Shall We Start Burning Books Again? (This is a rant…read if you like)

 

BOSTON (AP) — “Six Dr. Seuss books — including “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” and “If I Ran the Zoo” — will stop being published because of racist and insensitive imagery,…”

https://www.aol.com/entertainment/6-books-nix-books-dr-113208458-145015765.html

Ok, people things have gotten ridiculous.  It needs to stop.

YES, we can look at books, movies, advertising, tv shows, songs, etc. from the past and see the racism, sexism, ageism, and all the other isms!  We can see the flagrant homophobia.

BUT, I’m sorry we cannot erase history AND we shouldn’t as then we are doomed to repeat it.  Historical context is important. Where does it stop? Do we end up with a list of “approved” reading and that is it?  If we go through every book and ban/block/add to a no publish list everything that is offensive to someone in some way there would be no books left!

We can learn nothing by erasing history.  In fact we are doing a disservice to our society and closing a door to communication, conversations and understanding.  We should endeavor to learn from both the right and wrong things that humanity has produced.  History should be examined…and maybe people can learn compassion and understanding about people/cultures/ideas that are different to their own.

In the end it is like denying our past, sanitizing things and WHO does that serve?

And it doesn’t stop with stuff from the past by the way.  Actually all of these things are still going on. What if they start censoring music, blogs, social media…  How many songs would be on a no play list if everything that is racist, sexist, etc was examined?  Think of all the idiotist, hateful things some people (not mentioning anyone in particular) tweeted… even though I happy some are blocked, on the other hand isn’t it better we know these things?  Can’t we make more informed decisions when we have more information as opposed to a cleanup version of “truth”?

Believe me there are books, movies, companies, songs, etc, etc. that infuriate me but that doesn’t mean I think they should be banned.

Who decides what ideas are ok to share and who has access to them?

And by the way… banning mentions of horrible things doesn’t mean they never happened.  Tearing down monuments and changing logos doesn’t either.

I know this is long and ramblely so I’ll stop here. But this is NOT ok.

~Melanie Thomason

3/3/2021

 

“We the People” a reblog from 2013…maybe even more applicable now

To force change on things that matter

we need more than idle chatter

to halt our dissatisfaction

It is time NOW to take action

∞

we’ve become complacent sheeple

lets stand up for  “We the People”

thin the flock by a small fraction

It is time NOW to take action

∞

whilst government is out to lunch

we can and should take the first punch

Revolution/ chain reaction

It is time NOW to take action

∞

no more burying heads in sand

rise up, revolt, just take a stand

together we can gain traction

It is time NOW to take action

∞

To force change on things that matter

It is time NOW to take action

~Melanie Thomason

 

With words that must be said?

So a few times lately I’ve seen comments and posts about the validity of all the different Awareness of this and Prevention of that days, weeks or months…

… is it needed?  Does it matter? Is it only preaching to the choir to post these things here? Does it make a difference?

I will answer to all of the above: YES and NO!

April, as I’ve already posted about a few times now, is Child Abuse Prevention Month AND Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is sad that these issues need months set aside to talk about them but I’m glad for whatever light can be shone.  I personally think these are issues that we should talk about all the time…until they no longer exist.  Violence against women and children haven’t gone anywhere.  Ageism, Sexism, and all the other isms haven’t gone anywhere. So yes we still need to talk about them.

Truthfully, talk alone isn’t enough.  Each of us needs to take action as well.

I shouldn’t have to tell anyone that they shouldn’t hurt other people, right?  No child should ever be abused, right?  Yet, look around.

Women and children are beaten everyday. Yes, men are abused as well and that is not ok either. It is just that the majority of the time abuse is directed at women and children, STILL, and that pisses me off.  It should piss you off too!

Rape is not a thing of the past.  It also often isn’t a stranger but someone the victim know and should be able to trust.  We shouldn’t have to tell anyone that No does not mean yes…that consent is ABSOLUTELY necessary.  That victim blaming is not acceptable and it doesn’t matter what someone is wearing!

It goes beyond that of course… not only should you not hurt people (yourself or others) or participate with those who do,  you also shouldn’t be a silent bystander.

If you cannot get personally involved (and sometimes you shouldn’t)…at the very least say something to those who can.

IF, you know someone who is being abused, speak up.

Remember, the smallest action on your part could make a life and death difference.

IF, you know someone who is an abuser, speak up.

One of the ways we can make a difference is by not accepting this behavior.  We have to let the perpetrators know this is not ok.

When friends and family turn a blind eye this makes both the abuser and the abused feel that what is happening is acceptable.  Break the cycle.  Educate yourself and please educate your children.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke

 

~Melanie Thomason

 

 

 

Victims

Victim 1: Thomas

“I’m here to report an assault.”

“Ok, sir, tell me what happened.”

“Well I was at O’Malley’s Pub and John hauled off and punched me in the nose, he nearly broke it.”

“So this, John person, was a complete stranger to you?”

“Well no, officer, I knew him.”

“Oh, I see and how well did you know him?  Would you say you two were friends before this incident?”

“I guess you could say we were friends, at least I thought we were before he hit me.”

“Okay…and how is it that you came to see John this particular evening?”

“Well we decided to go out and have a couple drinks and watch the game on the big screen, just like we did from time to time.”

“So, Thomas by your own account, you willingly went out with John to the pub and this was an ongoing relationship.  Right?”

“Yes”

“AND you were drinking alcohol.”

“Yes”

“So then you would have to agree you were a willing participant in the events.  You have to take responsibility for your actions you know.”

---

Victim 2: Richard

“Excuse me officer, I need to report a robbery.”

“I’ll be happy to assist you.  Tell me what happened.”

“I went to an ATM and this guy came up behind me and threatened to hurt me if I didn’t give him my money.”

“And did you?”

“What?”

“Did you give him your money?”

“Well yes, I did because I was afraid.”

“So you didn’t resist?  You didn’t fight back?”

“No, like I said I was afraid of what he might do so I just complied.”

“And when was this?”

“Late last night…well I guess you could say early this morning.”

“Well which is it?”

“It was around 2am.”

“What were you doing out at that time of night?”

---

Victim 3: Harrison

“I need some help officer, I was just sexually assaulted by a group of sorority sisters.”

“Hahaha,  good one.  What can I help you with?”

“No seriously, I was assaulted.” “Look, I took a picture of them with my cell phone.”

“You should be so lucky; I mean those girls could do much better than the likes of you.  Have you looked in the mirror?”

“Officer, I was violated and I want to file a complaint.  Can you please take this seriously?”

“Ok, ok, sir, simmer down.  (muttering under his breath ‘geez must be his time of the month’) So you are saying this just happened?”

“Yes!”

“And, this is what you were wearing?!”

---

Do you fine these scenarios ridiculous?  You should…they would never happen this way…

Do you find them infuriating? Callous? Alarming? Insulting?

Well you should, because ALL of these scenarios would play out this badly or worse if the Victims were Females who had be harassed, assaulted, beaten or raped.These are the exact kind of victim blaming questions that women have to deal with.

~Melanie Thomason

2/4/2020

Have you ever…?

Have you ever heard an old song, one you’ve heard before and suddenly HEARD the song, heard the lyrics and wondered what the hell?!

I’m going to post this video and the lyrics…. not because I like it but because REALLY what the bloody hell?

Basically he is saying he is an asshat, he will not love you doesn’t care if you love him, he will cheat on you almost assuredly and he will not even be around when needed but hey he still wants to have his way with you!  At least he is up front….

“I’m Not Sayin'”

I’m not sayin’ that I love you
I’m not sayin’ that I’ll care if you love me
I’m not sayin’ that I’ll care
I’m not sayin’ I’ll be there when you want me
I can’t give my heart to you
Or tell you that I’ll sing your name up to the sky
I can’t lay the promise down
That I’ll always be around when you need me

Now I may not be alone each time you see me
Along the street or in a small cafe
But still I won’t deny or mistreat you
Baby if you let me have my way

I’m not sayin’ I’ll be sorry
For all the things that I might say that make you cry
I can’t say I’ll always do
The things you want me to
I’m not sayin’ I’ll be true but I’ll try

Now I may not be alone each time you see me
Or show up when I promised that I would
But still I won’t deny or mistreat you
Baby if you love me like you should

I’m not sayin’ I’ll be sorry
For all the things that I might say that make you cry
I can’t say I’ll always do
The things you want me to
I’m not sayin’ I’ll be true but I’ll try
I can’t say I’ll always do
The things you want me to
I’m not sayin’ I’ll be true but I’ll try

 

Keep Calm? Never!

Keep Calm?

Keep it together

Together we can

Together forever

Forever and a day

Forever fighting

Fighting for equality

Fighting for what is right

Right to be heard

Right to choose

Choose Peace

Choose an end to violence

Violence against children

Violence against women

Women are warriors

Women attack

Attack injustice

Attack hate

Hate speech

Hate crimes

Crimes against Nature

Crimes against us all

~Melanie Thomason

 

 

 

 

Snow and Schultz and Socrates

they say write what you know

but what if, as Sgt Schultz

“I know NoThing!”

no thing

every thing and the cake is a lie

and why

why are we supposed to accept and embrace

that “bad things happen to good people”

and “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” ??

I’m strong enough, thanks

I’ll pass on anymore of your bullshit

•

I’ve heard that whatever befalls us in this life

is just and deserved because of what we did in our past lives

I reject that!

BUT…then again…

why have I been punishing myself all these years?

and you, you tell me I’ve done nothing wrong

that none of it is my fault

and ok so it doesn’t have to be about placing blame

but how can that be true?

My crimes are plentiful too,

though it is not a competition

I don’t need your permission

or your condemnetion

of bad choices but you can’t damn me

and exonerate me at the same time

or can you?

I don’t know

I know nothing

a virtual Socrates or maybe just a Jon Snow

•

THEY say “be yourself”

and duh

of course, how could I be anyone else?

BUT who am I?

Who am I supposed to be?

I’m still trying to figure that out

all these years and all these tears and still

the purging of past is incomplete or maybe irrelevant?

I dunno

All that I know, really, is that

I know nothing

but at least I have company.

~Melanie Thomason

9/6/2017

 

 

How ARE you?

Person 1: How are you?

Person 2: Fine, You?

Person 1: Fine

Me: BULLSHIT!

 

We do this everyday!  Why? It is a script we learned long ago.  And, anyway what would we do without these pat answers?  You may think no one really cares anyway… and sometimes that is true.

So what I am proposing is that we (you (all of you reading this) and me) STOP!

Are you fine???!  Ok, great if you are…but  some of you are far from it.  Are you sad, angry, hurting, sick, fed up?!  Are you happy, nervous, anxious, excited?  Well are you?  Say something…anything but just following a stupid script.

Oh and important part:  Do not ask someone how they are if you don’t really care to hear!

 

Thank you… that is all.

 

This has been a public service announcement (also known as a rant)  brought to you by Melanie Thomason