I wanted to be writing about other things. About planning on going to Chicago a combination family visit/World SF Convention trip. (And, as my native Chicagoan wife put it, staying at the fancy hotel downtown).
I wanted to be writing about NOIR, and how its release is coming ever closer. Just today, I told a co-worker if I could get 5 people to post reviews about it on Amazon I’d feel accomplished.
I wanted to write about frustrations with photography, about finding the energy to do more than phone-camera video blog entries.
But then came last Friday. And a continued reminder that, for my entire life, there’s been money, time, and effort directed into undoing laws that protected my friends, family and loved ones. All because people looked at Franco’s Spain and thought, “Good job, buddy!”
I’ve talked before about my thoughts on political involvement, on how we need to view anyone with an (R) beside their names and how they view us. But, like many, seems we’ve been sitting with Cassandra as the rest of Troy goes “I think you’re overreacting to that Greek army out there.”
Instead, I’m going to point to an artist whom I wore, proudly, last weekend. Erica Williams. She created this image here:
I purchased this from her as a shirt. She now has it back in her shop as a sticker. Support her. Get a few of these stickers. Proudly display them as you canvas, march, riot, call, email, and act.
I keep saying this and I will say this again: both my parents left their home countries to get away from autocracies. They came to the US thinking it would be different. But one third of the country doesn’t mind an autocracy (if they get to be the ones running it). One third constantly and consistently fights for the US to actually live up to its ideas. And the rest – They do nothing. Which means they basically side with the autocrats.
We have to remind them it’s not overreacting. It’s time to stop thinking, “Oh, it’ can’t happen here” or “Well, it’s not really going to impact me, is it? Because it will. Eventually. When it’s too late.
“No one is free when others are oppressed.”
Biomechanoid Blues 