that “Never Trump” Republicans are not your friends either...)

Again, I’m not saying things can’t be “better” right now under a Democratic White House or that some communities would benefit greatly from a change in leadership BUT the bar is FUCKING LOW and the truth of the matter is people WILL be hurt under the next administration regardless of who it is and framing it as “privileged” to think otherwise is actually quite privileged itself.

There are people who can’t wait for medicare for all. There are people who can’t wait for sentencing and prison reform. There are people who cannot survive another wave of US imperialism overseas.

We are being guided to the same predetermined destination that The Architect gives Neo and its what makes all this so aggravating for many.

“The Matrix Reloaded” shows Neo that he is simply another system of control for the afflicted masses but what makes the final moments of the film important is that he chooses to stop playing its game. When The Architect gives him the choice of the door that guarantees the “salvation” of the human race but in bonded servitude to the Machines and the door to make the supposed “selfish” decision to save Trinity from death but doom humanity to extinction, he does this fully expecting Neo to make the same choice every other One did before him did.

But Neo doesn’t, he goes through the door to save Trinity and for a chance to destroy the system in another way. Neo decides to break the cycle even if it might have catastrophic consequences. He challenges The Architect on whether he would be willing to allow Neo any chance at any other outcome and calls his bluff. It’s what makes him a hero and in a strange way gives “Reloaded” a positive ending as well.

(And again, just looking cool as hell while doing it.)

Now, with the way the next movie ends you could make the argument that the cycle continues and this theme gets contradicted but I would argue it’s a bit more ambiguous than that and with the fourth film supposedly on its way in the coming years there is a chance for a more conclusive and satisfying ending. This write-up is strictly arguing the message of the second film anyways.

What a viewer should get on further review of “The Matrix Reloaded” is that corrupt systems have more insidious ways of maintaining control than we may be able to accept. Wall Street goons wouldn’t allow a consistent formidable opposition party to run against them every year, it’s why they are deep in both red AND blue pockets. It’s why campaign financing is out of control. It’s why ultimately both wings of our government are pro-surveillance, pro-big money donors, pro-US exceptionalism/imperialism and the only real difference comes down to mostly minor minutia between the two to maintain their illusion of choice.

In the end to a certain extent, I still believe in the system, given that I donate money and support various leftist causes, progressive primary challenges, and reelections around the country in hopes they run a real left wing someday. However, each year, and frankly each month at the rate we’re going, I’ve grown more cynical about it. At best it is incremental change and at worst its ultimately empty power against the larger juggernaut of corrupt politics throughout our government.

(Me desperately trying to avoid the relentless bullshit of this year.)

“Reloaded” deposits that in order to break the cycle you have to make a choice not accounted for by the system. That in order to truly change anything, as silly and as obvious as it sounds, you have to do something different. Voting for people who better represent your beliefs much more fully and refusing to vote for ones who don’t is one way but as I stated in my “Black Sails” write-up the more active third option should never be off the table.

Changing the world shouldn’t come down to a false binary choice like the ones the Machines gave Neo at the end of “Reloaded.” And while, for the record, I’m not necessarily against people making the lesser of two evils choice again, people need to stop ignoring the ways in which corruption keeps its power and start having honest looks at those who call themselves “The One” who will make things right.

If this entire year hasn’t convinced you of that yet, I don’t know what will and the sooner we understand this the sooner we can start a real “revolution” in this country’s cynical politics.

Until then The Machines will continue to win...

*Me getting away from the liberal bullshit that will likely be tossed at me over this*

[eerythingisshaka]

Wakanda Got Y’all Pt. 2

[Black Panther x Insecure Mashup]

Word Count: 2.7K

Part 1

Issa stands in front of the mirror.  Her hair still fresh and moisturized, skin glowing, outfit popping (as much as it can for business).  She takes a deep breath to commence her final touches.

Listen here, sweetie, ain’t nobody got time for this.

You either gonna be down, or you can walk, sis.

Bald head, bad ass bitches don’t phase me.

They don’t know nothin bout this Westside, we brazy!

Don’t be expecting no rose petals for ya feet.

Soothe your sole with this heat and hard ass concrete.

But once this meeting done, don’t run off, thinkin we through.

I’m tryna see, daddy, what the fuck up with you?

Call me Hogwarts Express, cuz I need 9 ¾

Your cousin too, my pussy been on Hoarders.

“Issa!!  If you don’t bring your ass on!”  Molly calls out from the living room.  Issa snaps out of her rap, cursing under her breath.

“Shit, why you so damn loud!”  Issa takes out her lippie stick, applying a subtle nude color to her lips.

“Bitch, I heard your whole damn concert in there. ��Quit wastin’ time.   This baddie turns back into a potato with a quickness.”  Molly polishes off her pregame drink and digs through her purse for her compact.

“Aight, granny.   How I look?”  Issa does a spin.  Navy blazer, hip hugging pencil skirt, with a white crop top that covers her midsection just enough.

Molly leans back, giving a look of surprised approval.  “Mk!  I see you!  Perfect business to play outfit.  Cuz that blazer can come off, roll that crop top up a little, and pull that skirt down a touch, and you clubbin!”

Issa sticks her hip out, pointing to Molly, “You know it, bitch!  Aight, let me pour a drink and we can be out.”

Molly looks at her phone, waving Issa down, “Uh uh, we ain’t got the time, come on.  Kellie waiting for us.”

“Wait, what?  Why is Kellie there?”  Issa asks.

“She down there for happy hour with her co-workers, so she glad we can water down the whiteness around her.”  Molly says as she opens the front door.

Making their way to the bar, Issa gets a text from Frieda.  “Ok, Molly, I’ll see you in a bit.  Frieda already has a table with the guys.”

Molly nods, “Ok.  I’ll hang with Kellie then you just give me the cue for me to stumble on y’all with the ‘Oh my God!  I didn’t know you’d be here!’ shit.”  She says with the emphasis of a hair flip.

Issa sucks her teeth, “Girl calm yourself down.  I got you.”  

Issa sees Frieda with T’Challa and Erik, waving excitedly, “Hey Issa!  You made it!”  

T’Challa stands up, still wearing his trademark long coats with embellishments.  “Thank you for coming.  You look lovely.”

Issa smiles a little too goofily, “No, you look really great.  They have a coat check, you know where we came in at?”

Erik laughs into his drink, “I told yo ass you overdressed.  Wassup Is?”  He leans back, flashing his golds, chain gleaming.

Issa sits down.  “I didn’t mean it like that, I just-”

T’Challa waves his hands, “You don’t have to apologize.  I know you meant well.  I have not caught up with American fashion outside of jeans and hoodies yet.”

Erik chimes in, “And you just askin for a stop and frisk with that one, cuz.”

“We actually had a talk on police involvement with minorities in the community.”  Frieda says smiling.

Erik turns to her glaring, “And how’d that work out for ya?”

Frieda smirks tucking a hair behind her ear, “I say it went pretty good.  The dialogue got a little rowdy but I feel like the police chief really heard our concerns and-”

“‘Our’?  Oh, they your concerns too, Farrah?”  Erik asks.  T’Challa places a hand on Erik’s shoulder to signal him to ease up.

Issa continues to clean up Frieda’s words, “She means the concerns of We Got Y’all as a program that helps minorities in a majority of the time.  And though the talk was thought provoking and engaging, it still has yet to be seen where police reform has begun.  A kid just got arrested last week.  A guy got shot before that and was charged for assaulting the officer when his camera so happened to be off; and the cop was never charged.  So…”

Erik nods, waving down a bartender.  “That’s real.  Whatchu drinkin, need to lighten your mood up.”

T’Challa looks at Erik sideways, “Issa is talking about things that you never stop talking about.  What is the problem with that?”

“Listen, are we trying to promote police reform or teach these kids to read and give em some food?  Like, we hella left right now.”  Erik says tossing his toothpick.

Frieda nods, “Erik is right.  That is why I brought some samples of our programs brochures listing our services to keep us on track and you all can add or ask about what is there!”  The waiter comes over to get a drink orders for the table.

Over at the bar Molly is sipping, waiting for Kellie to break from her crowd and join her.

“Can I get beer please, whatever is on tap is fine.”  A deep voice orders beside her.

Molly looks up and sees a tall, thick, chocolate shake towering at the bar.   She looks away, eyes bucking with excitement as she smooths her hair and sits up a little straighter and turning her body towards him a little and accidentally bumping his leg.

“Oh, sorry about that.”  Molly looks at him expectantly.

He looks down at his leg and back at Molly, “It’s alright.  No harm done.”

Molly twists in her seat smirking, “None at all.  No harm in hearing that voice speak again either.”

He nods looking smug, “Ahh, you are good, I see you.”

Molly offers a hand, “Good to be seen.  I’m Molly.”

“I am M’Baku.”  His hand envelopes hers completely.  

She shivers at the thought of them gripping her up but keeps it cute.  “Ohhh, you are M’Baku!  My friend Issa is supposed to be meeting two guys here for work.  They mentioned you.”

M’Baku’s beer arrives and he sits down.  “Right.  I was drug along to just experience some of the town more than for business.  Though I support T’Challa’s cause.”

Molly nods to seem intrigued, “Yeah, of course.  And Issa is lucky to be working with an international monarch such as himself to help the community here.  It’s crazy.”

M’Baku chuckles to himself.  “A monarch, like he is the only one.”

Molly furrows her brow.  “Well, he is King of, what is it, Wakanda right?”

M’Baku sips his drink breathing deeply in thought.  “Technically yes.  It just takes some getting used to since he is so new to it.  He has a lot to learn, and I think I have something to do with that.”

“Are you one of his secondhand men?  I don’t know what you would call it, but you help him?”  Molly plays with her drink.

M’Baku clears his throat, putting more bass in his tone, “Second to no one,I lead my own people and represent them in order for Wakanda to keep some humanity within itself for its diverse tribal set.  It can get lost on them that we are not all the same, thinking the same.”

Molly warms up to M’Baku’s critical thinking, “That is a good point.  Wow, you are so-”

“GIRL!  Those white folks would NOT let me GO!  Being the only Black always makes you the life of the party and shit I’m tired.”

Molly looks to her other side to see Kellie ordering from the bartender.  “They wear you out, Kels?”

“Somehow I am more tired from boredom than I ever been having fun.  What gives with that?” Kellie’s drink comes through and she downs it.  M’Baku sits up, leaning to look over at Kellie.  “How are you this evening, Miss?”

Molly clears her throat, “Oh, Kellie, this is M’Baku.  He is one of Issa’s work associates colleagues.”

Kellie pauses giving M’Baku the once over, “Where you from, sounding like the leader of a free world I want to move to?”

M’Baku flashes a smile bigger than Molly has seen yet. “I am from Wakanda.  Have you heard of it?”

Kellie screws her face up shaking her head, “Mm-mm.  I ain’t ready for the Motherland yet.  I can’t handle them many marriage proposals at once.  I know y’all like ya women plump to pump.”

Molly’s eyes widen as she turns to Kellie embarrassed.  “Kellie??  What the fuck.  Stop throwing around stereotypes like that!”  Molly turns to apologize to MBaku but he is gone.  Looking back to Kellie, she sees he is next to her now.

“Stereotypes aside, you are not far from the truth with me, umhle.”  M’Baku takes Kellie’s hand, eyes smoldering as he kisses it.

Kellie clutches her pearls turning to Molly, “See what the hell I’m talking about?  These curves are catnip!  Ugh, my curse, but oh well!  M’Baku, was it?  Do you have a social standing where you are from?”

M’Baku stands a little taller with pride, “I am leader of the Jabari tribe.  Wakanda’s fiercest warrior, unmatched.”

Kellie grabs her purse, “Ok, Baku, come on.  Let’s walk and talk about this a little bit.  Molly, it’s been fun.  This cat bout to try and get stuck up a tree.”

Molly sits there. Mouth agape, “Kellie!  You not really-”

Kellie looks back at her, arm hooked with M’Baku’s who is looking down at her with admiration, “I can, and I will until this trunk is demolished.  M’Baku, you don’t mind a little forestry on your women, right?”

As they walk out, Molly is at the bar alone yet again as she orders another drink.  This broken pussy phase just won’t leave her.

Issa looks back at the bar to see Molly chilling by herself and gets concerned.  The meeting with everyone is looking like it’s about done.

Frieda collects her brochures satisfied.  “We covered quite a bit today.  Thanks T’Challa for the budgeting advice and Erik we will consider some of your program ideas.  I’ll try my best for the gun range trip but I can’t make any promises.”

Erik shrugs, “As long as it’s you talking to another you, I can’t see how it’ll fail.  Just don’t say it was my idea and you got this Felicity.”

Frieda smiles, “It’s Frieda but thank you for the vote of confidence.  Issa I’m going to call it a night, are you all sticking around or….”

Issa looks to them and to Molly, “Yeah, we probably won’t be long but I think we’ll be here.”

Frieda says her goodbyes leaving Issa with T’Challa and Erik.  T’Challa looks at her with warmth, stirred by the alcohol, whereas Erik is sitting back wide legged just waiting for an opportunity.

“Hey um, Erik, can you get order me something from the bar?  I haven’t seen a waiter in forever.”  Issa asks trying to get alone time with T’Challa.

Erik plays with another toothpick in his mouth, “You got legs don’t you?”

Seeing his smirk, Issa busts an eye roll.  T’Challa says, “And people think I am the heathen for where I am from.   I could get it for you, if you would like?”  As T’Challa goes to stand, Issa puts a hand on T’Challa’s, shook by her own actions, “No!  Uhhh.  It’s fine.”  As T’Challa sits back Issa texts Molly the SOS to come through.  Molly comes over and sits with a depressed plop.  “Hey, y’all.”

Erik takes notice of Molly.  “Who are you?  This ya girl, Is?  Steppin out on me?”

Issa clicks her tongue, “I’m not gay, Erik.  This is Molly, my best friend.  What’s wrong with you, girl?”

Molly shrugs, “I thought I had something to lockdown with one of they little friends.”  Molly waves her hand lazily toward T’Challa and Erik.  “But Kellie swooped in on him.”

T’Challa looked at Molly incredulously.  “M’Baku came out of his shell that fast, eh?”

Molly snaps her fingers, “Soon as she sat down he was enraptured.”

Erik looks at Molly, leaning back and to the side to check her out under the table. “I understand the feelin.  I never introduced myself, I’m Erik.”  

Molly takes his hand hesitantly, “Nice to meet you.  So, y’all cousins but don’t sound like you all from the same area.”

Erik shakes his head slowly, “Nah we ain’t, princess.”

Molly leans over to Issa, “Princess?  He forget my name already?”

T’Challa cuts in, “That is just his signature name for girls he is interested in.  It usually just annoys them at first mention.”  He says while side-eyeing Erik.  “Whereas I can actually make someone a Princess, so it is much more appealing.”  T’Challa takes his drink looking at Issa, who looks away nervously at the implication.

Erik sucks his teeth, “Aight, enough with that royal bullshit.  I just know what a future Queen looks like when I see one.  Respectable and shit, what you do for a living?”

Molly wags a finger, “Nah nigga, list your credentials first.”

Erik sits up chin pointed toward Molly, “Aight then.  Naval Academy grad, double majoring in Physics and Mechanical Engineering. Special Ops in the Navy, taking a break from that though now.”

All Molly heard was ‘engineer’ and benefits.  “You know what, as a lawyer, it couldn’t hurt for you to have my number in case of anything.”  She digs out her business card, writing her cell on the back of it.

Erik takes it, kissing it. “Got you.  Never know.”

T’Challa turns to Issa, “Can I walk you out?  Unless you were staying, I’m about to head out.”

Issa shakes her head emphatically, “No!  Not at all.  Molly’s my ride though so….”  Issa looks to Molly.  Molly give Issa a look pointing her head at Erik.  Issa looks at the card she gave Erik and a stern look.  Molly  rolls her eyes getting up.  “Uhhh yeah, long day at the office tomorrow so…”

Erik comes around to her side of the table as she stands up.  “Ain’t nothin wrong with work hard.  Builds character...and a sweat.”

Molly gets a full view of Eriks physique and height and has to fight back a Joker smile.  “You know that’s what I am known for; my stamina.  No matter how big the job, I don’t give up until it is done!”

T’Challa looks between Erik and Molly confused.  Issa takes notice.  “All right!  Hard workers in the house, woooo!  Let’s go!”

Walking outside, the group makes it to the car; Erik and Molly on the driver’s side, Issa and T’Challa on the other.

“So, let me thank you once again for taking on this task with me.  I feel less like a fish out of water with you here.”  T’Challa says sincerely.

Issa looks at her feet, “No problem!  You guys are giving me fresh ideas and of course the funding is mad important so it couldn’t grow without input!”

T’Challa smiles, the apples of his cheeks pooping out so definitively.  Issa can’t help but smile back.  “Until next time Miss Issa.”  T’Challa holds out his hand shaking hers and holding it firmly.  Issa feels electric with his hand in hers as they look at each other, not sure how to move on.

“Aye!  Y’all done, let’s go!”  Erik is walking down the parking lot as he yells for T’Challa.  

Breaking the trance T’Challa waves goodbye to Issa and Molly.

Issa gets in the car, where Molly airs out her thoughts.  “Now you never said, they were that damn fine.”

Issa shrugs trying to sound cool.  “What am I supposed to say?  I don’t need a workplace harassment claim on my hands.”

Molly smiles shaking her head as she peels out the lot, “I still can’t believe Kellie swooped in on guy like that.  I thought we were connecting!  But Erik cool too.  He seem a little headstrong but-”

“Long as that HEAD strong, you good, right?  That’s what you were gonna say?”

Molly looks at her stone faced.  “And I did just start a new vitamin regimen to boost my levels.  I’m just missing one…”

“HE WANNA GIVE ME THAT VITAMIN D!”  they say in unison.

Part 3

RagTag

@hbicprettyprincess @kimianostalgia @afraiddreamingandloving @chaneajoyyy @myfavemarvelfanfics

Other Works

King Kil’mawalls  

T’akia

Some Weeks Are Better Than Others

Commencement Day

Song of Stevens

The Coffee Prince

N’Jadaka’s Helpful Hands

If I Could Do It All Again

#SundaySweat

[quakerjoe]

A Cuppa Joe for 3 January 2019

 Regarding Patriotism

 Patriotism. What the fuck IS that exactly? I used to think it stemmed from the nation’s actual motto “E Pluribus Unum” meaning “From Many, One” where we all stand together, united, as one people, Americans, and look out for one another. That was a hard delusion to wake up from. While such a thing is possible if we so desire it, it isn’t going to happen evidently. Seriously, think about this for a moment. Who do you see the most out here going on about “patriotism” today? Angry white dudes. I don’t see African Americans out there blowing the “Look at me, asshole! I’m a PATRIOT!” horns loudly, nor anyone from the LGBTQ community or from any minority such as our Islamic/Arabic neighbors who came here to get away from all the radical, violent religious bullshit and just want to pray in peace. Angry. White. Dudes. All pining for a “Christian Nation” while acting exactly the opposite to the teachings of Christ. They clean their guns and play circle-jerk warrior in the woods with their limp-dick friends because they’re too much of a sad sack to actually JOIN the military and SERVE. THAT would be Patriotism.

Then again, is serving in the military really being patriotic anymore? I was proud when I served, but looking back on it, WHO was I really serving? Was I truly protecting the US from some threat? Not really. We’re on the other side of the planet, far away from any direct threat. Two massive oceans divide us from any other military that may want to harm us. Then again, WHY would any other military even WANT to harm us? Could it have something to do with the way this nation invades other nations to topple their elected governments and establish banana republics in order to get what “we” want from them? By “we”, I of course don’t mean that you or I give a shit what the price of bananas is. Oil, on the other hand… We all care about oil prices because we’re constantly being blocked from developing and using green power sources so that the rich twats in Big Fossil Fuels can get even richer. They spend thousands on buying elected officials here who band together and pass a tax break law that gives those rich twats savings in the millions and even billions.

But do Central and South American nations have a mobile force to invade us? Fuck no. What about Persian nations that we and other European nations carved up for oil field access, ignoring the territories if Sunni and Shiite, creating nations that have all sort of in-fighting between the two peoples? That’s on us, kids. Still, they don’t have a military worth a damn that can cross the oceans and get to us. So is being over THERE being “patriotic” and really defending our freedom? Fuck no. So WHO are we serving? Rich. White. Dudes. Period. Are THEY “patriotic”? They bribe the government to use military force in nations that they want something from, like oil, or poppy fields for Big Pharma, and they USE us as cheap mercenaries; cannon fodder to secure their FINANCIAL interests, and the thanks veterans get when they get home is shit wages, their families on some sort of financial assistance, and when they need medical or mental health, we practically ignore them and then wonder why the suicide rate for returning vets is so high. Fewer mouths for Uncle Sam to feed, right? Meanwhile, the rich, white dudes don’t ever have to look at them or deal with them and even though the blood is on their hands from war, they weren’t the ones sent in to do the killing. THEY don’t have to deal with the consequences; they just cash in and get rich. No guilt. No empathy. No PTSD. Nada. Just loads of cash. Meanwhile, we use up our munitions and equipment and keep the War Machine and major contractors super-financed in contracts that aren’t bid for anymore. That doesn’t sound at all patriotic to me, but there’s something you need to understand.

YOU are not a person, you’re a component. You’re something to exploit and rob. When people in government today see “We the People” they automatically see that as “We the Rich Fuckers” and the rest of us are the plebes; the livestock that generates money for them and we don’t matter to them. If we did, we’d have had free healthcare coverage and education decades ago, and it’d also be the best on the planet and there’d be a sense of pride in being an American from the richest down to the poorest because we’d be at our healthiest and our smartest. Instead, we revel in our arrogance, our ignorance, and our stupidity. We roll in a puddle of hubris and it seems that most “patriots” don’t even know what that word means. THAT, dear Joes, is the new definition of “patriotism” among the ‘plebe class’, and just like in days of Olde, when the Constitution was first drafted, “People” meant the wealthy class who owned land and property and were the only ones who voted. They got the good food, the good medicine, and the good education while you got little to none of any of it and you’d have been working since the day you could walk and talk at the same time until the day you dropped dead. That’s what MAGA is all about, only trumplefuckstick’s supporters are poor, stupid fucks who must believe that they’re really millionaires who are temporarily inconvenienced at the moment and that they’ll be rich soon with 45 at the helm.

Their idea of “patriotism” is to literally shit on everyone here that isn’t of their ilk- ignorant-as-fuck white, cist-gendered, white, “Christian” MEN or their brainwashed, sidekick women who dine on hate as well. They’re praying for the End of Days one moment, while hoping that just before that happens they get an opportunity to hunt down and murder Obama or HRC or just go on an all-out “nigger hunt” or a chance to do-in the “towelheads” living here. They’re praying for a chance to slaughter anyone LGBTQ because the bible calls them an abomination to be destroyed. They give me the impression that they watch “The Handmaiden’s Tale” and jerk off to it because using women as breeding stock and enslaving them and killing the “uppity ones” is a dirty, wet dream of theirs, and they call it “patriotic”.

So someone out there, please remind me what it truly means to be a Patriot of the United  States of America. As far as I can see, we went from aspirations towards “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country” to “I got mine; fuck the rest of y’all! Bootstraps, fucker! Pull yourself up or just die ‘cause I’m not going to help you. I had to work hard to get what I’ve got. Get a job!” Instead of looking UP at the rich and powerful shitting on us, too many of us are looking down at those less fortunate than those wielding the “White Privilege” card and blaming the POOR for all their woes as they look down their noses at them and continue to let the shit roll downhill instead of reaching down to help someone up. It’s a disgrace. It’s the OPPOSITE of being patriotic. It’s the COMPLETE OPPOSITE of what I was taught it meant to be an actual Christian and frankly, the level of hypocrisy from the religious people here is sickening, insulting, and fucking INSANE. 

I tire of so-called “Christians” showing up here telling me that they’re not ALL bad. Well, they ARE. If you’re watching evil transpire before you and you do NOTHING, you’re guilty of that evil too, and frankly I am still waiting for some sort of allied Christian movement to get together enough to call out the ‘false prophets’ getting rich in this country and getting behind, en masse, to see to it we get Universal Healthcare for ALL, a bolstered safety net program that includes “food stamps”, the promotion of medicines and science because if there is a god, we were blessed with senses that should be trying to study how He/She/It made the universe and how to make the world a healthier, safer place of PEACE, not a nation with a bloated military budget that can’t even pass muster when audited while people here in our own country are going hungry and homeless because “fuck you, you peasant, that’s why”. If your idea of being a “Christian” is ignoring the bible and praying at home, in private and you insist on going to a tax have to pray (yes, church) then you’d better be DOING something to fight against the evils sweeping the nation and against the tenants of Jesus. Evangelicals, or Talibangelists as I call them, are on the move. Where the fuck are YOU? Yeah, hanging around your community trying to do “good deeds” is sweet and all, but wouldn’t it fight hunger and poverty MORE, in line with Christ’s teachings, if you got off your ass and rallied AGAINST the Talibangelists and called them out on their bullshit? Where’s your presence in the REAL clear and present danger here? Where is YOUR voice when it comes to defeating the false prophets we’ve been warned repeatedly about?

>Matthew 7:15 clearly states “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are raving wolves.” Perhaps you “Christians” should STOP ELECTING THEM! Forwarding and backing known pedophiles and sex offenders doesn’t sound too Christian OR patriotic to me.

>Matthew 24:11 Jesus says “and many false prophets will appear and lead many astray.” Sounds like the brainless twats on FOX and trumplefuckstick lying to the masses who slop back the shit like it is gravy and not the feces that it is.

>Matthew 24:24 says “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

>Second Peter 2:1-3 “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” 

>First John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” So forgive my skepticism of all you alleged “Christians”, but I’ll believe in you when you SHOW me that you’re not all talk and no ACTION. 

> Jeremiah 23:16 Tell me this one doesn’t apply to suckers who vote GOP and Corporate Democrat as well as those fuckwits who go to mega-churches to throw away their money and their souls: “This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.” 

> Ezekiel 13:9 “My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord God.” We have truly FAILED as a nation at this one, kids. So quit with all the religious preaching on my page. If you haven’t sold all you own and have given it all to the poor, then I’m not going to take you seriously. (Matthew 19:21 and Luke 18:22). 

From what my parents and grandparents taught me, part of being a Patriot was to confront evil and help those in need, and honestly, I’m not seeing it from the “Christian” community, only their hubris and vanity and a defensive sense of pride compounded with an extremist element here that uses the Bible as license to commit all manner of atrocities against their fellow countrymen/women etc. even though we were WARNED about this sort of fuckery- “because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money” (Titus 1:11) AND “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Timothy 6:5).

If you haven’t noticed, we are HERE: 

> 2nd Tim 4:3-4 “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” So let’s just pull this sanctimonious bus off to the side of the pretentiousness highway and cut the shit with your religious ramblings and let’s focus on saving the world and figuring out what it truly means to be “patriotic”, shall we? We SHOULD be looking out for one another REGARDLESS of religious beliefs.

Having said all that, Dear Joes, tell me this- how do YOU define “Patriotism” today?