I haven't read this yet but I'm just so so so happy to hear what you in particular have to say. I've been waiting to hear from *you* so thank you so much, I figured on a much longer wait because holy shit what the fuck. Thank you.
Okay, I'm not even gonna finish yet because I just realized near me middle school near a church is about to let out and I have chalk. You're damn right. I'm gonna go show some loud love to them baby queers, if only even one.
Oh fuck yeah that was so good, and I'm reminded of a quote I hold dear: if it’s inaccessible to the poor it’s neither radical nor revolutionary. - Jonathan Herrera
I extend that to everywhere I think someone is being blocked by another on purpose. Nah, we don't need to do that shit anymore. A lot of mages don't agree but I believe the only barrier should be respect (like with appropriation.)
And with that I'll finally quit talking but I'm gonna share the fuck out of this. Ope, lied a smidgen: One of the best freaks that I ever knew who helped me down my current path was a woman named Katix (not Katie, -icks, so cool) who said it was important to be a good freak ambassador when I can. She taught me that a smile is surprisingly disarming more often than you'd think. She also had a cocks' comb haircut that she would spike so tall she had to take the moon roof out of her neon green mid-80's Volkswagen rabbit. I was very lucky to imprint (with?) her. Her smile made a whole room change without people even seeing it and that shit is how we win. Radical love. I've helped so many people be more authentic and the thing is: love is authentic and innate, bigotry is man-made. So we can ditch it with a fuck ton of work.
Margaret, you are a beacon, an example, and a comfort. My partner and I briefly met you at the Ann Arbor book tour stop and we were delighted by your humor, humanity, and art. Thank you for the reminders in this piece, which we will be sure to share with our communities.
I'm so sorry. Your words really do help with that feeling of helplessness, watching from across the other side of the world where we've no control but will feel the effects of this also. They also help with two other political scenarios in NZ & Aus last year where my heart absolutely broke twice on the same day.
Also...I've also been fangirling your podcasts for ages! I've learnt so much and there I've of the most favourite parts of my week. Needed to wait till I was in a spot to contribute! Thank you 🌷 (I don't know if you reply usually but don't need to, save the emotional energy for the creative research things) Appreciate your work very much!
Re: Deescalate all conflict that isn't with the enemy -
I think this is nice-sounding advice that's impossible to fully put into practice the same way that "believe survivors" is: How do we decide who the enemy is?
Some people would say it's just the ruling class but that would leave us defenseless against the red flags of people like Gazi Kodzo. Someone is dead in part because people e.g. re-interpreted Kodzo's viral attacks on Anne Frank as a more-reasonable criticism around how Holocaust remembrance has been co-opted under white supremacy. They probably thought they were de-escalating conflict between people who were on the same side but actually they were lending legitimacy to a burgeoning cult leader.
But if we dismissed everyone with any sign of authoritarianism as "the enemy", that category could potentially include every statist plus those charismatic anarchists with dominating personalities, leaving us with no one but at best our small cliques of personal friends (and whose friend groups don't even include anyone problematic?). There's inherent ambiguity and plenty of room for disagreement (and conflict!) in identifying who is and isn't "the enemy".
Not every conflict involves at least one party perceiving the other as being aligned with the enemy or being a new enemy (such as a cult leader or a revolutionary who wants to become the next authoritarian), but I think the majority probably do to some extent or another. We might *disagree* with that perception and step in to de-escalate the conflict based on that evaluation, but we could end up being the ones who are mistaken (as many an organizer who tried collaborating with PSL or negotiating with the local mayor or police department has independently discovered). And given that we're all products of the society we're trying to destroy, and all to some extent dependent on it for survival, we're probably all at least a little bit "the enemy", or have the potential to enact that. I think this is an essential part of the fabric of social struggle that we can't wish away with a simple formula.
Are you familiar with the concept of engaging in principled struggle? That’s how I like to assess my allies. I think it captures a lot of what you’re describing here. adrienne marie brown wrote a pretty cool book about it if you’re feeling curious.
I appreciate you so much. When things feel heavy, your words bring some lightness.
I haven't read this yet but I'm just so so so happy to hear what you in particular have to say. I've been waiting to hear from *you* so thank you so much, I figured on a much longer wait because holy shit what the fuck. Thank you.
Okay, I'm not even gonna finish yet because I just realized near me middle school near a church is about to let out and I have chalk. You're damn right. I'm gonna go show some loud love to them baby queers, if only even one.
Thank you so much.
Oh fuck yeah that was so good, and I'm reminded of a quote I hold dear: if it’s inaccessible to the poor it’s neither radical nor revolutionary. - Jonathan Herrera
I extend that to everywhere I think someone is being blocked by another on purpose. Nah, we don't need to do that shit anymore. A lot of mages don't agree but I believe the only barrier should be respect (like with appropriation.)
And with that I'll finally quit talking but I'm gonna share the fuck out of this. Ope, lied a smidgen: One of the best freaks that I ever knew who helped me down my current path was a woman named Katix (not Katie, -icks, so cool) who said it was important to be a good freak ambassador when I can. She taught me that a smile is surprisingly disarming more often than you'd think. She also had a cocks' comb haircut that she would spike so tall she had to take the moon roof out of her neon green mid-80's Volkswagen rabbit. I was very lucky to imprint (with?) her. Her smile made a whole room change without people even seeing it and that shit is how we win. Radical love. I've helped so many people be more authentic and the thing is: love is authentic and innate, bigotry is man-made. So we can ditch it with a fuck ton of work.
Margaret, you are a beacon, an example, and a comfort. My partner and I briefly met you at the Ann Arbor book tour stop and we were delighted by your humor, humanity, and art. Thank you for the reminders in this piece, which we will be sure to share with our communities.
I'm so sorry. Your words really do help with that feeling of helplessness, watching from across the other side of the world where we've no control but will feel the effects of this also. They also help with two other political scenarios in NZ & Aus last year where my heart absolutely broke twice on the same day.
Also...I've also been fangirling your podcasts for ages! I've learnt so much and there I've of the most favourite parts of my week. Needed to wait till I was in a spot to contribute! Thank you 🌷 (I don't know if you reply usually but don't need to, save the emotional energy for the creative research things) Appreciate your work very much!
Ohh there's no edit button, I made predictive typos whoops
This offered me a lot today. Thank you.
Re: Deescalate all conflict that isn't with the enemy -
I think this is nice-sounding advice that's impossible to fully put into practice the same way that "believe survivors" is: How do we decide who the enemy is?
Some people would say it's just the ruling class but that would leave us defenseless against the red flags of people like Gazi Kodzo. Someone is dead in part because people e.g. re-interpreted Kodzo's viral attacks on Anne Frank as a more-reasonable criticism around how Holocaust remembrance has been co-opted under white supremacy. They probably thought they were de-escalating conflict between people who were on the same side but actually they were lending legitimacy to a burgeoning cult leader.
But if we dismissed everyone with any sign of authoritarianism as "the enemy", that category could potentially include every statist plus those charismatic anarchists with dominating personalities, leaving us with no one but at best our small cliques of personal friends (and whose friend groups don't even include anyone problematic?). There's inherent ambiguity and plenty of room for disagreement (and conflict!) in identifying who is and isn't "the enemy".
Not every conflict involves at least one party perceiving the other as being aligned with the enemy or being a new enemy (such as a cult leader or a revolutionary who wants to become the next authoritarian), but I think the majority probably do to some extent or another. We might *disagree* with that perception and step in to de-escalate the conflict based on that evaluation, but we could end up being the ones who are mistaken (as many an organizer who tried collaborating with PSL or negotiating with the local mayor or police department has independently discovered). And given that we're all products of the society we're trying to destroy, and all to some extent dependent on it for survival, we're probably all at least a little bit "the enemy", or have the potential to enact that. I think this is an essential part of the fabric of social struggle that we can't wish away with a simple formula.
Are you familiar with the concept of engaging in principled struggle? That’s how I like to assess my allies. I think it captures a lot of what you’re describing here. adrienne marie brown wrote a pretty cool book about it if you’re feeling curious.
Thanks, Magpie. Needed this today.