YOU have a say.

With the way things are going here, it might not feel like it - and it might feel (increasingly) scary to speak up - but, as long as we have ways (even just *one* way) to communicate, we still have a say.

Whether it’s a dollar or a megaphone or a soup can on a string, the people’s voice is still a voice.

Imagine one - imagine all.

Let this be the summer we speak in unison, and rise up for one another's life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.

We CAN do amazing things when we choose to see each other's humanity.

We CAN show up for ourselves and each other when we decide that all people born into this world deserve to live and live well.

We CAN recognize that "enough is enough," and that we will no longer accept harm toward our neighbors or ourselves.

We CAN link arms, and work together to lift us ALL out of these dark times.

We CAN build better. We CAN do and be better. We CAN help each other thrive.

One voice might not sound like much by itself, but it might be the one voice someone else needs to hear to free their own.

As Maya Angelou famously said, "Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud."

A rainbow is hope.

Your voice can be like a rainbow.

Your voice has power.

You have a say - use it well, please. 🥹

Happy 🌈Pride. 🏳️‍🌈💚🏳️‍⚧️

“Babysit.”

Good grief.

In the scenario, she explained to him that she’d have their son fed, changed, and taken care of before she’d be leaving for her appointment.

All he’d have to do is be there.

His response? “Fine, but then don’t ask me for anything else today, tomorrow, and the next.”

Even though it was a scenario, it had me seeing red because I’ve known so many other mothers in this type of situation.

Heck, to a very short extent, I’ve *been* one myself — and this kind of bs makes me glad that I’m a solo parent.

Imagine raising kids, working, taking care of household stuff, AND having to deal with *that type of partner* (or worse) on top of it.

Going it completely alone is not easy, but I’d pick this route ANY day over ever having to carry some other adult’s dead weight again - all while being made to feel so alone “in a relationship.”

I feel for parents who are stuck in situations like this.

Men — and, yes, I know this happens in *any* type of partnership with an infantile person, but I’m going to address cis-het men here, as this has been the most common scenario that I’ve observed:

If your partner is carrying your children, your household, AND you, then you need to do better.

Be a PARTNER — not a problem.

No, I don’t care if you “provide” — you’d have to do that anyway, whether you’re partnered or alone, so that is not an excuse.

If you’re not working as part of the team within your own household, then your partner is left to carry everything on their own.

If you’re behaving like a tyrant

in your household, then you don’t deserve to be there and need to leave.

Expecting to rule a roost you’ve put no effort into shows neither love nor respect for the person you call your partner — let alone any children your partner is raising.

What example are you setting for your children?

What example do you want to set?

Have these things even crossed your mind?

Dorothy Nolte once wrote that “children learn what they live.”

If children grow up seeing one parent exploited, mistreated, neglected, or abused in any other ways, then they are likely to repeat those cycles.

To let cycles of harm continue is irresponsible.

Parents aren’t perfect, but we have opportunities throughout each day to do better — to BE better.

One of the best decisions I ever made for my little family was to just go it alone, and I’d encourage anyone stuck in a bad situation to make a safety plan and do the same.

Healing is not linear — and it takes TIME — but I’d rather be healing us on my own than staying stuck in an ongoing cycle of wounds (from an abusive problem who, on the good days, called himself my partner).

Sometimes, (especially when I see triggering content), I think about that and cringe — and, typically, I write something to get the yuck out…..

…..and then I come back and resume the daily work of this gentle life I’ve been building. 🥹

I’ve heard this statement before — and not just once!

I’ve even asked “why do you think like this?” and the answer had more to do with the “looming threat of eternal hellfire” than any kind of *real* moral code.

In my lifetime, so far, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard this “not christian = immoral” type of statement — and it’s typically been used as an argument when the person saying it was trying to justify something absolutely heinous.

It’s almost comical, but it’s actually deeply disturbing.

It’s not “anti-christian” to point that out either — but this “administration” would surely have people believing otherwise.

From what I’ve observed, there’s no such thing as “anti-christian” rhetoric that does not somehow include “anti-fascist” thinking.

And WHY are those two things so………… culturally enmeshed in the United States?

The first example that popped into my head is all the pearl-clutching and victim-playing that occurred when a [certain coffee company] changed their holiday cups.

Suddenly, this corporation was deemed “too political” and they were accused of starting a “war on christmas” ……………over some cups.

Paper. Cups.

Holy smokes.

If saying “happy holidays” is considered “anti-christian,” then what about using Jesus’ name to block people’s access to medical care and gut safety-net programs?

Recently, (rather, increasingly), Mr. Chump and his christian-nationalist lemmings have made numerous statements about “anti-christian” ideology….. but here’s the thing — well, FIRST, we’ll acknowledge the first amendment — and here’s what I was about to say:

This “administration” doesn’t even follow the teachings of the religion that they claim to be part of.

Where RealJesus (ahem, *not* the white one with the megachurches and fake patriotism, but the REAL one) washed feet, cared for the sick, and fed the hungry, THESE predatory creeps do the exact opposite.

If RealJesus (again, *not* FakePatriotJesus) showed up in our country today, this predatory “administration” and its diehard, redhat followers would probably have him deported.

They’d likely call him a “radical left lunatic” and paint him as a “terrorist” — all while wearing big, shiny crucifixes (or, perhaps, erecting *yet another* megachurch with a gigantic, golden cross — draped in the American flag like spray cheese on a tasteless cracker).

For Christ’s sake, these christofascist pukes invoke Jesus’ name to somehow “justify” starving and bombing *even more* children.

They say “let us pray,” but what they mean is “let us prey.”

…..because children cannot start nor fight a war — and yet they are the ones who suffer the most when incompetent and entitled men CHOOSE war.

RealJesus *would never* — yet christofasism continues its crusade.

“War,” afterall, is a money machine.

Unbridled capitalism builds megachurches.

Megachurches indoctrinate the masses.

The cycles of abuse continue. 🥺

Anyway, someone asked whether children should be “raised in religion” or taught about *all* of them and be free to find their own paths.

In my opinion, it’s the latter.

Kids SHOULD be able to learn about all different kinds of belief systems.

Kids SHOULD be able to read whatever books they so choose and be safe to discuss things with their adults.

Kids SHOULD be respected as people (because they ARE people).

Kids SHOULD be raised in such a way where they know themselves well enough to think for themselves - AND to be able to spot manipulation (especially when it’s coming from a place like the government, for example).

But....... none of that type of child-rearing is conducive to christofascism and white supremacy. Those structures require mindless worker bees who generate profit — and who will "hate" and harm on command (even when they wind up harming themselves) …..and THAT is exactly why religious indoctrination exists.

It is control - and these patriarchal structures are *powerless* without it.

So, if saying that makes me “anti-christian,” then I’d like to remind you that Christ washed feet, healed the sick, and fed the hungry — all without a golden cross — AND, if that’s not “on brand” with what you’re used to being fed, then YOU have work to do. 🐣

Parents: please be mindful of the way we raise our kids.

I say “WE” because I truly believe that we’re all in this child-rearing experience TOGETHER, as all of our kids are part of the same globe.

We CAN raise kids who are kind, who know *real* right from wrong, and who are able to think and feel for themselves (because they’re safe to BE themselves).

What we teach them in kindergarten should not be lost by the time they reach adulthood.

As adults, I think we have an obligation to BE the model — and actively practice the kindness we preach — every day.

When we fail, we own up — and then we work to learn from our mistakes so we can do better.

All of our kids deserve to inherit a better, safer, and more loving world than….. this. 🥹

If you're a business, and you've trained your robot to do *whatever it takes* to avoid connecting your customers to your call center, then you shouldn't be surprised when your customers start going elsewhere.

When I’ve got a question, I don’t need an ai-monologue about the history of your company - I need an answer..... AND I want to know that there’s a human getting adequately paid for their time to answer it - especially when your prices have only gone up-up-up.

A decade or so ago, I remember the hard argument against workers being paid a living wage (which would’ve been $15/hr. in the US, back then) was that prices would go up.

Now, the job market is a nightmare because so many companies are exploiting ai and replacing workers - and yet prices continue to rise (even without chump-tariffs).

It’s all grotesque — and THEN I think about the environmental impact, and I want to cry.

We could be utilizing technology to clean up oceans and air but, alas, we've prioritized gatekeeping and generating "selfies."

What a bizarre reality this is.

Profits over people aside, I think the part that irks me the most is that the results (of the relentlessly frivolous use and abuse of these tools) are so.......... boring.

There’s no color - no frequency - no LIFE.

It’s just white noise and bullshit.

[[[[[ the audacity ]]]]]

Seriously.

We could be (iN mY oPiNiOn) doing so much more than…………. this.

These are some of my thoughts:

A lot of what’s happening with this “administration” mirrors my own experiences with domestic violence.

So, with that in mind, I can share what I’ve learned in the aftermath.

Firstly, I think we can almost all agree that we are living in chaotic and dark times… times where it is increasingly difficult to determine what the truth is.

“THE truth” is often spoken like there can be only one — and that, my loves, is false. Many things can be true at once. Especially in dark and chaotic times like these, misinformation is practically guaranteed… and, yet, it’s still a form of truth.

*A* truth is that chaos is a form of control.

Another truth is that we can rely on the patterns that have already presented themselves. These people in this “administration” have proven - time and again - to be deceitful, self-serving, and abusive. Seeing them as they have shown themselves, we have an idea of what to expect. We may not know the details, but we can absolutely anticipate bullshit and brace for harm.

Another truth is that, reading between the lines, the focus is being centered on said bullshit and harm for *at least* one reason. We may not know what all the reasons are - but we can reasonably infer that they’re likely not GOOD reasons.

Yet one more truth - or, perhaps, a series of truths - is that we all carry our OWN truths within ourselves. When disrupted - and chaos is very good at that - we might forget to listen.

We might question what we see or hear or otherwise perceive.

In most cases, I think it’s healthy to question — AND I also think it’s important to listen to ourselves (our “inner pings,” if you will). Listening doesn’t mean we have to automatically follow them or treat them as gospel - but they can be clues that *something* needs a better look.

In the footage (the non-ai footage — because that, apparently, needs to be specified 🐣 lol) it’s clear to me that what I saw is what I think I saw… for not only this but all of these so-called attempts.

Pattern recognition and what this “administration” has shown only further confirms this information.

Is it “truth?”

Is something a truth if it is perceived?

Is it more true when others are confirming that they are perceiving it, too?

A big “tell” (for me) was his smirk. I recognize that type of smirk from EVERY time my own abuser was about to unleash chaos.

Even if that would’ve been the only footage, it (coupled with his behavior patterns) is confirmation enough (to me).

I think the part that irks me the most about these “events” is this “administration’s” complete lack of consideration for the OTHER PEOPLE in the space.

The first time this bullshit was pulled, he killed somebody.

It’s not a surprise to me when a self-serving pos behaves like a self-serving pos - but I feel so angry and sad for the people who *weren’t in on the joke* and now have to live with this memory and/or loss.

Meanwhile, this “administration” — this clique of creeps who peaked in high school - continues to play in the people’s faces.

For reference, I am a US citizen and, for as long as I can remember, I’ve been “othered.” Regarding lifestyle, I can really only say for my country, as this is what I know, but my thinking also extends far beyond us.

Anyway, these are some of my thoughts:

The propaganda machine is (and has always been) strong in my country.

Adding to that, the indoctrination from for-profit religious organizations, and we have entire groups of people who seem to think their stupidity, bigotry, lack of empathy, and lack of critical thinking all equal “morals.”

Over my lifetime alone, I’ve noticed that these groups have obtained an increasingly-enormous megaphone.

There seems to be a very consistent lack of awareness, of both self and others. Tied in with my other observations, this lack makes sense to me.

How can one become self-aware when they’re programmed to prioritize the machine?

The MACHINE - the unbridled capitalism, the normalization of a “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, and the whopping doses of fear and shame surrounding a plethora of topics from “otherness” to human sexuality to "work ethic" — AND (I do love a big AND in my run-ons lol) "success," as a concept, is pushed/viewed through a merely material lens.

The results are a whole bunch of stuck people with their heads in the sand when it matters the most; who appear to be asleep at the wheel; who are working their precious time and energy away; who are literally paying in other ways to convince themselves/others of this façade of success….. and stepping on one another to feel better. In many ways, it falls in line with the "crabs in a bucket" concept.

I think, at our cores, most people (maybe even all people ) want something *real* - a truly good life, if you will - and we’ve been systematically conditioned to believe it is only something that can be purchased, and the people who truly benefit are the ones at the top.

In other words, it’s a trap.

As a neurodivergent person - who has *almost* always been outside the lines, and the target of bullying because of that - these have been painful observations to come to understand.

Once upon a time, I felt like I was defective. Now, I see more clearly that it’s a whole system. I didn’t fit because there is no part in the trap for someone like me.

The trap wasn’t built for me.

It is……………. freeing as f*ck and, simultaneously, something else… multiple, negative feelings at once (that I do not have an adequate word for at this moment).

If I somehow could, I’d raise us all up, and free us from the binds of systematic oppression.

I believe in my soul that we are all born “good enough” — that we are ALL (every person born into this world) worthy of a life we get to LIVE, not just “survive.”

I think, if our systems operated in ways that were actually conducive to life, then we’d likely (hopefully) be gentler with one another.

So, especially considering the machine we’re up against, how do we make that happen?

Pretty sure even birds understand consent 'cause there appears to be a pretty clear ritual each time (and nary a roofie to be found).

No, it's not "all" men - but, even if it's only ONE man, every other man should step up and hold him accountable because rape is wrong.

As a survivor, though, I already know:

"He's a good guy."

"What was she wearing?"

"What did you do to make him mad?"

"Why didn't you leave?"

"I thought you were smarter than that."

My immediate thought was "true matriarchal structuring, worldwide."

If we center all of our structures around raising the children born into this world in safety, and we focus on meeting needs with the resources we have (instead of focusing on profit), AND we make an infinite promise (to all of our children, each other, and ourselves) to continue the work, then everything else will begin to fall into place naturally..... and the world will both start and continue to get better.

From what I've learned in my studies, so far, both "child-centered" and "needs-based" thinking are primary focuses of matriarchal structuring.

Profit for the sake of profit wouldn't even factor in, if we weren't stuck in a predominantly patriarchal world.

We have all of these resources and technologies - shoot, all of these empty (grossly-overpriced) housing units are just ONE, small example of patriarchal waste. People - families with kids - could be housed (IF we wanted them to).

And I think we *should* want people to be housed..... and fed..... and safe, cared for, treated with dignity, etc.

Why would anyone argue against doing things that help support life?

The world is a mess, evil men are continuing to do evil things unchecked. We've gotta do our little jobby-jobs, take care of our corners, and keep going.........

With kids, there's this delicate balance.

On the one hand, they can (and should) have an understanding of history. They can (and should) have an awareness of current events - especially when knowing what's happening can help to keep them safe.

On the other hand, every child born into this world deserves to have a childhood that is free of adult burdens.

And that's where I get ANGRY.

Because, in this world - as it is, and as it's been - adults are allowing harm to continue and history to repeat.

In our home, I've been the shield. Sometimes - actually, often - I wish I could be the shield for the world, and just bounce all the predators out into space and very far away from everyone else.

I wish I could fix things. I know that "my way" isn't "the way," and that a lot of people probably wouldn't even think "my way" is *A* way, let alone the right one..... and that's okay. But these patterns - these cycles - that we collectively keep repeating (in various ways) keep proving (observably and LOUDLY) to be unsustainable and increasingly detrimental to our existence as a whole.

What happens in one place impacts everyone else - even if it doesn't seem like it.

We're part of a globe. This is why (imo) borders are imaginary lines, as everyone on said globe has basic needs that must be met..... and yet, there are children being actively - intentionally - harmed.

The word "leadership" comes to mind.

To me, a real "leader" is someone who looks out for the people they serve - especially the most vulnerable.

Otherwise, what's the point?

So, if we are going to participate in "leadership titles," then the very least we can do is hold those who are claiming said roles accountable at every turn. If they aren't "leading" to serve, then they should be relieved of their duties - DONE.

Will we do this? Idfk. I hope so. 🐣

Capitalism is *a* way, but not the *only* way, and certainly not the "best" way.

We ALL deserve to have our basic needs met, simply because we exist.

All children born into this world deserve to have a good childhood and a sustainable future.

Poverty is not a moral failing.

Housing, food, healthcare, clean air, and clean water are necessities - not commodities for profit.

We can utilize our resources, skills, and time for good.

We CAN build a better world.