I See Myself In This Comic, And I Don’t Like It

The 2024 Election and the Importance of Voice

Honestly, this feels like a nightmare scenario. Literally, I've had nightmares about this. It's hard to believe that this many people voted for hate and fear and bigotry and violence. My fear is only amplified by some body cam footage I watched a few days ago of what happened on January 6th, 2021. It was like one of those dystopian montages you watch either at the beginning of a movie or at the moment when the protagonist learns why the world is in ruins, except it's real.

In the midst of all the turmoil, terror, and despair that is likely occurring in all of our lives right now, it may not feel like there is any hope. It may feel as though democracy is dead and tyranny and oppression reign supreme, but all is not lost.

As president, he possesses no legislative power except to veto or propose bills to congress, and so I do not see him changing the fact that he has only one term left to serve. He is also old, as old as Biden was when he stepped into office, so he may not even last the whole term!

That being said, I have no idea how much damage might be done by the time he's out. During his first presidency, at least he was surrounded by the somewhat sane to keep him in check, but he's fired all of them and is now surrounded by enablers who might be just as crazy as he is.

It is important for all who truly love democracy to accept this loss with grace, to be better than the mob that stormed our nation's capitol after the 2020 election. This does not mean that we will simply lie down and take whatever comes our way in the upcoming years.

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we make our voices heard, that we stand up for the kind of society we want to live in, that we stand against violence, injustice, and oppression.

We shall not act with violence. We will not give such satisfaction to oppressors and bigots. We must work to ensure that we are not spreading the fear, hate, and animosity that has caused us so much grief and suffering. When future generations look back at our actions, they must be able to say that we have done no wrong. Martin Luther King Jr. taught us the effectiveness of the peaceful protest during the Civil Rights movement. I am afraid we shall have many reasons to practice the art in the coming years, but we will not give up on our society.

We will fight Bigotry with Acceptance.

We will fight Despair with Hope.

We will fight Grief with Joy.

We will fight Absurdity with Laughter.

We will fight Violence with Peace.

We will fight Silence by making our Voices heard like the thunder rolling down the hills.

We will fight Cruelty with Mercy.

We will fight Greed with Generosity.

We will fight Lies with Truth.

We will fight Hate with Love.

We will fight Shame with Pride.

To everyone who thinks that their voice doesn't matter, believe me, it does! Alone, we are weak, conquerable, easily discarded. Together we can move a nation. I implore you, learn how our nation works. Research important topics, verify information, seek Truth, and when you find it? Share it. Petition, vote, and, perhaps most importantly, listen to the voices of the oppressed. If you don't know how to help or where to find reliable information, find someone who does. If you do, be there for someone who doesn't.

you guys made luigi mangione trend for days and I need to see the same energy for brianna boston. she is a 43 year old mother of three who ended a phone call with blue cross blue shield (after being denied a claim) “delay deny depose, you people are next” and is now being held under a 100,000$ bond and could face FIFTEEN years of prison if charged. she has no weapons, her record is clean, and yet she is being held behind bars. they are afraid of the public and are trying to subdue. do not let them!!!! be outraged that our freedom of speech is being threatened!!!!! deny defend depose! free brianna boston!

So true! It’s almost amusing how often power dynamics gets brought up in Anthropology because literally almost everything depends on it!

obsessed with mass market paperbacks. their pleasing rectangular proportions. how they fit badly in a hoodie pocket so you can drag them around everywhere with you like a temporary little buddy. the way they fit in your hand because they're MADE for human hands and not as bookshelf decoration. the way the pages feel when you riffle them gently with your thumb. How pristine and crisp they look when you get them and how creased and folded they look when you're done, even if you try to be nice to them. how that wear is okay, how that's correct actually, because they're made with the philosophy that books aren't meant to be PRETTY, they're meant to be read. that little ripple new ones get on the left side from where you hold them when you're reading, the way the ripple only goes as far as you've read, because u change stories by reading as they are changing you. how you can find thousands of these creased and folded and loved little dudes in every thrift store and used book shop and neighborhood library and you can instantly see the ones that someone carried around in a backpack for weeks or read to pieces or gave up on halfway through because they wear being read like fresh snow wears footprints. I love these poorly made, subpar little rectangles so much. truly the people's books.

Bartender: thanks for stopping that bar fight, spiderman. Can I get you a drink? It’s on the house

Peter: thank you, but I can’t

Bartender: why not

Peter:

Bartender:

Peter, trying not to give his age away: I’m pregnant

Ok so my kid had an ear infection, right? As kids often do.

The doctor scraped out a bit of earwax to have a better look inside.

I was sent a bill for $200 PER EAR for this 5 second procedure which I did not give permission for them to do.

That was key- they did not ASK me if they could do this "procedure". And, as I OWN a medical practice (it's me. The medical practice is me, sitting in my house on video calls) I knew to call them when this bill came in to be like "You did not obtain informed consent for this procedure, and it was not en emergency procedure. You had full ability to gain my consent and didn't. I'm not paying."

And the massive hospital who owned the bill said "yuh-huh you do have to pay."

And I said "I own a practice. I know these laws. I do not owe you money for this."

And they conducted an "internal review" and SURPRISE! Decided I totally owed them money and they had never done anything wrong ever.

And so I called my state's Attorney General office, and explained the situation because, as I mentioned, I know the law. The AG got in touch within a couple days to say they were taking the case and would send the massive hospital conglomerate a knock it off, guys letter.

Lo and Behold, today I have a letter where said hospital graciously has agreed to forfeit the payment.

"How not to get screwed over by companies" should be part of civics class.

Know your rights and know who to call when they're infringed on. This whole process cost me $0 and honestly less effort than I would have expected.

May this knowledge find its way to someone else who can use it.

Love whoever wrote that sign!

Today's Republican Christians would accuse migrant Jesus of eating pets and taunt his teen mother with 'your body, my choice'.

They would wear 'I can't breathe' shirts to the crucifixion.

#SundaySermon

Loving that last line! I hadn’t ever thought of self-care as investing in myself, but it makes so much sense

stop ignoring yourself. fix your posture, get a new hair cut, do your nails, take care of your skin, brush your teeth, drink water, eat foods that give you energy. get strong, stop looking sloppy. when you feel good, you do good. invest in yourself.

People fly to avoid ten hour drives?

Epic

Head Archivist Hatsune Miku design. one could even say the world is hers

thanks OP for the idea,, I'll see if I'll get to the other Fears