I appreciate the rationale behind encouraging humor and whimsy at #NoKings protests tomorrow. Nobody wants to give Trump regime or counter-protesters any excuse for going violent. But I will still be bringing my anger, my disgust, and my horror at the regime and all those who have enabled it and are continuing to enable it. As a woman, I am especially put off by demands that I make my wholly warranted fury more palatable by cloaking it in humor.
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The people who fund republican representatives who would oppress you also deserve to be boycotted.
@heidilifeldman no one should tell anyone how to protest, full stop.
The blend of joy and anger is perfect, by the way. I’ll be wearing my inflatable chicken with a sign that reads “cluck you, I won’t do what you tell me.” On the back are angry or serious quotes from the likes of Audre Lorde and others.
This fascist coup is a wild ride. Love and hate together are real.
@heidilifeldman funny and angry is an excellent combination
@heidilifeldman
The bases for my protest are rooted in a mix of love, despair, fury, and hope for my country.
It's been angering to be continually mischaracterized by Trumpists and the cowed media as both weak and violent, as both hateful and meek, as humorless easily bullied stiffs.
What struck me about the inflatable frog protests was the realization why that was accidentally so powerful and resonant: We actually are the earnest, good neighbors who tried to live by example and teach our children and each other to welcome and respect our national diversity, to expect equality: our avatars (mocked, despised, and targeted by Trump) included a green banjo playing frog, a plus-sized pig, two suspiously loving best male friends, a grouch in a trash can, a tall gawky bird, Mr Rogers and his neighborhood, the anti-manosphere Barney...and we were stunned when the actually most humanly vulnerable of us were attacked with brutal force by armed, powerful, masked, vicious, sneering bullies who insisted we were powerless and they were inevitable.
Tomorrow we shall see. This will be the most critical demonstration of the power of Cooperative Game Theory, if we are massive enough. If, by sheer numbers we prove we are inevitable, and thus influence the sideliners (including media, colleges, military, business), by shoving that Overton window back to square with the force of history. When with the shockingly normal sane decent values of Sesame Street and Mr Rogers we rise together and say "We are inevitable, not you."
However each of us arrives tomorrow, we can change the trajectory of history and speed the coming inevitable decay of Trumpism.
@heidilifeldman ICE types have been rounding up children and families for deportation. Clearly humor alone is unlikely to sway them from violence, might even backfire. I for one would have some armor under my frog costume and an exit plan.
@heidilifeldman Just look at what the Civil Rights "greats" did. They were always deadly serious & they let their allies--those with more privilege, like white male hippies and counter culture types--do more of the whimsical, absurdist stuff. Just a thought.
Excellent point. This is not a party. Feel like the serious purpose behind the whimsy is a fighting fire with fire tactic. As well layed out in this Salon article, the purpose behind much of what the government is doing is performative and pretextual, so the best counter for their vicious nonsense is through an absurd performative response. For sure, bring your anger and your ridicule, however you feel it is best demonstrated. And be safe.
https://mastodon.online/@mastodonmigration/115385312681372234
@heidilifeldman the idea that the only way to win is love and tolerance and happiness and smiles is bullshit when fascism has been winning, arguably since the rise of the Tea Party in 2012 at LEAST and it has beat us on hatred, division, and fear.
A solid 30% of this country would throw you into a camp. One of the two political parties were allowed to vote for is infected with a widespread belief that Hitler was cool, and the other party is asleep at the wheel. Maybe being angry is the move
@heidilifeldman @StefanThinks yeah. And I’ve heard the argument that they will move forward using violence in any case. While it can be important to joke, show how ridiculous the fascists are, at the same time your anger is entirely valid and good to express
I think it varies from person to person. Me, I'm a 6', 200 lbs guy, and society expects me to use violence, and to be responded to with violence. So I'm going fuck with the expectations and bring an "everyone's welcome at this party" vibe.
But like you say, women are told to bottle it up, and I think you expressing your genuine, heart-felt anger and disgust would excellent. Have a great protest, and kick ass!
@jztusk You have a great protest too.
Hello
@heidilifeldman
'more deadly than your most strenuous flus
¿May I stoke your fury #ItsAirborne\ #Thankyou
@lolgop T|Y
https://mastodon.social/@lolgop@journa.host/115390086235312199
#BuryTheDeadAtMaralago
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/02/22/trump-legacy-bury-half-million-covid-dead-mar-a-lago-column/4535394001/ #BeyondFraming // #MoreFromThom || #HiddenHistory
_|https://www.thomhartmann.com/covid-19
¿/ #OnTyranny
@heidilifeldman Agreed! As in, "you should smile more." Grrr...
I too am angry and disgusted. Unlike the men in this regime, I also have self control and know how to behave in public. Civil resistance, in every sense.
