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twojackals · 14 days

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The Joy of Teaching

In recent weeks I had some opportunity to advise younger individuals interested in Kemetic practice, and I have to admit I was shocked at just how... good it felt to do that, and I couldn't figure out why I had never felt so good about teaching other people the thing I've done for over half my life.

But I think I've figured it out.

It's been several months since I left the 'organized religion' style Kemeticism I was part of for so long, and became an independent Kemetic practitioner. What I've found out is that there is a massive difference in communicating within an 'organized' religion vs. not. Namely, in the latter, when I speak from a position of experience in the general Kemetic world, people listen.

But in the former, when I spoke from a position of experience in the organized-religion world... people argued.

There was always this bizarre level of 'competition' that occurred between members of that organization which I don't find to exist outside of it between independent Kemetics. And despite the fact that they never claimed to be the 'one true Kemetic path' (and the person responsible for birthing it into being never wanted it to be), it didn't stop congregants from taking on the mantle of "one true way" at various turns. It definitely didn't stop them from applying their own opinions to the masses in terms of the way people 'should' and 'should not' practice being Kemetic.

Sure, you can pass judgment I suppose on someone practicing that specific organized path incorrectly, though even then the idea of passing judgment on someone else’s practices was not condoned by its founder in the slightest. But I suppose if you were literally teaching, verbatim, something completely incorrect about that specific organized path, there is obviously an opportunity to say “hold on, that’s not how we do things, here are the resources / contacts who can explain how we do practice instead.”

That’s not how it went, of course. It was not unusual to have members side-eyeing each other over their personal, subjective interactions with the Divine, and in particular there were a select number of individuals who were even so bold as to tell other people their very experiences with the Netjeru (Kemetic Gods) were outright wrong – a position so brazen and ignorant to take when it comes to what is essentially an entirely subjective experience, particularly among a Pagan or Pagan-adjacent practice in relative terms of world religion.

But aside from what I would term ‘extremists’ (there are always two extremes to every spectrum), there was also just an ongoing sense within the community of regular day-to-day one-upmanship in spirit that could be subtly if not overtly identified, and it did negatively impact morale, community cohesiveness, mood, and spirit which is certainly not the vibe you want from an organized group. And this vibe was consistently tolerated as simply... the norm.

As a result, it's now extremely freeing to be able to give a piece of advice to others and candidly have a listening, attentive ear tune in to what I have to say based on years of personal practice and intricate experience, vs. a situation where one or more members of a group are pretty much always trying to formulate an attack, or defense, or argument designed primarily to bolster their own personal (equally subjective) experiences over that those of others.

I’ll just be blunt: a number of people considered themselves better than everyone else, and even though that was the minority, it affected the majority on a regular basis.

As a teacher of others, I've had to struggle against a serious feeling of imposter-syndrome that is underwritten by these experiences. There's a level of gaslighting, bullying, and even aggression which I've lived through in organized Kemetic religion that utterly need not have existed. Of course I won't deny to some degree there is a spectrum of what makes the most sense to what makes less sense -- or maybe even no sense at all. I'm not saying there is no right and wrong, nor am I going to suggest it is invariably inappropriate to ask people to meditate on discernment and critically examine their experiences.

But that's not what I'm addressing here. Because by the Gods, if people would just take a moment from time to time to actually and carefully read the room. It may shock you, but your opinion isn't always needed, wanted, or invited, and the manner in which you communicate your opinions to others often matters far more than the opinion itself. After all: If you knew everything about Divinity, if you had every truth in-hand.... well, I guess all of our searches would be completely over.

You don't, and I don't, and so we search on. But it sure would be nice if we could do this searching together, while respecting each other's answers and journeys.

In the meantime, I suppose I will simply enjoy the enjoyment of others when I have something meaningful to say, and try to remember that my experiences matter more than people from my past have sometimes led me to believe.

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etherealdemon · 1 year

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HORANGI — daniel

dirty a-z headcanon ask

H - Humiliation (does degradation and insults get them hot? do they get off on humiliating someone else? what kind of humiliation is good for them?)

humiliation, degradation, and insults during sex are not for daniel. he's actually kind of sensitive so anything of this sort is a no go. he also doesn't feel comfortable insulting or degrading mia. it's just something that he's not into.

O - Outdoor sex (have they ever done it in public? would they? where?)

daniel isn't opposed to having sex in public. he won't necessarily go out of his way to have sex in a public area, but if there's an opportunity, he'll happily do it. in terms of public sex, he and mia have mostly had sex in semi-public areas. the most public space they've done it in is at the gym daniel works at, on a bench press.

R - Routine (do they have a routine when it comes to picking up one night stands? do they have scheduled sex with their partner? are things spontaneous or planned ahead of time?)

daniel doesn't have a routine when it comes to picking up one night stands. it's not something that he plans out in advance. he usually ends up hooking up with someone when they've spent time together and he's enjoyed their company. the first time he and mia hooked up, daniel spent all night talking to her at the bar at carat. he enjoyed her company so much that he asked her if she wanted to hang out after her shift ended. she obviously agreed.

A - Alone time (how do they get off when they’re all by themselves? do they watch porn, is it all in their imagination, do they jerk off, do they use toys?)

masturbation is pretty simple for daniel. he isn't too fussy and he usually just uses his hands when he wants to get off. most of the time, he'll just use his imagination since he finds that opening up porn takes too much time and effort.

N - Not yet (orgasm delay? orgasm denial? do they tell their partner not to touch themselves for a certain amount of time or under certain circumstances? do they delay or deny other things like bathroom usage or food? do they need to beg first? do they like being denied / delayed?)

daniel loves it when mia takes control and tells him that he can't touch her, especially when she's doing a striptease for him. sometimes he purposely touches her just so she can slap his hand away. it literally drives him insane and gives him a reason to return the favour when it's his turn to be dominant. daniel really likes to deny mia her orgasm, often teasing her to the point where she just can't take it anymore. he likes to hear her beg for it.

G - Group sex (would they have a threeway? four? an orgy? do they put on a show for spectators? or do they like to keep it just between them and their partner?)

when he was still single, daniel would've been down for a threesome, as long as if it was with people he knew and trusted. however, his outlook on this changed when he started to get feelings for mia. she was the only one that he wanted and he didn't really feel any satisfaction from anyone else. the only time he'd be down for a threesome or an orgy when he officially started dating mia was if she was the one who suggested it.

I - Impact play (here’s where talking about things like spanking, paddles, canes, floggers and the like.)

daniel is not into impact play. he likes being rough with mia during sex but he doesn't really like using floggers or paddles. spanking is probably the only thing that will get a pass from him, but even then, he'd be very wary and cautious about it towards mia. when it comes to rough sex, daniel is definitely more into manhandling. he likes to throw mia around.

#:comrade:#tysm bec ily <3 #bec💫#mia x daniel #daniel song #cityscape #ask game #dirty hc ask #ask etherealdemon #nsft

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yeslordmyking · 3 years

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Happy 27th Birthday Jackson Wang

My Journey With Jackson Wang

For Jackson's birthday this year, I've decided to share why Jackson's birth is so important to me personally. I'll walk through the emotional journey that ensued once Jackson entered my life.

(Images and gifs are not mine)

Fun Beginnings

It all started when I decided to explore more kpop groups than just Bigbang. The last month of 2016, I discovered GOT7, the group that sang A and Hard Carry. I learned they were having a comeback very soon, so I studied up everything I could on them. The member that caught my eye was Jackson Wang.

Beneath the Surface

I won't pretend I had this amazing ability to go beyond what was shown to me. Not at first. I saw Jackson as the biggest goofball in the group. He was loud and fun and extra. Honestly I thought every GOT7 member was fun and crazy, but Jackson in particular stood out to me. Then, I found this moment.

When Jackson burst into tears and collapsed into his Mom and Dad's arms. As an empathetic cryer, I was obviously using my sleeves to dry my own eyes. That was when I realized there was more to Jackson than the compilation videos were showing. After studying up from some good Jackson fans, I learned he was a gentleman, he had a soft side, he likes compliments and attention from his members, he had olympic level athleticism. These were all nice things to learn, but things only got deeper from there.

Stanning in 2017

Flight Log: Arrival era. My first GOT7 comeback. Poor Jackson got sick for a little while. When he returned, I saw how everyone welcomed him back so warmly. I remember seeing GOT7 joined Monsta X backstage- who I was also im the process of stanning- while reacting to their performance at a music show and everyone just seemed so happy for him to be there. They all loved each other. Jackson got along with basically every idol. Jackson must be very loved.

As I continued to stan, I learned just how good of a person he was. Stories from his past showed that Jackson was the kind person to care for complete strangers as close friends. He cared for elderly women who felt lonely or neglected. He spent hours talking with someone who was too depressed to live another day. He stood up for fans that may be jostled by security, even if it was ultimately for his protection. He made sure the women in his workspace were comfortable and respected. He shook hands and made contact with every person involved in working alongside him. He thanked God for his success in his letters. To me, Jackson seemed to be nothing short of a complete angel. Who could deny it?

Then, Jackson announced his solo career. That was when I saw things how they really were. The amount of hate that I witnessed towards Jackson was crushing for me. So imagine how bad it was for him. Physically, mentally, I saw him hit a wall. People were telling him what kind of music he was and wasn't capable of. They spread lies about him. Then they wondered why he stopped smiling as much.

They only saw him as a comedian or a joke. I just couldn't believe someone I thought was so wonderful was so despised. He was human. He may make mistakes, but he made an effort to correct them. No matter what, he still had feelings. He wasn't a robot or a clown. He could get tired. He could hurt. This was when I decided that I was going to be a ride or die Jackson fan. Because someone so kind and talented didn't deserve anything but love and to be supported for his dreams. I wanted to give it to him.

The Jacky Life

There was a lot of ups and downs after this. Jackson started Team Wang. This is where I saw a new side of Jackson. The hardworking Jackson, in real time. He showed the world his work ethic as he began to work from the ground up to make Team Wang a strong label. Through every release and every appearance he made, he gave 1000% of his effort. To the point where fans were afraid he was going to push himself too hard. He went through endless performances, intense dance competitions, long variety show shoots while enduring exhaustion, anemia, back pain, mental illness all without a complaint or a sign of lessening his passion for his art. I was so concerned, often breaking into tears over my worry. I didn't know what to do to let him know we were proud of him, we supported him, it was ok to rest. But I understood his mindset. He wanted to be taken seriously. He wanted people to see what he was capable of. He wanted the world to see him as Jackys already did. Then one day, it clicked for him. He stopped focusing on what negativity came his way. He learned and grew from it, and focused on improving himself. It was an amazing journey to witness.

It Gets Personal

Jackson continued to blast off as a solo artist, and participate in GOT7, all of which gained immense success. But then it was my turn to hit a wall. In my own life, I'd had doors slammed in my face over and over again, wearing me down more and more. I couldn't move forward. It seemed I wasn't meant to achieve my dreams. I started to kill my own dreams and believe they weren't meant to be pursued. My self worth and hope plummeted. Then Jackson's brand began to grow. "Know Yourself. Make Your Own History." He began to give more and more insight on how he left behind a secure future of olympic fencing to pursue his dreams. He talked about taking risks, learning from failure, not having regrets and at least trying to make your dreams come true. And these weren't just empty words for Jackson. He was living proof. I actually witnessed him rise like a phoenix from the ashes as he began to manage his health better, released his first album Mirrors, launch his own fashion brand, all while remaining his remarkably humble self. Other artists from all over the world flocked to be participants in his career. In his music, he expressed what his fans' support meant to him, and in his interviews he gives Jackys so much credit for getting him where he is now. It felt unreal to be acknowledged by someone I admired so much, and to hear someone who seems so out-of-my-league successful and talented encourage me to do the same. To say it so much that I truly believe he wants us to reach all of our dreams.

Team Wang For Life

For me, being a fan of Jackson Wang is beyond just liking his music. It's a source of love and motivation that I often have trouble giving myself. I see Jackson Wang as a blessing and a guide for me to help me take steps in my life I would've been afraid to were it not for Jackson's words and actions. So I'm extremely grateful for his existence on this earth and his decision to be a goodhearted and determined human being. His birthday is a day that I go back and think about everything he is and appreciate it.

Happy birthday Jackson Wang. Your journey so far has helped me in so many ways, and I will support you in whatever way I can. Thank you for making your presence on this earth so impactful. To me, you truly are a king, that I will continue to love through the ups and downs of this world. You're never alone.

~♡Sincerely, Your Princess♡~

#i know this is probably the most cringey thing in the entirety of kpop twitter but i wanted to share it #happy birthday my dearest Jackson Wang #may you be happy and loved today and every single day of your life #your princess will always have love and gratitude for you #got7 jackson #jackson wang #jackson #ultimate bias #got7 #team wang #kpop #cpop #my baby boo #👑 be my king and i'll be your princess 👑#jackson wang you are my only true love #KingJacksonDay #JacksonNeverAlone

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xtruss · 4 years

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WITH QUEEN ELIZABETH'S ROYAL FAMILY ROCKED BY SCANDAL, PRINCE CHARLES BECOMES THE POWER BEHIND THE THRONE

By Diane Clehane, December 21, 2019

The latest British royal drama has more plot twists than the juiciest episode of The Crown, the hit Netflix series chronicling the life of Queen Elizabeth II. Only this real-life saga might more aptly be called As the Crown Turns, with a cast of characters and story developments to rival the most compelling soap opera.

There's Andrew, the queen's second son, embroiled in a sex scandal involving underage girls and an accused human trafficker who died in prison—you know, the prince who recently gave an interview on British television trying, and spectacularly failing, to repair his damaged reputation. There's his older brother, Charles, heir to the throne, reportedly wielding his influence behind the scenes to oust his disgraced sibling from royal duties and consolidate power for himself and his sons. Also in the cast: the Duke of Sussex, aka Harry, who has been bickering with his older brother, William. With his American bride, Meghan, Harry has also publicly railed against the emotional hardship of royal life while traveling by private jet and running up big home renovation bills.

Then there's the queen herself, Britain's longest-serving monarch, an aging matriarch whose grasp on the reins of her family appear to be slipping amid questions about how much longer she'll reign after more than 65 years on the throne.

With the family rocked by scandal and feuds, the 93-year-old queen is finally starting to cede power to the next generation. Is it time for Prince Charles & Co. to take charge at last?

For the royal family and the British people, the coming of a new year and new decade are coinciding with what's shaping up as a new era for the House of Windsor. The mounting tensions within the family and ongoing scandals have raised questions about whether the queen is, in fact, still the head of "the firm," as the royals refer to the family business in private. The big question: Has the time finally come for Prince Charles, at age 71, to stop waiting in the wings and take charge?

"There is a sense that she's lost control within the family, between Andrew's disastrous interview and the ongoing drama with Harry and Meghan," one palace insider told Newsweek. "The queen has been deeply disappointed by their behavior. As future king, it's been up to Charles to put a stop to the chaos."

This is certainly not the first time the question of Elizabeth, who is 93, giving up the throne has come up. Ever since 2017, when her husband, Prince Philip, retired from public life at age 95, there have been rumors that she would step down when she reached the same age. She has already been delegating some high-level decision-making to Charles, scaling back her public appearances and passing on her patronages of various charities to other members of the royal family for several years.

Still, while the role is largely ceremonial, the queen retains a full schedule—she had 238 engagements last year and served as a patron to hundreds of charities: not too shabby for a nonagenarian. And, despite the rumors, it is unlikely she will step down anytime soon. British historian and author Robert Lacey, who serves as a consultant to Netflix's The Crown, told Newsweek, "I don't believe the queen has any wish to retire, nor to appoint anyone who might infringe on her powers, if she can avoid it."

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (L) sits with Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (R) on the Sovereign's throne to deliver the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament in the Houses of Parliament in London on October 14, 2019.

But the controversy swirling around Andrew in particular has renewed speculation about a changing of the guard, giving Charles a more prominent role and seeming to accelerate a shift in power. What does the future hold for the British monarchy? The queen's adherence to a "never complain, never explain" royal code makes it impossible to know her plans with certainty, but her responses to the latest family drama provide some telling clues.

The Royal Fallout

It was clear that swift action was needed in the wake of Andrew's BBC interview, in which he fumbled through an explanation of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, denied having sex with then-17-year-old Virginia Roberts (now Giuffre) at Epstein's London home and expressed no sympathy for Epstein's alleged victims. A YouGov poll taken after the program aired in November found that 51 percent of the British public did not believe his explanations and that another 43 percent weren't sure. Even worse, nearly half felt that the way Andrew responded to the allegations had damaged the monarchy.

It didn't help Andrew's cause within the family that negotiations for the interview went on for over a year, reportedly without consulting the queen's senior advisers. Although Elizabeth gave her permission for the interview, she reportedly wasn't informed that it would focus solely on the prince's ties to Epstein or that it would be filmed at Buckingham Palace. "It gave the appearance that the entire thing had been sanctioned by the queen, but that was not the case," a palace source told Newsweek. "The optics said one thing, but the truth was something else entirely."

It wasn't the first time that Andrew had negotiated his own TV deal. When his youngest daughter, Eugenie, got married in 2018, the same year as Harry and Meghan, the prince reportedly wanted her wedding to be treated with equal pomp and circumstance. That included having the nuptials televised. When the BBC declined, Andrew arranged for limited coverage by ITV instead. Security for the wedding, which included about 850 guests, cost British taxpayers over £2 million, or roughly $2.5 million.

Maternal feelings for Andrew (who is believed to be the queen's favorite son) did not prevent her from acting decisively after the interview about Epstein aired—reportedly on the recommendation of Charles, with input from his son Prince William. The upshot: Andrew "stepped down" from his official duties (not his decision, insiders say), losing the taxpayer-funded £250,000 (about $325,000) he made as a working royal. His office at Buckingham Palace was shuttered.

Prince Andrew, The Duke of York, pictured in London on March 7, 2011. He dismissed all allegations of wrongdoing in connection with links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein in a Saturday-night interview with BBC News.

He won't have to worry about making a living, though. According to CNN, most of his income was funded by the queen's Duchy of Lancaster, a private estate of commercial, agricultural and residential properties that last year brought in $28 million.

Likely of greater concern to Andrew: the scandal's impact on Eugenie, 29, and her sister Beatrice, 31. The prince has long felt his daughters, who are "blood princesses," were overlooked within the royal family and has lobbied to get them higher-profile roles. Now, the opposite is likely to happen. Particularly problematic for Eugenie is her role as co-founder of the Anti-Slavery Collective, a charity that works to eradicate—oh, the irony—sex trafficking, as well as slavery, around the globe. As royal biographer Ingrid Seward said recently on Good Morning Britain, "We all feel very sorry for Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie." Beatrice recently became engaged, and her 2020 wedding will likely be a smaller affair than her sister's extravaganza and private—which won't require massive security, making it cheaper for taxpayers.

A Changing of the Guard?

Deciding on the best course of action for his scandal-ridden brother has not been the only topic of discussion for Charles and his parents lately. When he recently met with Prince Philip at the family's estate at Sandringham, father and son were reported to have talked about the queen's "retirement" in the next 18 months. In this scenario, Charles would assume a prince regent role, which would allow him to officially take over family affairs and day-to-day royal business. "This is something Charles has been wanting for some time, but the queen has resisted," explained a royal insider.

"If Charles had been regent in November," explained Lacey, "it would have been his job to check out the interview plans, and he would almost certainly have blocked them."

It's Reigning Men

The appointment of a regent, though, happens only under very specific circumstances—say, when a monarch becomes incapacitated—and is not something the queen is legally empowered to do but instead falls to Parliament. Still, even without a formal transfer of power, there is little doubt that there's been a changing of the guard. Speaking to CTV News, royal expert Richard Berthelsen said the response to the crisis surrounding Andrew "has exposed the reality many of us have been saying for some time, that [Charles], the Prince of Wales, is fundamentally running the family now."

The role that Charles played in effectively ending his brother's royal career has strengthened his public position as chief decision-maker. It also raises questions about his plans for when he officially becomes king. Among his top priorities, experts say, will be to cut the list of working royals to a core group consisting of his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and his sons, William and Harry, and their families.

The streamlining has already begun. "Many of Prince Charles' paring-downs have come to pass, most notably with the disappearance of all the cousins and aunts from the balcony [of Buckingham Palace during official engagements]," said Lacey. "It's difficult to see how the current working family can be pared down any further with [Charles' other siblings] Princess Anne and Prince Edward carrying out a full roster of duties."

Challenges for the Monarchy

But the monarchy's survival, should Charles become king, will take more than removing superfluous relatives from the taxpayers' tab. The British public's enduring admiration for Elizabeth, the most popular royal, has been the most critical factor in the current support for the monarchy—72 percent view her favorably, according to a YouGov poll this summer. Only 48 percent feel the same way about Charles.

She has been considered a fairly inscrutable public figure for much of her reign, yet those closest to the queen say privately she has a good sense of humor and dotes on her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who call her Gan Gan. She eats cereal out of a Tupperware container every morning and enjoys her cocktails—up to four a day, reportedly, including a gin and Dubonnet on the rocks with a slice of lemon before lunch and a glass of champagne before bed.

The official christening photo of young Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, a.k.a. Harry and Meghan’s son.

Humanizing details, for sure. But despite the public's affection for the reigning royal, the monarchy as a British institution also represents privilege and inherited wealth at a time of financial uncertainty and jitters over Brexit, and a growing segment of the population believes those things are out of step with the ideals of meritocracy and equality. Should Charles take the crown, he will have to prove the monarchy is still relevant at a time of tremendous upheaval, without the queen's same reservoir of goodwill. Still, his reputation has come a long way from the days when his imploding marriage to Diana played out in the British tabloids' daily headlines.

Charles's sons, William, 37, and Harry, 35, have a critical role to play as well. The once-close siblings are estranged these days, a rift that supposedly started a couple of years ago when William questioned whether Harry was moving too quickly in his relationship with Meghan and if she could adjust to royal life. Harry reportedly considered that attitude "unsupportive." But recent developments suggest that, perhaps, William's concern was not entirely unfounded.

Once viewed favorably as a modernizing and positive force for change, Harry and Meghan now seem to be a lightning rod for controversy, with rising disapproval among the British over the couple's perceived spendthrift ways and their complaints about the fishbowl life of a royal. Renovations on Frogmore Cottage, their 10-bedroom home near Windsor Castle, cost taxpayers about $3 million and included construction of a yoga studio for Meghan, a devotee of the practice.

Meanwhile, in an ITV documentary in October, Harry noted the toll that royal life has taken on his emotional health, revealing that he relives the tragic circumstances of his mother's death every time he is faced with a wall of flashbulbs. "With the role, with the job and pressures that come with that—I get reminded of the bad stuff," he said. Meghan, for her part, decried the family's "stiff upper lip" ethos as "destructive."

The queen has reportedly charged Charles with brokering a peace between the brothers. "The queen knows that both William and Harry represent the modernization of the family which ensures its survival," said an insider. "The estrangement between the brothers has to end because a united front is critical for the future."

While Harry and Meghan have gone off the grid for "much-needed family time" during the holidays, William and his wife, Kate, have taken responsibility for shoring up the family brand with a highly successful tour of Pakistan and a recent joint television appearance on a Christmas special hosted by British television personality Mary Berry. "William and Kate along with their adorable children are the greatest assets the monarchy has right now," another palace insider told Newsweek. "There's no drama, they're both charming, and their children are darling and well behaved. That's what the public wants from the royals—a happy family scenario that makes people feel good about the future."

Perhaps that's why the queen decided it was time for the couple's two oldest children, Prince George, 6, and Princess Charlotte, 4, to make their first public appearance with the family on the traditional and much-photographed walk from the family estate at Sandringham to St. Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas morning this year. "The queen wanted the emphasis to be on the next generation of royals this Christmas and remind people that through it all, the monarchy will survive," the insider said.

Lacey believes it will. "I am quite sure that prince George will become king one day," he said. "The 'de-royaling' of Andrew was a tragedy, but it is a reminder of how the survival of a constitutional monarchy depends on its respect and compliance with the values of the society it seeks to represent."

Diane Clehane, who has been covering royalty for more than 20 years, is a best-selling author of five books including Diana: The Secrets of Her Style and Imagining Diana, a novel that envisions what would have happened if the princess had survived the 1997 crash in Paris.

— Newsweek

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ethanmartin7-blog1 · 4 years

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*Rhetoric and Multiculturalism*

CQ: “What is the ideology performed in this artifact, how is it performed, and how does it promote a dominant ideology in an unproductive way or push back against a dominant ideology in a productive way?

To examine the critical question, I chose Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 postgame interview explaining why he will not stand for the national anthem. I chose this lengthy video as my artifact because it ties in nicely to Goldzwig’s Multiculturalism work. This artifact serves the ideology that all citizens of the United States must be treated equally and share the same amount of freedom, which is vocalized through Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem and explained through a postgame interview. Kaepernick’s method about spreading awareness to this cause is done to promote a dominant ideology, however it was done in an unproductive and unethical manner.

In 2016, before a preseason game vs. the Greenbay Packers, former quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, took a knee during the National Anthem. Immediately after the game the franchise’s quarterback was berated with questions from the media about why he was kneeling during the National Anthem. The theme of his interview was based on racial acts of violence through police brutality as well as the racial inequalities still going on in our country today. He was also noted wearing socks at practice with pigs dressed as police officers weeks later. Colin received praise as well as criticism for his decision to kneel during the national anthem. He kneeled all sixteen regular season games and the 49ers finished their season with 2 wins and 14 losses, among the worst in the NFL. Kaepernick has not played a game since that 2016-2017 campaign after opting out of his contract once the season was over. Currently Kaepernick is still seeking a job in the NFL and was just granted a workout for all 32 teams. He has announced that he will continue to speak out on social injustice however he has not confirmed or denied if he will kneel or stand for the National Anthem if he gets back on a team.

Goldzwig explained that the multiculturalism project of the 1990’s and beyond expands the civil rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s. Goldzwig’s message lies in the idea that we need to “rethink America” (Goldzwig, p. 275). He states that “The creation of that "wider landscape" cannot be seen as a process of protecting academic ghettos and fiefdoms where marginalized interests play tunes in cultural cul-de-sacs while the powerful continue "business as usual"” (p. 274). This highlights that power distance between the marginalized communities and the white folks. Goldzwig makes the point that he thinks rhetoric has continued to shape our politics in the United States. For this reason alone is why it is so important that he announces the need to incorporate multiculturalism into our world. Goldzwig goes on to quote Robert Ivie (1993) and his findings, "Knowledge constructed from a rhetorical perspective is about the symbols that organize our lives, some of which empower one gender more than another, while others selectively privilege war over peace, white over black, freedom over tyranny, etc” (p. 273).

Kaepernick’s postgame interview of his first knee taken draws some distinct parallels to the Goldzwig reading. Kaepernick points out that the black community of the United States is being marginalized and treated unjustly. He promotes the ideology that people of all races need to be treated equally in all facets of life. As Goldzwig pointed out, multiculturalism is in pursuit of a “wider landscape” meaning more inclusivity and less exclusivity. Kaepernick would agree with the Goldzwig reading. However, due to the differences in time Kaepernick has a much more radical and outspoken approach. He uses his platform as an NFL athlete to speak out on social injustice focusing mostly on police brutality. Throughout Kaepernick’s interview it is clear that he believes the black community is continuing to not only be marginalized and discriminated against but also oppressed.

The ideological stance that Kaepernick takes of inclusivity and equality is very similar to Goldzwig. Due to an eighteen year time difference between when the article was written and when the 49er captain voiced his opinion, there is a difference in the approach of Kaepernick along with the tone of what he is saying. Kaepernick attempts to bring awareness to the inequality and power imbalance of our nation while Goldzwig tries to bring awareness to inclusivity. In many ways we can draw parallels between the reading and through Kaepernick’s statements. They both promote the similar and imperative ideology of equality and inclusivity for all cultures.

In examining the second facet of the critical question, the artifact promotes the dominant ideology of equality and freedom. However, kneeling during the national anthem to spread that ideology was done unproductively. Colin was quoted during the interview saying “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color” (Kaepernick, 2016). By using this wording it serves as an immediate indictment on the entire country instead of a select group of individuals in this country. Not only does kneeling during the national anthem shows disrespect to the entire country but it is a slap in the face to the soldiers that rest in Arlington, the soldiers overseas, first responders, as well as all government officials, etc. To bring awareness to the cause of inequality is noble and brave. Colin used his platform to his advantage in bringing awareness to social inequality and police brutality. There is no question that his agenda is important as well as necessary, however the way he voiced that frustration was in a disrespectful manner to so many Americans throughout the nations existence. Colin was justified in what he stood for and what he was trying to promote but the way he went about it was unproductive and actually unethical.

In the scholarly article ‘Citizenship on Its Knees’ by P.J. Williams, she explains the national impact that Kaepernick has had on not only other NFL players and owners, but also POTUS. Due to the attention that the protest was attracting, President Trump raced to call the NFL to fire athletes protesting and to call for a rule that requires everyone to stand for the pre-game national anthem. This article goes on to talk about President’s Trump’s frustration with players taking knees. Trump took the stance that taking a knee during the anthem is consistent with the discretion of the American flag. This stand showed how important the symbol of the flag is to the President of the U.S. which sets a good example for the rest of the country. By voicing his frustration with the protest he shows the rest of the country that he stands for the flag.

In conclusion, Colin Kaepernick performed the ideology of racial and social justice through inequality and freedom throughout the artifact. He used his platform to spread awareness to his cause. We see similar ideologies between the former 49er quarterback and Goldzwig through his Multiculturalism article. Kaepernick’s intentions were great, in pursuit of equality for all, along with justice and freedom, however his method was unproductive because it brought disrespect to so many people in the country who value what the stars and stripes stand for and appreciate the words of Francis Scott Key.

Kaepernick, Colin. (2016). Colin Kaepernick explains why he won't stand during National Anthem. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ka0446tibig

Goldzwig, Steven R. (1998). Multiculturalism, rhetoric and the twenty‐first century, Southern Communication Journal, 63:4, 273-290, DOI: 10.1080/10417949809373102

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