#And forgive people who don't deserve forgiveness | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

biconickyoshi · 3 days

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Hi! The Zukaang prophecy dream person here. What you said about a lot of people not even considering Aang and Zuko as a ship made me think. Following that thought, I fell down a rabbit hole that turned into something a lot deeper than just shipping discourse. I'm not a professional psychologist or anything, but I hope some of my insight on this topic is interesting. I apologise in advance for so many words to read!

As a kid I remember being very clueless about romance. I never really interpreted Aang's affection towards Katara as romantic at all, and I honestly have no idea why, since they literally kissed on screen multiple times. So that's why, for years, I remember trying to find a ship that I would like, yet nothing seemed to click just right. That is until the Avatar Renaissance of 2020 when a lot of new people joined the fandom, and a flood of new discussions arose, way different than it used to be years ago. It made me realize that the core of the issue lies in Aang himself. At least that's my own theory, feel free to disagree. A lot of popular avatar ships include everyone from the main cast, but rarely ever Aang himself, apart from the canon Kataang. In all aspects, Aang is an unconventional protagonist, one unheard of at the time. He is a monk, he is a pacifist, he is a vegetarian. For an average kid or teenager in 2005, I don't think much of these aspects are too relatable. We were and still are used to seeing agressive, determined teenage protagonists, ready to beat up the bad guy at any opportunity. That's what was considered "cool". So a bald 12 year old boy with an arrow on his head who grew up in a temple, surrounded by monks, who avoids hurting people, even those who wiped out his entire nation, is simply foreign. You often hear arguments against Kataang: he is too young for her, she sees him as a little brother, they simply don't fit. Those are all false statements, as rewatching the show without bias you can clearly see them love each other deeply and mutually. Aang is a child, but he is a person too, someone with his own values and principles, and so is Katara. To me, both of them are deserving of love, Aang is deserving of Katara's love.

I am now going to talk about the genocide of the air nomads, as I think I can provide a unique perspective on this. I am Ukrainian. The russian invasion of my country has been going for 10 years now, but two years ago specifically my whole world turned upside down when russia launched a full scale invasion, intending to conquer all of Ukraine. A lot of my beliefs of how the world worked changed drastically. Seeing myself from years ago in people from around the world, not yet knowing war, I think this is something you have to experience yourself to truly understand what it means for another nation to want yours erased from existence. Aang's entire nation is gone. Everyone. No one is alive, not a single person. I don't think many people truly let that sink in. He has to keep going every day with the knowledge that the world he is in doesn't have a place for his nation anymore. He has nowhere to go and no one to come to. He has the gaang, and that's wonderful, but it's not the same. He is the only person in the entire world who truly bears this pain. To me, imagining that for myself, is an indescribable horror. To imagine having no place to come back to, living among strangers who know nothing of you and your people. Yes, he has the temples that preseve history, but how much of them has been destroyed? Even the people at the Northern air temple, although fleeing a disaster, still contributed to the destruction and loss of that history.

Yet, bearing this unimaginative hurt, Aang is able to forgive. He is able to make peace with his loss, and let go of his feelings of rage. He wants to see good in the Fire nation people. And through that, he is the only one who can truly see Zuko as he is. Having let go of anger and hurt, he can see the genuine wish Zuko has for atoning for his family's sins. He can literally see through him, all his feelings and thoughts, like no one else. He holds no grudge, no hatered for him. If you ever have a war, genocide unleashed on your country, you would know how impossible it is to forgive. Yet, Aang, as the avatar, has no choice but to do just that, to let go. I think that alone makes Aang one of the strongest people in the avatar universe.

But how is this relevant to the Aang ships being dismissed? Circling back, to me, this is a matter of understanding. People resonate with Katara for her experience as a younger sister, thrown into the role of a mother figure, for her experience as a teenage girl in a sexist world, someone with a desire to become stronger despite being denied that opportunity, be it by the circumstances or by someone stronger than her deeming her "unworthy". People resonate with Sokka for his struggle to become a reliable leader, for his insecurity being the only one without a special "talent" (aka bending). Toph for her sheltered upbringing and parents that are unwilling to see her as more than just her disability. Zuko for his struggle with his identity, his own values versus those forced upon him, an abusive household, repressed emotions and anger, being a sibling of someone way more naturally talented, coming to terms with the hurt he has caused and atoning for it. But what can people find in Aang that resonates with them? All of what Aang is, is grand and bigger than yourself. I relate to Aang as someone whose nation is being subjected to genocide, but is that a common experience? I'm sure that nowadays a lot more people came to appreciate Aang's character more, but as a child in the 2000s, would you really say you saw yourself in Aang as much as you saw yourself in Sokka, Katara, Toph or Zuko?

In conclusion, my theory is that, because of how unique Aang has been written, that prevents people from seeing him as someone they could imagine in a relationship with someone else. After all, how can you write about someone you don't share many life experiences with? How do you write them in love? How do you make someone so different from you come to life?

Anyway, thanks a lot for reading all of my brain vomit. Avatar is truly a goldmine for character analysis and study. Would really love to hear what you think!

I absolutely loved reading your analysis on Aang's character, anon. I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've brought up here. I think it's so true that many people (whether they're conscious of it or not) view Aang through a certain lens due to how unconventional of a protagonist and person he is. To many, he's not "supposed" to be the one who "gets the girl". He's not your stereotypical handsome/buff/rugged teenage boy protagonist; he's small, kind, goofy, and pacifistic. And I think in general that people find it difficult to wrap their heads around a male character like Aang not conforming to Western and/or patriarchal society's expectations/conventions when it comes to behavior and overall physical appearance. I think this also results in a lot of people unconsciously infantilizing Aang and having a hard time viewing him in a shippable way.

It's also interesting that you brought up Aang's almost "otherness" when it comes to the world he finds himself in when he awakens from the iceberg - he is the last one of his kind in a world where nobody remembers his people. He's from a culture that is vastly different from the ones that remain in the world. His philosophy, mannerisms, gender expression, appearance, etc. are all completely unique, not only canonically in the post-genocide AtLA world, but in our world as well, especially in the West.

The fact that despite everything Aang has been through, despite all the atrocities he has witnessed, he still is able to remain true to himself at his core through to the very end is so moving to me. Aang will always be my favorite character all time simply because of who he is. Even as a kid, I loved him so much - I never had a crush on Zuko or Sokka, it was always Aang. He represented not only the type of person I would want to be, but also the type of person I would want to be with. And sure, he's not perfect, but that's another one of the many things I love about him - he's human, he makes mistakes.

I feel like I could say more, but you already wrote so much good stuff in your analysis, and I'm not sure if there's much I could add haha.

Also, thank you for sharing your perspective as someone who lives in Ukraine - I can't imagine how difficult it must be to be dealing with all of Russia's BS the past decade, and especially recently. I sincerely hope you're staying safe and healthy! <3

#asks #zukaang #atla #atla meta #zuko #aang #the gaang #avatar the last airbender #aanglove

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house-of-mirrors · 3 days

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There's been a trend in media and analysis with like... idk a villain does a lot of wrong to you and kills a lot of people but YOU become the villain if you kill them...

Which simply isn't always the strongest narrative choice.

A revenge protagonist killing the villain they're seeking is a morally neutral act.

Real world moral arguments don't apply because it's a story. "Being the better person and walking away from revenge" "if you kill a killer, the number of killers in the world stays the same" these are not the only viable or satisfying endings to revenge stories. In fact, they're becoming overdone and unsatisfying, at least to me. (But maybe I watched too much of the CW's Flash lol)

I want more stories like the Princess Bride where Inigo Montoya kills the man who killed his father and then is completely fine and rides off into the sunset, happily ever after.

The correct ending to a revenge story is whatever is most fitting for the main character and the story's theme.

If Hamlet hadn't tried to kill Claudius and instead just ran off to college with his friends, would he have been happier? Yeah. But the story wouldn't have endured as a classic for 400 years!

And... also these messages kinda bother me as someone who grew up with school rules like "if a bully hits you and you hit back in self defense, you get in an equal amount of trouble" or like... with politics how you're expected to just smile at people who hate you for existing and say "all opinions are valid," and if you ever lose your cool you're "stooping to their level." There's this overemphasis rooted in cultural Christianity that you must forgive people, even if they don't deserve forgiveness, and if you don't forgive then you're a bad person too... And how characters in revenge stories can act as symbols for this ideology.

I don't know if this is a full *thing* with how culture and media affect each other (movies like John Wick remain popular, after all), but it is something I've been thinking about lately.

Do not misunderstand me, I'm not saying we should have MORE murder, not necessarily in fiction and certainly not in real life! Deciding whether or not to take a life is almost always a weighty decision for a character and a source of conflict. Just... a character doesn't automatically become a villain for killing someone ok bye

#yeah I'm still thinking about that video about the making of ambition nemesis #where they said the player becomes the villain of a murder mystery #like bro what lmao #ask to tag #death

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multifandombullshitbabes · 2 days

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Random Merlin Rewatch: Where a random number generator gives me a season and an episode from BBC Merlin; and then I comment on it as I go.

Today's episode: Season 1 Episode 6 - A Remedy to Cure all Ills

Before I start, let me just say, I'm really happy I'm getting to rewatch the earlier seasons. Of course the next random episode might be literally season 5 or something, but it's great that it hasn't happened yet.

Let's fucking start bitches

Not the wiggly evil fingers just a few seconds in.

Damn boy you got some dirty ass nails, wash your hands.

MORGWEN MY BELOVEDS!!!! Also the way Gwen looked at Morgana after she asked who'd she want the flowers to be from. Girl looked ready to risk it ALL, let me put a screenshot actually.

OUGHHHH the brainrot is real with these two

LIKE??????? GWEN'S THIRSTY (me too)

Alright girls, enough yearning please

Ugh, I hate the little sound the bug made when it dropped from the flower. Butthole clenched in digust.

Oh thank god they DON'T show it literally entering her ear. That would've been so gross.

LETS GO INTROOOOOO

Oh Gwen looks BEAUTIFUL in that yellow color. It does everything for her!!

"She's all but dead, Merlin." JESUS FUCKING CHRIST GAIUS

Most suspicious ruse of all time. "Oh, i have a cure for all ills. And also I know the king's ward is very sick. But anyways, I'll be at the inn :)." Bitch.

"But I'm not worried." me when I lie. Merlin is so bad at lying, jesus fuck

Merlin sits down to stop pacing. Arthur gets up and starts pacing. Two sides of the same coin or whatever.

Underrated Arthur shirt is the purplish one he wears in the scene where he begs Uther n Gaius to hear the strange man out. That color looks good on him. It might be his red shirt but in a weird lighting?? I can't be sure.

I really like when Gaius gets to talk all medical considering how limited the medicine world was at the time. It's really really cool, I love seeing this insight into what was possibly like to be a physician at the time. I don't of this happens much in the show.

Arthur really is so trusting when it comes to his loved ones. Of course he's not at fault, like he said what do they have to lose at this point, honestly I've done the same. It's just. Heartbreaking to notice that trait knowing what comes next.

"Science is knowledge." Merlin is such a nerd, I love him.

Oh, not Gaius and Edwin having a lying competition over here. There's a better term for it, but whatever.

Gwen is SO FUCKING GORGEOUS but girl please that's a fucking sorcerer, go AWAY be SAFE. She's so smart though. Immediately knew something was off. He tries to be all "She may die :(." to get her to be worried and not suspicious, but it literally doesn't work. She leaves the room but not because she thinks he's got Morgana's best interests at heart. She knows something is wrong. She also knows she holds no power. And on the chance that he is right and Morgana dies, she'd never forgive herself.

The fucking lying back and forth between Gaius and Edwin. Like. From the outside, it sounds like a perfectly normal convo. But they both know it isn't. And WE know it isn't 'cause we know Edwin's full of shit.

Interesting how Arthur isn't seated but Uther and Morgana are.

Who the fuck knocks on someone's door, doesn't hear an answer, and then just let's themselves in?? I'm sorry, if you're a stranger, I'm not doing that. The fuck's wrong with you Merlin, you nosy boy??

It is so sickening that these villains of the week have views that we can agree with. Yes, magic is a gift and can be a force for good, you're right! But it's because of Uther and his oppression that they turn bitter and ruthless and vindictive. And yes, you do have to eliminate those who are like Uther because they will only propagate the same corrupted and repressive beliefs. The problem, the layers, is that some of those people are actually very much capable of understanding the very fundamental logic that "Sorcerers deserve too live in freedom" but they're so filled with fear and propaganda of the contrary that it's so hard to get out of it. And that's why, if they killed Uther with magic, Arthur would hate magic even more (just like it happens in canon), which would then just repeat the cycle, etc etc. You need to uproot the system, but killing everybody is not the answer; but also having to teach such a fundamental thing, that certain humans deserve basic rights, is such a painful thing to teach, and the oppressed does not have the obligation to do so. But then the cycle just repeats and repeats and it's SHIT. Anyways.

It's so funny that in season 1 they hadn't figured out the cgi for the golden eyes so they just. simply don't show it.

The things Edwin say are like. Well-meaning. But there's just this off vibe that the most intelligent characters (Gaius, Gwen, Merlin) can just. pick up. And even though Merlin really likes what Edwin is saying, there's just something telling him... it's wrong.

Uther, of course, would never even believe anyone would just lie so blatantly and manipulate him like this because he thinks himself very intelligent; which is why he's falling for everythinggg that Edwin says. But, credit where credit's due, Edwin is an excellent liar.

Gaius wears the most cunty ring on his pinky finger, hello?

I want that ring bro.

Oop, not Gaius having his cowardice and betrayal shoved right in his face. I get it, you wanted safety. But there's consequences to your actions. And I know Gaius feels so guilty about all his friends that died at the stake while he remained safe and sound.

If Gaius would've left in this episode, replaced by Edwin, I bet Morgana would've felt so guilty. In her mind, her illness is what caused him to leave. Gaius truly was there for Morgana and Arthur in ways Uther simply could not.

OOP Gaius and Kilgarrah meeting!!!!!!!! I forgot this happened lmao

Gaius got a little taste of how infuriating the dragon is.

Wait, Gaius was employed for Arthur's birth? That's so interesting. He probably already lived in Camelot but he's been a court physician for 20 years. He was already quite old by then.

It's the way that Gaius is just. Ready to throw his whole life away to make sure Merlin is safe and sound. That's his fucking son, bro!!!

What the actual fuck, they're gonna make me cry :(((( Gaius called Merlin a blessing and his son, I can't.

THEY CAN'T DO THIS TO MEEEEEEE IM GONNA CRY

Gwen is so iconic, speak the fucking truth girl.

THAT ICONIC GWEN LINE YESSSSSSSSSS QUEENNNN

Not Gaius with his lil blanket and lil fire. He looks so smol, it's so funny.

Edwin could've waited a lil bit before going all murder on Uther. That just looks suspicious as fuck ngl.

GAIUS GETTING BLOWN BACK SHOULD'NT BE SO FUNNY BUT--

I wonder how Arthur knew that his father was ill. It means he went into his room, but why? Did he have some feeling about Edwin? About Gaius leaving? Was it some courtly concern? I'm assuming no one else would have the privilege of seeing Uther at night except for his son and ward so.

Yes, Merlin, just stare at the floating axe that's being controlled by the evil sorcerer right in front of you, you're so smart. Also the slow-mo is so goofy.

It's interesting that they shot both Merlin and Edwin's eyes up-close when they did magic, Merlin to do the golden eye effect, but for Edwin it seems that his pupils just change size. I wonder if not all sorcerers have their eyes glow, if it depends on the magic. Edwin is using dark magic, could it be that? That's interesting, imo. Dark magic equals no golden eyes. Kinda fun.

Violent ass death for Edwin, damn. Axe to head, bitchass

Oh it must be so weird for Merlin to be touching Uther like that. Like that's intimate as shit.

So cuteeee Gaius calling Merlin a genius, they're adorable. He's so proud. That was a feat, though, just pure improv and luck. Merlin is still a noob at controlled magic so this was really damn good.

Love that it's so canon that Gaius potions taste like fucking ASS. Uther's face, lmao.

Interesting that Uther asked if Gaius remembered his friends that burned at the pyre, and Gaius answers "All of them." and Uther doesn't even comment. As bonkers as it sounds, they truly are friends in some capacities. I wonder if Gaius could make Uther change his mind. Not Morgana or Arthur, but Gaius. But he made the choice to abandon magic, Uther presumed because Gaius understood its dangers, but if he were to find out that actually Gaius doesn't agree, I wonder what Uther would think about that. Like a genuine and open convo about it. I think he'd just arrest Gaius for it, but I don't know. I think there's at least some reality where he gives it some more thought. But I don't know if he'd ever repel the ban, more because he'd have to admit that he was wrong, and admitting you're wrong is also accepting and processing all the shit you did for that wrong thing, and I just think Uther is too cowardly to do so. He knows it would break his mind to truly process all the pain and horror he's caused; so no matter his inner philosophies, he'll never repel the ban, because the damage has been done, and he'd rather live like that than start anew in the new reality where he's wrong.

"In the fight against magic, you are the one person I can trust." yet again. Gaius going against this? Uther can't fathom it. He's so confident that Gaius is 100% on his side.

Arthur smiling at Gaius, awww.

Two pretty bestfriends. No wonder half the kingdom wants to fuck them both. Also what the fuck is a "freeman"??? Genuinely, what is it??

And that is it. Loved it, of course.

#bbc merlin #merlin #guinevere #arthur pendragon #morgana pendragon #gaius #uther pendragon #hey look i posted a thing #Merlin Random Rewatch #lots of interesting thoughts abt gaius n uther #lots of gwen i feel like #not a lot of arthur in this ep he has like. two scenes with a few lines of dialogue and thats it

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atomicc · 1 year

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Hold on

#I'm going to keep freaking out on my tumblr blog because it's mine and I do what the hell I want with it #I hate that like. I hate that. That. Like.#I hate that the things about myself that I love are also things about myself that I hate #Does this make sense #I love that I'm full of wonder or whatever and love for things and get so excited and happy to talk about them #And that I know alot about things most people don't #But I hate that I just. Talk at length about things people just don't care about #And over explain things and just talk and talk and talk #And never catch myself until it's too late #And no one responds because it's fucking useless information they have no interest in #I love that I draw and draw and draw #And draw for me and myself and I #But I hate that I draw so much and it's so catered to my interests that no one give a shit!!#I love that I'm sensitive and able to connect with people and understand them #But I hate that I'm constantly hurt and upset about other people hurting #And forgive people who don't deserve forgiveness #I love my autism I hate my autism #I hate my anxiety and depression #I hate my psychosis and ptsd and whatever stupid shit else I have #I hate that I think almost everyone finds me really annoying and unbearable #But I'm so glad and thankful for the people I know don't #I hate that no one listens to me #But I'm thankful for the people who do or at least try #It's so much #I'm so tired #It's been two lifetimes of this #Of being this. This THING. that very few people genuinely understand and want around #Being so alien to everyone and everything #Hardly ever finding connections that won't use or abuse me #Not knowing if I'm a good person or worth spending time around

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healing-is-cool · 1 year

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You don't have to forgive them to move on.

#i know this isn't very positive but there are people who don't deserve forgiveness #mental health #self love #recovery #self care #healing

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theaceace · 29 days

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imagining a world in which Simon agreed to go with Edwin and try to escape hell, imagining Simon developing an immediate and very inadvisable crush on the cute guy that just threw a grenade at a demon and Edwin's reaction to that, imagining the reaction of Charles Overprotective Rowland when he finds out that the guy Edwin insists on dragging along with them is one of the guys that sacrificed him to a demon in the first place, imagining the Night Nurse's face when three dead boys pop back through the door instead of two

#dead boy detectives #charles rowland #edwin payne #This is very much not what I would have wanted to see in the show because that episode was perfect to me #But I do think it would have been funny #And hey if you wanted to go the angst route and follow sandman comic lore of 'people stay in hell because they believe they should be there #Then you could have Edwin who has come to terms with who he is and Simon who is starting to forgive himself thanks to Edwin #Getting out of Hell just fine while they're being chased #And Charles 'im scared I'll end up like my dad' Rowland. Charles 'i could never be good enough' Rowland. Charles 'rage issues' Rowland #Who doesn't think he deserves to get out. Even if the thought is deep down and buried #Edwin's reaction to that would be. Woof. Yikes. Delicious #Don't get me wrong Charles would absolutely not stay in hell because I love him too much for that #And so does Death and you absolutely cannot change my mind about that there's no way she doesn't know about the boys #So yeah he'd get out fairly quickly #But just. The potential. The pain. Chef's kiss

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starrynightkyoru · 6 months

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Society if Tohru was allowed to set healthy boundaries for herself

#Tohru Honda #Tohru Honda deserves better #I love her compassion for others but #She should be allowed to stand up for herself more #Instead of giving endless kindness to people who don't deserve it #Her character helps others to grow and change and that's great #But its gross that she is forced to be loving and forgiving to people who literally tried to murder her #Fruits basket #Fruits basket critical

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anon-unofficial · 8 months

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hey so. um. i was told that lmk didn't have any pain. and. haha. haha. haHa...what the f

#🅰️non talks #lego monkie kid #*glares at ceres* I TRUSTED YOU #/silly #gOOOOOOOOD MK YOU SILLY TRAUMATIZED BOY #HUGGING YOU AND SQUISHING YOU AND CODDLING YOU IN MY HEAD AS I AM TYPING THIS #(i also hope that there is more to it where that came from cuz im on s2ep9 rn and i want to really DWELL on the sadness and angst potential #(cuz from what i'm seeing in the main earlier episodes (I AM NOT COMPLAINING WHATSOEVER I DO KNOW THAT THIS IS STILL A KID'S SHOW))#(forgiveness is very easy to come by in the main cast)#(i wanna explore trying to give them more negative aspects like holding grudges (either visible or invisible) and showing remnants of ptsd #from earlier encounters)#(just idk man I HAVE AN OBSESSION WITH GIVING EVERYTHING JUST A PINCH OF REALISM OK???? angst is my lifeblood you all should know that /lh)#edit: ok i just reread their response to my ask and turns out i accidentally left out the part where they told me there IS pain #oh #ahem #ahem...#edit2: I AM AN IDIOT. I FORGOT TO SEPARATE THIS EARLIER BUT PTSD IS **NOT** A NEGATIVE ASPECT AND I AM SO SORRY FOR MAKING IT OUT TO BE ONE #PTSD IS VALID AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE PTSD DESERVE TO FEEL SAFE AND HAPPY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES #FUCK YOU IF YOU DON'T THINK THE SAME OK BYE

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greylight32 · 8 months

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I took the, "which Kiddad are you?" quiz, and I got Lark Oak-Garcia.... And I don't know how I feel about it.

#dndads #dungeons and daddies #dndaddies #lark oak #I took a test and it really read me like a book #a fucking children's book in fact #and I don't know how to feel #because like #I love hate this man #All I want for him is to be happy #and to be healthy and in a loving relationship with someone who is head over heels for him #but at the same time all I want is his pain #and to hate himself #for things he couldn't really control and things that he could #and never forgive himself for them even when the people he loves tell him it's alright #because how the fuck could they know whats wrong when he's the one who fucked up #and for him to think he doesn't deserve love because of everything he's ever done #and I'm trying to figure out if that says something about my relationship with myself or not

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powerfulkicks · 3 months

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lately i've seen that post going around with the comic of a lesbian couple waking each other up where someone replies with a screenshot of another comic trying to claim op is homophobic. this was because the comment featured talk about asexuals and this comment was made in the height of the ace discourse.

someone else replied to that comment trying to explain that "in the ace discourse, asexual identities themselves were seen as homophobic and that's what the commenter is saying!" i don't really agree with that, at least in this instance, because i think the poster's real problem is with the word "allosexual"

back when ace discourse was in vogue, a big talking point was how the word "allosexual" to describe non-asexual people was problematic. i even saw people refer to it as a slur. this was because it "groups us [gay men, lesbians, "real" queer people] in with our oppressors." never mind that sexualities already group the oppressed with oppressors: race, disability, socioeconomic status, etc. are all grouped under the same label. but this apparently was "different"?.

i think the main problem people had with allosexual is that they thought that it painted queer people as sex obsessed, when in reality it is a neutral descriptor, like cisgender. it just means you experience sexual attraction.

honestly, i still avoid using the word and cringe whenever i see it because i worry people are still going to be upset about it. it's just another way the ace discourse has had lasting affects on asexuals. it destroyed communities, destroyed the language we used to talk about our identities, destroyed in-jokes and memes, and destroyed a lot of asexuals' pride in their identities. all this was by design - the goal was to make asexuals ashamed of their identity so they would shut up about it.

i'm glad we've seem to have moved past that portion of our history, for the most part. at least all the popular blogs aren't making fun of us anymore. i hope we can use the term "allosexual" again because it's a useful descriptor.

#i was deep in the trenches of the discourse #not that i made lots of posts i just would frequent the tag and look at all the talking points #and it was painful #a lot of the really popular bloggers at the time were extremely hateful towards us #and even if they weren't downright hateful they made fun of us #for having silly memes like... liking cake #or dragons #or just for being asexual #like it was inherently 'cringey'#and this felt like majority opinion on the site!#everyone would reblog these 'jokes' which just made it easier to dehumanize us #because we're embarrassing and cringe #so it's easy to say these people don't deserve respect in their identity because our identity was turned into a joke #i have lasting scars from the discourse #even that feels embarrassing to say when in reality it was a hate campaign against an entire sexuality!#of course it's gonna have lasting effects on those with that identity!#anyway #i'm glad we've seemed to move past this #but i'm not gonna forgive all of yall who were complicit #just because it was funny or 'just a joke'#it wasn't just a joke

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rinielelrandir · 7 months

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If you follow me and in any way, shape, or form think the Israeli civilians killed and kidnapped on 07Oct (including children! including old people! including goddamn peace activists working for Palestinian liberation longer than some of us have been alive!) *deserved* what happened by virtue of being Israeli? Do me a favor and unfollow me. This is me showing you the door, please see yourself out, I do not want to have a conversation with you about this. (See tags for caveat.) Because killing of non-combatants is never okay.

It literally does not matter which "side" you are on here. To be clear, I do not agree with being on any "side", this isn't a fucking sports match. These are real people being straight up murdered. Palestinian and Israeli. Both for having the misfortune to be born the wrong country or the wrong religion. That will always be wrong. Hamas is wrong. The Israeli government is wrong. Because killing civilians is always wrong. That's it. That's the takeaway. You don't get to say "Palestinians have a right to self-defense" as a justification for 07Oct. Self-defense does not extend to civilian targets. To non-combatants. To CHILDREN.

And to be quite clear, I will not accept "Israel has a right to self-defense" as a justification for the killing of Palestinian civilians but I'm largely not seeing that from Jewish leftists, including Israelis and including Zionists. I'm largely seeing them call for a ceasefire and for peace and condemn the Israeli government and its actions.

But I *am* seeing fellow western leftists, particularly non-Jews, defend Hamas and the 07Oct attacks in their desire to stand with Palestine. You have to stop doing that. Hamas are not the good guys, you can read their damn charter documents online. You can read analyses of them by experts - Hamas is a religious extremist group intent on imposing jihadist control over the entire region and eliminating all Jews. It's not something they've been secretive about. They routinely kidnap, torture, and kill PALESTINIAN peace activists who they learn have met with Israeli peace activists or in any way worked towards a 2 state solution. They use global aid donated to Gaza for themselves while letting their citizens suffer. Their most prominent leaders don't even live within Gaza, aren't even at severe risk. These are all things you can verify easily and readily just by doing some basic research anywhere that isn't Twitter, tumblr, or Al Jazerra.

So if you want to justify killing civilians? If you want to support a terrorist organization? If you are going to unilaterally condemn all Israelis for the crime of being citizens of a country whose government you disagree with? Please see yourself out. And when you do, please keep in mind that I am a nonzionist telling you to kindly consider availing yourself of the sea. I do not support Israel and I work with actual Palestinian liberation organizations when I can. I've been doing so for the better part of the past 5 years. I attend a synagogue that is actively involved in Palestinian liberation as well as the first nonzionist havurah in the US. I'm not exactly new to this.

But I am also a Jew. I do not support Israel, the government of the nation state, largely because I do not support the concept of nation states as a whole. I find the system inherently violent. But I *do* support, Israel, the people. I am a Jew by Choice. I have chosen to throw my lot in with Israel and her people. They are MY people. If you gleefully call for my people to be slaughtered, I want nothing to do with you.

#caveat that if we're actually friends you are free to reach out for a conversation about this #the no conversations bit applies only to followers #mutuals who are not irl friends i will allow good faith questions but know i will likely be less forgiving than if we were friends #also no content tags for this bc i really don't want it being found #but yeah i'm having a ROUGH time lately with all this #basically every single one of my jewish friends has a family member or friend on a casualty list #or a missing list from 07Oct #and if they don't they know someone who does #i have a friend from that havurah i mentioned who had 2 longtime friends in Israel affected #both were elderly peace activists living on kibbutzim and working for palestinian liberation #one was killed and the other taken hostage #and i just i can't handle the people saying 'everyone deserved it'#really? really???#did *they* deserve it #did the children killed deserve it???#(i have a dead sister if you tell me anyone ever deserves their child to die i will personally fight you)#oh and did the bedouins who were also at the music festival and also killed deserve it?#bc ya know hamas didn't just kill israeli jews that day #they also killed bedounis (who are generally considered palestinian)#bc hamas is an extremist terrorist group and that's what they do

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