“And I say “we” here and not “you,” because when folks who are older than you try to tell you shit like “it’s up to your generation to solve these problems,” that’s just more abdication of responsibility.”
I love this so much - thank you for saying it!
It’s not like the fascists are going to look at my old ass and say “oh, well, she’s 52, we can’t possibly oppress her” and leave me be. Relying on the next generation to fix shit is a luxury we don’t have.
There’s a hard line to walk sometimes as An Old. On the one hand I want to help younger people not make the same mistakes we did, feel the same heartbreaks I did. On the other, clearly we didn’t actually solve capitalism/racism/misogyny/LGBTphobia/xenophobia in 1992 like all those Benetton ads implied, so who the fuck am I to be telling anybody anything?
It has somehow been a near decade since my own graduation, for which I didn't even attend the main ceremony and can't recall if we had anyone share inspiring words. I'll take this on instead ❤️
Oh my, that is some cussing. And so beautifully stated. Awhile back you wrote or said something about getting older. You mentioned the maiden, mother, crone thing, and how you had skipped the mother part. But that’s not true. What you’ve written here is what mothering looks like. It’s hard truth wrapped in love. I’m a white, cis-het boomer lady, and I feel mothered by you just about every time I read your words or listen to your podcasts. Mother Killjoy, I hope you do get to die in your own bed at the age of 97 surrounded by an army of lovers (and ex-lovers), and your dog.xo
Thank you for this article, which rightly puts its finger on the sore spot of the right wing's claim that empathy is an expression of weakness or cowardice.
During my research, I came across information about Willem Arondeus, which I have translated for you here:
"Instead of joining the Nazis' “Reich Chamber of Culture,” Willem Arondeus became a member of the resistance. From 1942 onwards, he was part of the editorial team behind the illegally distributed anti-fascist information sheet “Brandarisbrief.” Together with his good friend, the lesbian musician Frieda Belifante, the artist joined the resistance group “Groep 2000.”
Arondeus used his skills as an illustrator to produce false identity documents for the Jews of Amsterdam, enabling them to evade checks and deportation. The group produced thousands of forgeries. However, one danger in producing the false identity documents was that the Dutch registry office had a copy of every identity card. If an overzealous official—and the Nazis were known for their German thoroughness—took the trouble to check the data on the forged ID cards against the documents in the registry office, they would discover the forgery."
That is why, in March 1943, the group decided to blow up the building – and with it the names and addresses of all Jewish residents of Amsterdam. This would make it more difficult for the Nazis to carry out their persecution and conceal the existence of false identity documents.
The attack was meticulously planned: Koen Limperg, the building's architect, provided the resistance group with a detailed floor plan of the premises so that the anti-fascists could work out the best places to plant explosives. The group members organized weapons, which they hid in the basement of the gay and lesbian nightclub owned by lesbian bar owner Bet Van Beeren—Arondeus was by no means the only queer person actively involved in the Dutch resistance against the Nazis.
On the evening of March 27, 1943, nine resistance fighters dressed in German police uniforms gathered in front of the building to gain access to the office. The German occupying forces' guards were knocked out with a sleeping pill.
Despite intensive planning, only 15 percent of the index cards were destroyed in the bomb attack, but numerous anti-fascist firefighters did their best to soften or wash away numerous identity documents during the firefighting efforts.
Tragically, the attackers were betrayed to the Gestapo; on April 1, 1943, they were arrested and sentenced to death by a court-martial. Arondeus tried to exonerate his comrades by taking full responsibility for the attack. On July 1, 1943, Willem Arondeus was executed at the age of 48, along with twelve other resistance fighters. His last words were: “Let the world know that homosexuals are not cowards.”
Willem Arondeus was posthumously awarded the Dutch Resistance Cross in 1945 and named Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in 1986. His partner, Jan Tijssen, managed to survive the Nazi occupation.
Literature: „Resistance – The LGBTQ Fight against Fascism in WWII“ von Avery Cassell
It is heartwarming to read this, even as my rights are being stripped away from me here in the UK. I'm scared, for the first time in years. Don't know what to do. Stay safe everyone and look after yourselves and each other.
OMG, my alma mater! We had a 13 person GL(BT) alliance but definitely no lavender graduation back in the mid 90s; what i would have given for a speech like this! Still, I am not so surprised that WWC, of all places, chose you in '25. Thanks for the share.
You couldn't hear me applauding, but I was just now. This deserves a good reception because it is good. Very good. This is the kind of thing so many need to hear right now.
I may not be a 21 year old graduating from college but this moved me to tears over and over and is galvanizing - thank you, Margaret.
This is exactly what I needed today
“And I say “we” here and not “you,” because when folks who are older than you try to tell you shit like “it’s up to your generation to solve these problems,” that’s just more abdication of responsibility.”
I love this so much - thank you for saying it!
It’s not like the fascists are going to look at my old ass and say “oh, well, she’s 52, we can’t possibly oppress her” and leave me be. Relying on the next generation to fix shit is a luxury we don’t have.
There’s a hard line to walk sometimes as An Old. On the one hand I want to help younger people not make the same mistakes we did, feel the same heartbreaks I did. On the other, clearly we didn’t actually solve capitalism/racism/misogyny/LGBTphobia/xenophobia in 1992 like all those Benetton ads implied, so who the fuck am I to be telling anybody anything?
It has somehow been a near decade since my own graduation, for which I didn't even attend the main ceremony and can't recall if we had anyone share inspiring words. I'll take this on instead ❤️
Oh my, that is some cussing. And so beautifully stated. Awhile back you wrote or said something about getting older. You mentioned the maiden, mother, crone thing, and how you had skipped the mother part. But that’s not true. What you’ve written here is what mothering looks like. It’s hard truth wrapped in love. I’m a white, cis-het boomer lady, and I feel mothered by you just about every time I read your words or listen to your podcasts. Mother Killjoy, I hope you do get to die in your own bed at the age of 97 surrounded by an army of lovers (and ex-lovers), and your dog.xo
Oh man what a lucky group of kids, what a thoughtful and hopeful message.
Thank you for this article, which rightly puts its finger on the sore spot of the right wing's claim that empathy is an expression of weakness or cowardice.
I have translated the article back into German:
https://www.trueten.de/archives/13671-The-Kids-Are,-As-They-Say,-Alright.-Oder-An-die-Absolventen-des-Jahrgangs-2025.html
During my research, I came across information about Willem Arondeus, which I have translated for you here:
"Instead of joining the Nazis' “Reich Chamber of Culture,” Willem Arondeus became a member of the resistance. From 1942 onwards, he was part of the editorial team behind the illegally distributed anti-fascist information sheet “Brandarisbrief.” Together with his good friend, the lesbian musician Frieda Belifante, the artist joined the resistance group “Groep 2000.”
Arondeus used his skills as an illustrator to produce false identity documents for the Jews of Amsterdam, enabling them to evade checks and deportation. The group produced thousands of forgeries. However, one danger in producing the false identity documents was that the Dutch registry office had a copy of every identity card. If an overzealous official—and the Nazis were known for their German thoroughness—took the trouble to check the data on the forged ID cards against the documents in the registry office, they would discover the forgery."
Source: https://www.belltower.news/queerer-widerstand-willem-arondeus-118535/
That is why, in March 1943, the group decided to blow up the building – and with it the names and addresses of all Jewish residents of Amsterdam. This would make it more difficult for the Nazis to carry out their persecution and conceal the existence of false identity documents.
The attack was meticulously planned: Koen Limperg, the building's architect, provided the resistance group with a detailed floor plan of the premises so that the anti-fascists could work out the best places to plant explosives. The group members organized weapons, which they hid in the basement of the gay and lesbian nightclub owned by lesbian bar owner Bet Van Beeren—Arondeus was by no means the only queer person actively involved in the Dutch resistance against the Nazis.
On the evening of March 27, 1943, nine resistance fighters dressed in German police uniforms gathered in front of the building to gain access to the office. The German occupying forces' guards were knocked out with a sleeping pill.
Despite intensive planning, only 15 percent of the index cards were destroyed in the bomb attack, but numerous anti-fascist firefighters did their best to soften or wash away numerous identity documents during the firefighting efforts.
Tragically, the attackers were betrayed to the Gestapo; on April 1, 1943, they were arrested and sentenced to death by a court-martial. Arondeus tried to exonerate his comrades by taking full responsibility for the attack. On July 1, 1943, Willem Arondeus was executed at the age of 48, along with twelve other resistance fighters. His last words were: “Let the world know that homosexuals are not cowards.”
Willem Arondeus was posthumously awarded the Dutch Resistance Cross in 1945 and named Righteous Among the Nations by the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in 1986. His partner, Jan Tijssen, managed to survive the Nazi occupation.
Literature: „Resistance – The LGBTQ Fight against Fascism in WWII“ von Avery Cassell
“an army of ex-lovers cannot lose” is soooo good
I now feel proud to say, I bring many ex lovers, of many genders, to any battle I am involved in.
It is heartwarming to read this, even as my rights are being stripped away from me here in the UK. I'm scared, for the first time in years. Don't know what to do. Stay safe everyone and look after yourselves and each other.
I am so grateful for your voice! Thank you for being a beacon in the dark.
Thanks for bringing us along. What an inspiring speech that definitely brought out the waterworks over here! So, so good.
OMG, my alma mater! We had a 13 person GL(BT) alliance but definitely no lavender graduation back in the mid 90s; what i would have given for a speech like this! Still, I am not so surprised that WWC, of all places, chose you in '25. Thanks for the share.
You couldn't hear me applauding, but I was just now. This deserves a good reception because it is good. Very good. This is the kind of thing so many need to hear right now.
Asynchronous, international applause is a beautiful sound
hell yeah.
I'm so, so proud of you and your success and I'm so thrilled that they invited you to speak. ❤️