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hussyknee · 2 years

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Hey lovelies. A couple of you sent me asks about Lankan politics. First off - I'm really glad my posts are helping you, and I'm having a blast writing them! I'm going to take a break today and outline a thorough but simple explainer for your questions tomorrow. Still toying with the idea of making a series of them since there seem to be a surprising amount of Lankans on Tumblr now!

You can follow me to see them, or just follow the "Sri Lankan politics" "Sri Lankan protests" or "අරගලයට ජය!" (victory to the struggle) tags.

Meanwhile here are some great accounts on Twitter you can follow:

Marlon Ariyasinghe (Sinhalese) is the Assistant Editor of Himalistan, and one of the people who covered the protests in Colombo end to end. I'm seriously in awe of how much tear gas this man has inhaled, as have so many others, and how long he stays on the ground during incredibly dangerous situations.

Vajra Chandrasekera (Sinhalese) is an award-winning Sci-Fi writer, insanely well-read about our modern history and has a better grasp of political reality than most self-styled pundits, probably because he never presents himself as anything except a wordsmith and storyteller. Here's one that provides a lot of context for the location of Gotagogama back when it first went up in April. He also put together one of the most comprehensive donation threads (please help/ boost!)

Amalini De Sayrah is an amazing photojournalist with Groundviews, documenting the ground realities of Lanka's most marginalized with pathos, joy and sensitivity. Her Gotagogama photos are the best documentation of the protest village IMO

Ambika Sathkunanathan is the former Commissioner of the UN Human Rights Commission Sri Lanka and the Chairperson of the Neelan Tiruchevalam Trust. Her threads are a little more involved and academic than the others, but she's also one of the people who have spearheaded the fight for minority justice for years.

Amitha Arudpragasam (Tamil) independent policy analyst , who focuses on economics from the South Asian female perspective.

Saritha Irugalbandara (Sinhalese) is a feminist and LGBT researcher and activist, incisively analytical and acerbically witty. She was the one who put together this crisis relief fund (please, please donate!)

Maryam Azwer (Muslim) post-colonial academic and journalist who is one of the strongest media voices on feminist issues in the Sri Lankan Muslim community including Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act Reform.

Dr. Thusiyan Nandakumar (Tamil) Editor in chief of the Tamil Guardian and a long-time activist for Tamil self-determination in Sri Lanka. If you're Sinhalese you might have heard that he's an LTTE sympathizer. Speaking as a Sinhalese Buddhist, you really need to follow him and the Tamil Guardian learn about Tamil perspectives and understand the struggle for Tamil self-determination, which preceded the LTTE by decades and continues on today.

Rehana Thowfeek (Muslim) and Chayu Damsinghe (Sinhalese). They're *twitches* economists and neoliberals but what we're in right now is an economic crisis. Capitalism is a fuck, but this particular situation is the result of astounding levels of corruption and incompetence, which is in turn a result of ethno-fascism and dynastic politics. They make truly excellent and simplified threads on macroeconomics for novices and laymen, don't demonize socialism and welfare states, and their aims and ideals have a fair overlap with leftists.

Please note Sri Lankan and South Asian discourses on economics are not at all the same as the US's. The US's left is barely left of center; South Asia has an intractably socialist foundation that is disabled by poverty and corruption created by colonialism and neo-colonialism. Our countries are equally traumatized by communism, neoliberalism and crony capitalism.

That's your a starter pack for the young Sri Lankan/ Desi novice and world affairs nerd. There's hundreds of prominent journalists, researchers, activists, academics, analysts, writers and artists who have throwing themselves bodily at social injustice in Sri Lanka for decades, through one of South Asia's longest and bloodiest civil wars. You guys should have nothing but contempt for international journalists who parachute in and take over stories with less context than any local, instead of simply boosting the local journos who have been covering these stories for years and can out-write them any day of the week. If there's anything this hellscape has taught us, it's how utterly trash international news outlets are - Reuters, The Guardian, CNN, BCC, New York Times - worthless.

Always:

- try to find local newspapers and source

- amplify people who are directly impacted by the issues you want to know about instead of trying to "translate for an English speaking audience"

- never trust political and economic commentators who aren't actually in the country they're commenting on (looking at you Steve Hanke)

- especially never trust white people with fancy degrees who are "experts" on colonialism and racism.

_____

Notes:

I mentioned each one's ethnicity because 90% of Sri Lanka's problems was created by Sinhalese Buddhist ethnonationalist supremacy. The 26 year old civil war was a slow genocide of the Tamils of the North and East, with Muslims massacred by both sides.

Our surnames are so long because the Sinhalese and Tamil alphabets have a letter for every syllable. So names that are only five letters long for us get unravelled like an accordion in English.

#i am incapable of making short and sweet posts #oh well #sri lanka #sri lanka economic crisis #sri lanka politics #sri lanka protests #sri lanka resources #victory to the struggle!#අරගලයට ජය!#subaltern #south asia #current events #world news #colonialism #desi #knee of huss

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jerson11242004 · 1 month

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MY STORY ABOUT LIFE STRUGGLE AND PROBLEM

(AUTOBIOGRAPHY)

Written by: BERNALES, JERSON U.

My name is Jerson U Bernales and i'm 19 yrs old out of ten siblings I am known as the youngest when I was young I became aware of the reality because I grew up in poverty so now I persevere in studying because of ten siblings I am the only one who studies and the others if My brother has wives who are native to Cavite. When I go to school, there are days when I feel sad because I think of my parents and my tears just fall suddenly, right now my life is home and school because I have to stay at home and do chores and sometimes extra work that if it's called Construction so that I can have my own money and not ask too much from my older brother who is sending me to school... I used to like to wander around with my friends so that I could somehow have fun but when I wander around it seems like I'm getting used to it and life seems to have returned to the way it was before and I'm neglecting school work that's why now I avoid going out with my friends and I just stay at home so I can do my homework so I did it at home because I I'm alone because my older brother goes to work early and I don't have anyone to talk to. I just listen to music and enjoy myself by myself.. My focus now in my life is to finish my education so that I can achieve my dream so I continue to fight against the challenges of life and I am increasing my confidence that one day I can provide all the needs of my parents to them without what they have experienced in life and I am grateful to the heights because he doesn't neglect my loved ones.. right now my parents and I are not together but one day I will be with them too and our life will be abundant.

THE LOVING MOTHER

(BIOGRAPHY)

Written by: Bernales, Jerson U.

My mother was born on november 29,1964 and her age is 59 yrs old she was born in Biasong tomas Oppos Southern Leyte.

My mom didn't finish school because her aunt stopped her because in her generation it was fashionable (fads) to be a kidnapper so she only studied until elementary school. But even though she didn't finish school my brother and sister were still lucky because she was a loving mother and didn't hurt her daughter when there was a problem she was there she helps you to release you're problem and she a supportive mother, that's my ability of my mother

She a ordinary woman but she is like a superhero, she does everything to provide for his son's needs, she a strongest mother i'm so grateful to have a mother like that

YOUNG AGE DREAMERS NAMED JERSON

(PERSONAL NARRATIVE)

Written by: Bernales,Jerson U.

Once upon a time, in a Malitbog Southern .Leyte nestled between mountains and rivers, there lived a young dreamer named Jerson. From a young age, Jerson was captivated by the world of stories and imagination. Their days were filled with books, each page a portal to a new adventure. But amidst the tales of knights and dragons, Jerson found solace in crafting their own narratives.

As they grew older, Jerson passion for storytelling only intensified. They would spend hours scribbling in journals, weaving together characters and plots that danced across the pages. Yet, despite their love for writing, Jerson kept their stories tucked away, hidden from the world.

It wasn't until Jerson stumbled upon a local writing workshop that everything changed. Surrounded by fellow wordsmiths, they found the courage to share their creations. With each word spoken aloud, Jerson felt a newfound sense of belonging.

Encouraged by their peers, Jerson embarked on a journey of self-discovery through their writing. They explored themes of identity, love, and loss, infusing their stories with raw emotion and vulnerability. And with each tale they penned, Jerson discovered more about themselves than they ever thought possible.

Through the highs and lows of life, writing became Jerson anchor, a constant companion in a world of uncertainty. They found joy in the act of creation, pouring their heart and soul into every word. And though the road ahead was uncertain, Jerson knew that as long as they had a pen in hand and stories to tell, they would always find their way.

FAMILY

(REACTION OF PERSONAL NARRATIVE)

Written by: Bernales, Jerson U.

I feel bad for Cyruz day B. Paulino about what happened his family for being broken family this situation is hart but he didn't give up and he was still strong and he tried to fight the problems.

This situation of cyruz to experiencing a broken family can evoke a range of emotions from profound sadness and confusion to resilience and strength. It's a deeply personal journey of cyruz that offen involves navigating complex family dynamics and redefining one's sense of belonging and identity

But all that is normal to him because when he had a problem he find in his own solution he fight alone and no one helps him until he grows up he wants to tell everything to his friends but he loses courage because they are not the same as what he experienced life but even so and he learned something from life.

#blog

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okamirayne · 1 year

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What would you say were your first early experiences that showed you the power of language? Did those experiences influence your own style of writing and fleshing out characters/plots? Wishing you love and energy for your original works! -Emilee <3

Hiya, Emilee!

Hope this reply finds you safe, happy, and well, sweetie. <3

What would you say were your first early experiences that showed you the power of language?

Hmm, interesting question. Do you mean the power of storytelling, or the power of language specifically. Sorry, I recognise how pedantic I'm being, but I see them as separate entities. You can get writers who have a way with language, but their stories aren't particularly engaging. You can get someone who uses pretty sparse or simple language (by comparison) and their stories keep you hooked. So I'm kind of straddling the fence in my answer and taking it to mean the power of storytelling via words...in which case, my first early experiences of this power were fairy tales, Aesop's fables, and the children's book series called The Animals of Farthing Wood -- which, considering it was for children, was pretty bloody dark and horrific at times.

Then in my teens it was the master wordsmith himself, Shakespeare.

The Sufi poets too. The power of words to evoke emotion rather than just entertain (though there is power in that too).

Did those experiences influence your own style of writing and fleshing out characters/plots?

Well, I most certainly imagine that having such dark themes in some of my early childhood reading and viewing (The Animals of Farthing Wood was made into a tv series when I was a kid), got me used to the darker and less fluffy themes of storytelling. I've always been character obsessed, even as a small child, so that's something that's just in me. But watching these series with slightly more mature and heavier themes when younger, must have shaped me into the 'series' writer I am and furthered my interest in the long-term development character arcs that I so love to explore.

Studying religions, philosophy and literature most definitely cultivated my love of the combined power of language and storytelling, and this interest carried on from my early studies in school right through college and then university. A nice steady drip-feed, so to speak.

The power of good narratives in tv series and movies is also not to be overlooked. Some very powerful writing has been explored through this medium, which has been just as instrumental in growing my love of characters and storytelling.

Thanks so much for the ASK, Emilee! And for the love and positive energy for my original works. That means so much to me, luv. <3

#reader ask #writing ask #awesome readers

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alliterative-albatross · 3 years

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So, I sent you (@disgruntledspacedad) a pretty long ask a while ago (back when you had anon on) and I'm decently sure Tumblr ate it (or maybe you ignored it, in which case, feel free to ignore this one as well). But then I saw one of those "writers appreciate feedback no matter how long" posts, so I'm back here. Here is my mediocre attempt to rewrite my original review of your work. Bear in mind that English is not my first language, so if at any point my phrasing sounds weird to you, you know why. Mandatory disclaimer/apology: this might get a little too long 😅

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

I remember being SO mad at myself for not finding this sooner. I binge read it one afternoon with no thoughts for any real life responsibilities I might have had (and no regrets). Javiears is one hell of an unconventional relationship in the beginning, and I really love what you did with them. The whole premise of your story is quite refreshing, and you somehow manage to convey the trust and mutual respect there two feel for one another without explicitly showing us the beginning of their "entanglement".

Also, fuck you for what you did to poor Emilio, that man was a saint and he deserved better! I honestly can't believe that I got so attached to a character that appeared so little in the story, but it happened, and his death kind of broke my heart.

But the Javiears reunion + mild confession was lovely, and felt completely deserved. And of course the sex scene. I won't lie, I expected a bit better from Javi there, but I did like how utterly /human/ it was. Capturing that humanity, the imperfections in each character is something you're really good at (more on that later).

AFTERSHOCKS

Ah, my emotionally constipated babies who really need to work out their communication issues. I do love them, though. And this short series did a really good job of delving a bit deeper into Ears's and Javi's psyche. Kudos to you for dealing with the medical "aftershocks" of living through an explosion AND using that experience to move your emotional plot forward. These two need to grow a lot before they can get to a stable point in their relationship, and you really manage to convey their insecurity and fear of commitment/intimacy while making it clear that they're in it for the long run and that theirs is a relationship that WILL work out so help them God.

IF I FALL

Ouch. Punch me in the gut while you're at it, why don't you?

But seriously, "If I Fall" is SO FUCKING GOOD. Don't get me wrong, it's angstier than an image of Jesus on the cross (don't judge me, it's Holy Week and I just got home from accompanying my grandma to church), but it somehow works beautifully. You, my dear, play heartstrings like they're a fucking guitar and I AM HERE FOR IT.

You're doing an amazing job at making me feel everything these characters are feeling, which is both awful (bc pain) and impressive.

Also, if anything happens to Ana I will cry, because she is adorable and wonderful and has suffered way too much already and really deserves a break and some cookies.

Also also, if anything happens to Ears I will cry, because she is badass and wonderful and has suffered way too much already and really deserves a break and some cookies.

Also also also, if anything happens to Javi I will cry, because he is loving and wonderful and has suffered way too much already and really deserves a break and some cookies.

Basically, I am really invested in the well-being of these characters and can't wait until they're happy and safe again (please tell me they will be, my heart can't handle much more pain).

A quick note on the angst complaints: yes, this story is way angstier than most other fics out there and it can be a bit too much at times, especially considering how many chapters of pain it's been. BUT it's obvious that "If I Fall" NEEDS this amount of angst to get where it's going, to send the message it wants to and to properly develop its characters. The pain is as important to this story as flour is to bread. You may not like eating flour on its own (I don't think anyone does), but you love bread (because bread is amazing) and you must recognize that bread NEEDS flour to work. It wouldn't be bread otherwise. And eating the flour as part of the bread even makes you like the flour because the bread is just DELICIOUS.

I fully understand and sympathize with the people who have elected to table "If I Fall" until it's completed so they can binge read it knowing there's a happy ending in sight, but in case you're feeling a bit self conscious about all the angst, please know that your story is beautiful not in spite of the pain, but rather /because of it/.

PS: No, I'm not high/drunk, I just really like bread

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Silly thing to comment on, I know, but I do feel like it's important that you know how useful your ANs have been. There are many details in the story that I simply wouldn't fully get without reading your comments at the end of each chapter, and I appreciate your writing a hell of a lot more knowing how deeply you understand and care for each one of your characters. Plus, it is obvious how much work you've put into researching a country and a time period that are (from what I gather) unfamiliar to you, and I really do believe you've done an amazing job of it.

JAVIER PEÑA

My boy. I love your characterization of this complicated character, and I have eagerly read each and every one of your headcanons about him. I can't really say if your version is fully faithful to the source material because it's been a while since I saw Narcos, but your Javi most definitely reads like a real person. He's fairly consistent as a character, and I feel like everything he does is perfectly natural for him to do as a character. He makes for an unconventional yet deeply interesting romantic lead, and so far I have thoroughly enjoyed all his POV chapters/scenes.

OCs

I know you've gotten some flack for making her into an OC halfway into the story, and while I get why the sudden change may have felt like a disappointment for some, I don't share that sentiment. I firmly believe that this fandom is unfairly harsh towards Original Characters and their creators, and I don't really understand why. Listen, I love Reader fics, and consume many Reader fics. I have read dozens, maybe even hundreds, and I can safely say that I've only ever "inserted" myself in approximately 10% of those stories. Reader characters are not as blank as their writers may want them to be. They can't be. They're characters, and character have personalities and moral values and senses of humor and a bunch of other things. Reader characters may not have a backstory or a physical description attached (and even that's not guaranteed), but they're still characters.

And on a more personal note, pretending they're actual blank slates is naive at best and insensitive at worst. Reader characters are American coded 99% of the time, and white coded 95% of the time. Not every readers is white nor American, even if that's the predominant demographic on Tumblr. When I read a JavixReader fic about a woman who speaks exactly zero Spanish, I know she's not me. The story may be beautifully written and have an amazing plot and character development, but the Reader *isn't me*. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and some of my favorite xReader stories feature a "reader" who couldn't be more different from me, but it's something that enemies of OC fics should take into account. Particularly if they are white and/or American. But I digress.

HANNAH AARONS

Your character is amazing. She's strong, smart, confident, independent and an all-around badass. She gets kidnapped while pregnant and still focuses on problem solving and survival. But she's also overly guarded and mistrustful, and really needs to work on her communication skills. There are times when I absolutely love her and even admire her, and other times when I want to whack her with a slipper. She's no Mary Sue, but remains interesting and likeable throughout the story. She feels wholly human and real, and that's no easy task. I like her, I am invested in her, and I can't wait to see what's next for her. She's a compelling and three dimensional protagonist in a complex story who never fails to draw me in. I love her. She's your baby, and you should be proud of her.

Also, quick question about personality types: I know you've typed Javi as ESFP and Ears as ENTP (100% agree on both, btw), but have you given any thought to their enneagram types? I personally have always seen Ears as being somewhere on the thinking triad, maybe a 7 or even a 6w7, but I'm not too sure about Javi. 9w8 maybe? He could also be a 6w5 🤔

PARTING THOUGHTS

Basically, I love your story, your characters and your writing in general. You are a fantastic storyteller and wordsmith. You get into the heads of incredibly different characters personality-wise (Ears, Javi, Berna...) and manage to capture all of their complexities and quirks every single time. And it doesn't feel like it's something innate for you either. To me, it seems that you have put a lot of work and effort into understanding each and every one of your characters, who they are, why they do what they do and what they want. And let me tell you, all that effort has been more than worth it. "Better Love" is a fanfic, but it wouldn't be out of place in a regular bookstore, if I'm honest. I don't know what you do for a living or if you've ever considered writing professionally, but you clearly have the skills and the drive to create some masterpieces.

You are amazing and your writing is a gift. Thank you for sharing it with us, and have a nice day! ~ 🍪

My friend, I apologize for hoarding your first ask. I’ve been sitting on it because I’m not gonna lie, I enjoy going back and rereading it. It gave me a lot of comfort when I was in a pretty dark place, both personally and in regards to my writing, and I was reluctant to send it out into the the abyss of Tumblr where I might never see it again.

That’s not fair, though. You put just as much effort into sending me that review as I put into my writing, and I apologize for never responding to you.

Okay, anyway, so twice now, you’ve made me cry. In a good way, I promise!

I absolutely love your bread/flour metaphor. It made perfect sense. I want the emotional release of Javi and Hannah’s reunion to be earned, and in order to do that, the angst has to come first (there are also a few plot “ingredients” that have yet to make their appearances). Thank you very much for understanding that, and for voicing it so eloquently.

I appreciate your comments on my research and characterization. You’re correct that I’ve put a lot of time and effort into crafting a universe. In a lot of ways, I’m doing my best to stay true to the source material (regarding culture and timelines in particular), and in others, I’m branching into my own territory.

On that note, I’ve never once regretted fully embracing Hannah Aarons’ identity as an OC. She’s stayed consistent in my mind from the beginning, and it was a relief to finally share my vision of her with the audience. And for the record, I totally agree with you regarding “reader” characters. Every reader insert echoes the perspective of their author, no matter how vague the physical description. I can only imagine how grating that must be from the perspective of a non-white, non-american reader. Thank you so much for sharing your insight! I will certainly keep it in mind the next time I write a “reader insert” fic.

Okay, enneagrams! I am much less familiar with enneagram than I am MBTI, but I agree 110% that Javi is a 9 with a strong 8 wing. I waffled back and forth on Ears a little, but eventually landed on 8w7 for her. It came down to the eight’s deepest fear, which is being controlled. That’s Ears all over, and the fact that she and Javi share that eight willfulness means that they might butt heads a little, which also seems very appropriate for them. Big thanks to @remusstark for her insight into the eight frame of mind - our conversations helped solidify my decision on this. :)

Anyway, I’m just rambling now. The big take-away point that I want you to get is that I am so, so grateful to you, both for your insightful feedback and your dedication in making sure that I actually saw it. You are an absolute gem and a deep thinker, Cookie-Anon, and if you ever feel like sliding into my DM’s, I’d welcome the opportunity to get to know you better.

Mad love and soft hugs,

~ Jay

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