I have never been one to be silly in the face of serious. It is not my style, nor my strong suit—but in recent months, both myself and the world have shifted. So, to that end, I have decided to take some moments here and there to embrace my inner silly goose and fold in some light-hearted fun into more serious topics around me.
The most recent adventure? Crafting the perfect “hear me out” Presidential cabinet using only fictional characters.
In recent months, the “hear me out cake” trend on TikTok brought friends together to laugh and share which fictional characters they would date or “have relations with.” Ranging from completely understandable to arguably unhinged, the “hear me out” aspect of the game is meant to explain some picks’ unexpected or odd nature. The game consists of a group of friends who prepare a cake as well as a handful of fictional “hear me out crushes” printed out and placed on skewers so that they may go around and stick those picks into the cake.
In some ways this game is not unlike a fantasy football draft. Or maybe it isn’t at all, I can’t say I really understand fantasy football…But in most ways it is just meant to be a game and an excuse to get together for some light hearted fun.
While some cakes are objectively better than others, while some people seem to be more skilled when it comes to picking characters that no one would expect, it’s important to note that the result of the trend is not to date fictional characters but rather to create laughter and be silly among friends.
Which got me thinking…
As someone known to have far better taste in fictional characters than real-life partners, very few of my “hear me out” partners, needed hearing out. In fact, of the picks I sent to my friends only one made no sense and so, instead of changing my tastes, instead of googling the most pure-hearted but not conventionally unattractive characters, I decided I’d change the game.
—because if I can’t be silly for the sake of silly, maybe, for once, I can be silly for the sake of being a little more seriously unserious…
Introducing, the “hear me out” perfect Presidential cabinet edition
But before I share my picks allow me to share a smidge more context…
In recent weeks there have been multiple announcements of the next administration’s cabinet. Some picks the public agrees with, some the public does not, but it got me thinking. If I had the chance to build a presidential cabinet… using only fictional characters… who would I choose? and would people agree or disagree? And thus the game was born…
The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, the members of the Cabinet are often the President’s closest confidants. In addition to running major federal agencies, they play an important role in the Presidential line of succession — after the Vice President, Speaker of the House, and Senate President pro tempore, the line of succession continues with the Cabinet offices in the order in which the departments were created. All the members of the Cabinet take the title Secretary, excepting the head of the Justice Department, who is styled Attorney General.
Below I have crafted what I believe to be a pretty solid Presidential Cabinet… (minus the top most positions that represent the President and his or her line of succession) The cabinet I have chosen to build is one that prioritizes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion but also aims to be somewhat bipartisan. Representing some but not all of the best aspects of my childhood (and then some). As such, these 15 characters hope to fill 15 positions that would make up the larger part of our Executive branch of government come February and it will be up to you whether or not they get that chance…
All in all this silly activity has allowed me to tackle stress while also providing the added benefit of learning a bit more about what the leadership roles below, play in our country. It is by no means meant to poke fun at the very real decisions that are to be made by our top levels of government nor does it underwrite the time and energy that goes into making those selections. After reading this I encourage you to get together with friends and build your own perfect cabinet and, if you feel so inclined, share your picks in the comments below!
And with that… here we go and happy hiring!
psa: for more info and a refresher on what role each title primarily plays—go to Whitehouse.gov
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE: Mother Nature, specifically the “mother nature” portrayed in Disney’s Fantasia 2000.
This Mother Nature is being nominated for her unique ability to recover a world impacted by wildfires and climate change. She also has a more calm and quiet leadership style that will not intimidate any men who work under her. She is also big on personal growth and has a green (everything).
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE: Willy Wonka specifically played by Timothee Chalamet in “Wonka” the newest adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
While I am very much fond of the classic Gene Wilder’s Willy Wonka, and while Gene is just as qualified as Timothee (being the same character at different ages), the committee has determined that this new fictional government will benefit from the fresh and hopeful perspectives of a young Wonka compared to the ones played by Gene or even Johnny Depp. Similarly, Wonka, at all ages, is known to take great care of those whom he employs. He has an aptitude for diversity initiatives and innovation while also adding a unique sweetness to the lives of any and all who cross his path.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE: James “Rhodey” Rhodes aka Iron Patriot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
While no one matches the finesse of Robert Downey Jr. aka Tony Stark aka Iron Man (RIP). We in the nominating committee feel that the Department of Defense is best lead by someone who has a proven track record of duty and service and whose convictions and honor guide them throughout their days. For those reasons, no one is more qualified than Colonel James Rhodes aka Iron Patriot.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: Miss Frizzle from “the Magic School Bus.”
While the next administration “IRL” has declared intentions to dismantle the DOE, we feel that the next generation of young Americans would benefit most from the innovative and abnormal direction that Miss Frizzle takes her class. The committee firmly believes that dismantling the Department of Education is an act that undoubtedly seeks to create a more uninformed and controllable voter base than what exists today and as such, our response is to leverage a candidate that is arguably uncontrollable slightly unhinged and excessively educated.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY: Phineas and Ferb.
With only “104 days of summer vacation until school comes around just to end it” Brothers, Phineas and Ferb are determined to get things done in the most efficient way. Phineas and Ferb are able to achieve more than most in far less time and for these reasons and others, American energy would be more than secure in their hands. [We also don’t exactly have the budget for qualified adults considering what Mother Nature cost but were working on reworking that budget with the Treasury and are more than convinced that our nominated pick can find the money needed…]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (HHS): Dr. Oak from the Pokemon franchise.
Disruptive innovation in health often requires a more holistic and global approach. One that explores the impact of both what we put in our bodies as well as what our bodies are surrounded by. For these reasons the members of the nominating committee belive that HHS will be in great hands with Dr. Oak. For additional context…Dr. Oak has dedicated his life to understanding the symbiosis of humans and Pokemon. He has studied nature, monsters, and humans alike and in a world where so many things impact our overall health, he is just the kind of approachable guy to appeal to both sides of the aisle. [Dr. Oak is also a strong supporter of vaccinations because if you thought Rabies was bad… wait till you see what happens if you take a bite from a Bidoof.]
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: Elastigirl from the Incredibles
Some men today believe that a woman’s place is in the home, Elastigirl disagrees and so do we on the nominating committee. Elastigirl, like many modern super women has proven more than capable of balancing two lives, one public and one private, and the fact that she is a mother of three only further proves that she has what it takes (the flexibility, skills and proven track record) to tackle any and all threats that come our way.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD): The house from Encanto
The Madrigal House is the most qualified individual to ever be put up for HUD secretary. And before anyone accuses this magical home that was, like our great nation, built by immigrants, of taking “American” jobs, please take a moment to consider if any person place or thing is more qualified than a house that (FOR FREE) custom designs magical spaces and represents the lifeblood, hopes and unique dreams of a multi-generational and loving family. [as an aside, the magic staircase from Harry Potter was also on the shortlist but it was determined that they would be better suited for a supporting role. The Madrigal House was ultimately our first choice and we are immensely glad that they have committed to sign on to our administration.]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (DOI): Kenai from Brother Bear (in bear form)
When it comes to the debate of man vs bear, America has overwhelmingly voted for the bear, and so has Kenai. So we, as the members of the nominating committee, thought, “well, it’s time to listen and give the people what they want.” For too long our country has been legislated by those who have stolen land from indigenous tribes and ignored lessons learned in prioritizing profit over natural beauty and the health of the planet. Kenai, understands better than anyone the importance of focusing on the future for all and the relationship that exists between past and future as well as nature and man. The main role of the DOI secretary is to preserve our country’s protected land and resources as such, no man “or bear” is more uniquely qualified than Kenai for this role.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: Gal Gidot’s Wonder Woman
The nominating committee feels no real need to elaborate on this pick as it is kind of the most obvious choice…
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR: Hector “Zero” Zeroni from the movie “Holes”
After enduring the absolute worst working conditions known to man, at the hands of “the Warden” (played by legendary actress Sigourney Weaver) and eventually being carried to the top of “Gods thumb” by best friend, Stanley Yelnats, breaking a generational curse, inheriting millions and finding his long lost mother. No one is more qualified to handle the Department of Labor than “Zero.” In a world of people that say, “I suffered, you’ll be fine.” Be the kind that says, “I suffered, now you don’t have to.” [Hector also has indicated a desire to spend any free time outside of his role to aid in the arduous task of reforming the United States prison system.]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE: Lilo Pelekai of the 2002 movie Lilo & Stitch
At age 6, Lilo Pelekai found an unlikely friend in a little blue space alien (Stitch aka Experiment 626) whom she met at her local pound [point is worth noting for the “adopt don’t shop” crowd specifically], Lilo then saved Stitch (who was later found to have been actively abused and used for alien testing) from those who wished to re-abduct him. Thus, by age 6, Lilo had more experience with diplomacy and foreign policy than anyone else on the planet. In 2024, Lilo is now 28 years old and will be one of the youngest members of the cabinet but she is also most qualified not only to negotiate foreign relations with our planetary allies and adversaries but also handle any issues that may arise out of the UAP hearings that happened this past week. The hearings say we aren’t alone in the cosmos… Lilo has proof that backs those claims and his name is Stitch.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Thomas the Tank Engine
While we had originally planned to offer this position to right-wing favorite and Kansas native Mater aka “Tow Mater” who was wildly known from his work on Cars, the popular movie about Cars released in 2006, recent statements made by the Tow Truck regarding a desire to return to the 50’s on his social media networks have forced us to go in a more reliable direction. [It is important to also note that as a “international boom truck” Mater was born in the 50’s and it is extremely unlikely that his memory of that time is at all accurate to the adult American experience in that era.] That said, while Thomas the Tank Engine isn’t the most popular choice among transportation experts, while he isn’t as flashy as a pick like, “The Boat Mobile” (Spongebob) or “The Bat Mobile” (Batman) we, in the nominating committee, and those in the President’s office feel that Thomas’ “I think I can” attitude is just what our nation needs to get “back on track” (pun intended).
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY: Robin Hood
Keeping in line with a trend for our Transportation secretary, the nomination committee would like to acknowledge that while fan favorite, Mr. Krabs, seemed like the most frugal and bipartisan pick, and while his plans to safeguard the wealth of this nation were unique, we would like to offer up our alternate suggestion of Sir Robin Hood of Locksley. Robin Hood has a bit of a checkered past, he has been known to “steal from the rich and give to the poor” and if accepted he has made assurances to reduce the “stealing” that he may or may not be guilty of, in order to create a responsible plan to redistribute the massive amounts of wealth in the nation and balance some of our nations debts as well.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: Jorgan Von Strangle
The nominating committee feels no real need to elaborate on this pick as it is kind of the most obvious choice… plus he’s also good with kids…
Closing statements
I, as the sole member of “the nominating committee” would now like to thank anyone who has made it to this point of the blog. I know it was a long one and I can also fully acknowledge that it got more and more wild toward the end but, I hope you enjoyed it anyway.
As was written before, feel free to add your picks to the comment section or take time on your own with friends to play. And if anyone is feeling extra bold, tell me which fictional character you believe would best fill the roles I did not fill but may make sense for the cabinet above ie. President, VP, etc.
I’ve mentioned before that I once saw a quote on my facebook wall that a friend posted around the time she had her first child. It read, “We all just want to give our kids lives they don’t have to heal from.” And given recent events, the overturning of Roe, the clear beeline being made toward attacking the rights and lives of LGBTQ+ people, a new perspective dawned on me.
We all want to give our kids a life they don’t have to heal from, sure, but the irony of the statement is that we ourselves are living proof that, broken or whole – we heal.
So what does this mean in the context of what is happening today? Well I suppose it would be natural to make the connection and just say, “we heal” but I’d argue that saying that, after knowing the extent and the ramifications of recent supreme court actions is incredibly tone-deaf.
You see, if I were to say “we heal,” as a declaration, or as a distinct statement regarding next steps – as if it were that simple, I would be diluting the actual gravity of the situation.
To say, “we heal” as a and in the tone of “just” statement – to insinuate that a 10 year old girl, who was r*ped by her father and had to get an abortion out of state because her state outlawed it after 6 weeks, needs to “just heal” is inherently insensitive and tactless and far too on-brand with aggressive and radical republican christian values for my liking. In other words, it gives “you are in our thoughts and prayers” and that is just no longer acceptable.
So instead… we fight.
We fight not only for our rights to merely exist as we are and have full bodily autonomy like the men do, but we fight for the right to heal despite the odds and the laws being against us. We fight for the right to survive this deeply barbaric assault on our freedoms and our bodies and we fight to forgive those who thought for a single moment that they could take them — and to be clear we don’t fight to forgive them because they deserve it, we fight to forgive them because when we boil it down, we don’t really forgive others for them – especially in cases like these where they don’t deserve it, but we forgive others for ourselves. we fight to forgive them because the anger is too heavy and it will only slow us down.
Healing isn’t a linear path but it’s one many of us will be on for much of our lives – because the fact of it all is, whether or not our parents or our country give us a life that we have to heal from – we will fight and we will heal.
(Shudders and whispers emerge from a crowd shocked that a woman would dare think ESPECIALLY in this day and age.)
“dangerous I know. But I’m doing it.”
They say…
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but I’ve never heard honest talk of the path to heaven. Or about the people on it. And I say that, not because I haven’t heard the traditional beliefs on what grants one access to heaven, but rather because I often, in my head and in this day and age, struggle, with the image of a person who thinks they are entitled to a spot in heaven vs the person who embodies the beauty and the good that heaven represents. [And mind you, this is exactly to say that my ideals of heaven and hell could be easily explained by that one part of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone where Harry gets the Stone over Voldemort because Harry wanted to find it but not exploit it but Voldemort was obviously acting in his own interests from day one. — coughs – republican christians – coughs]
For example – in recent weeks some extremist, mega-church Christians, expressed their desire to publicly execute members of the LGBTQ+ and trans communities. And I know this because multiple videos of Christian leadership have gone viral. [Now personally, I think these sentiments, among other things that have been preached and cheered for recently, are wrong – not to mention directly contradictory to a whole handful of fundamental Christian beliefs and values – but as a queer woman and quaker (quakerism is a branch of christianity), what do I really know?] (insert proper facial expressions to enhance sarcasm.)
Anywayyyyyyyyyy ……
As you may or may not know, when it comes to faith I am more of a spiritual person rather than a religious one. See as someone raised in the Quaker faith, I learned to value love and stewardship, acceptance and simplicity rather than paraphrasing text and praising grand imagery. But aside from those values, the reason I don’t gravitate toward larger religious institutions is because there are particular aspects of certain modern and institutionalized religions (and the stereotypical image we get in our head about the people that follow those religions) that, in my mind, have been weaponized to further stratify and control members of society. And while it’s important to note that it’s “not all” religions and it’s “not all” churches — saying it’s “not all” of them only distracts from the fact that the ones that are, can be very damaging and in some cases lethal.
I say…
All that said, recent events and the people leading those events got me thinking “if the path to hell is lined with good intentions” then would it be fair to wonder if the path to heaven is lined with, what? Un-intentions? How about microaggressions? Subtle jabs? or even things we “didn’t mean,” Or maybe just any form of “excusable” acts of disrespect [in the eyes of God or the law as determined by paraphrased text] – Because frankly, if we’re going to be so open and honest and critical about what gets you on the path to hell, if we’re going to be so dynamic with our opinions on who and what deserves God’s love (despite his biggest schtick being that he loves ALL his children) then, by all means, let’s identify some characteristics of those that might think they are on the path to heaven and the effects of their “unintentional” acts on others.
And to be clear I’m not saying this to air any specific dirty laundry. I’m just saying it because I’ve been thinking a lot lately about life and loss and about the patriarchy and religion (as one does). And I’ve been thinking about queerness, and color and beauty. I’ve been thinking about home and about what makes home special and beautiful and because I am adhd as all hell – all that somehow that got me to the idea of heaven and how I find it funny that when we think of heaven and we think of pearly gates and white clouds and sparkling utopia, but we rarely state aloud what it may actually cost those who might be unable to achieve and uphold that sort of sparkling image that some some christians preach. And because as much as we talk about the end result, we rarely think about who was stepped over to reach those goals.
The cost of progress
If the road to hell is paved with good intentions then the path to heaven is undoubtedly lined with subtle but distinguishable micro and macro-aggressions.
Now since you all know me, you know I can’t leave this blog without talking about this week’s serious event and how it relates to the catchy clickbait excerpt above.
So, as you may or may not know this week – in the attempt to stop the supreme court from its all but inevitable attack on gay, interracial and interfaith marriage [because we officially live in the dark ages] – the House put forth a bill (that passed 267-157) that writes these marriage rights into law (thus telling the supreme court to properly screw themselves and preventing them from attacking any more “controversial” rights.)
In recent weeks and in the weeks to come there will be quite a few conversations surrounding gay and interracial marriage. And with those conversations, there will be many supporters and many naysayers. And with those conversations of disapproval come voices who claim to be moral and just, who claim to be fighting a good fight on their path to heaven but in the end and in 50 years time, I can’t say that heavens’ incredibly low census will surprise me.
I suppose at the end of the day I just find it interesting that when it comes to those among us that claim to be the most devout are also the ones who, in a way, are unknowingly damning themselves in the name of supposedly saving others. [But for the record, we aren’t the ones who need saving.] Or in other cases, condemning others because, somehow, other people’s actions and who and how they love others affects your life.
So as I continue to contemplate this, among other issues that I’m currently facing in my adult life, I encourage you to take the time to do the same. I encourage you to think critically about the people and places you are supporting, I encourage you to vote. I encourage you to think about what life holds and what you hold dear because in end nothing is promised and the path to heaven [if that’s even where you hope to go] might be lined with more danger than you know.
Why does his happen every time, to people who don’t deserve it?
The families that now have to bury young men and women, and an officer who lived up to the code of the badge and gave everything. It pains too many people too often to see this happen again, again and again. We wont see any change anyways, we know the cycle all too well. Shock, mourn, argue, #neverforget, forget, mass shooting, repeat. It’s like a broken repeat button on God’s iPhone and He forgot the pass code to turn it off. Even after the recent elections, i still wonder if we will have any real change from anyone that is suppose to serve us. Not the gun organizations.
If you were like me, the news doesn’t phase you as easily as it use to. I don’t find sadness in the shock or grief in the first-hand accounts. “Oh well wasn’t me” is the casual mindset we have today, its a set in stone ideal that has become known as the common practice like its a religion or something. It needs to stop now. The lesson that we are taught needs to be refused and a change has to be made.
As young Americans, we walk around in fear of what could happen to us. We are no longer safe in theaters, malls, bars, for crying out loud we aren’t even safe in a school. A SCHOOL!! But this is the norm? this is the narrative we want to live with? Why can we not practice safety and sanity once in a while, i am telling you change is not always bad. We need to be protecting our youth, ourselves, and everyone around us.
Now i like to say this is not a total anti-gun rant.
My opinion, in general, is very grey area, middle of the road thoughts. I believe we the average american do not need assault rifles, automatic weapons, or anything that is crazy above the norm. However, i believe that people deserve the opportunity to posses a handgun, something within reason. I know there are good people who take the consistent safety class, hours of classroom and range work, and they understand that although a right, it is not something that should be put above the lives of others. Its the people that put guns above lives that need to be changed. My opinion is not popular, on either side, and ill probably get some strong worded calls and texts after reading this, but its what i believe and isn’t it fair to let me make my peace in this crazy world?
In the end, this blog that me and all of my fellow writers try to write about and express our opinions is about adulting and being very, very awkward about it. But what rulebook change or memo did we miss that adulting had to include mass shootings and fearing to leave our homes just because someone couldn’t put a life above a gun?
What i ask of those reading this, is do something to change this crazy dilemma, be the deciding factor. Get involved to make a good change not just change because you can. Make it change that helps that is good and just. Just stop sitting by the wayside waiting for it to happen.
I don’t have any more words to write for you today, no more thoughts,
“Remember, remember always, that all of us, you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt.
To be, or not to be American. What does it all mean at the end of the day. To be American means to have the right to free speech, to bear arms, to practice religion without fear of persecution, to vote for what we believe in, but to believe in freedom and equality. This country was founded on the ideals of greatness, to lift ourselves up by our bootstraps and create something out of an opportunity. The rhetoric that is being spread throughout this country has been more toxic and more divisive than ever before. As an outspoken person, I usually have a lot to say, and have had a lot to say via Twitter, but never in a formalized format such as this.
Now, it’s personal.
I’m Kenney Tran. A child of two Vietnamese-American (now) citizens. I was born here, in America, with a passport, social security number, and a college education. I’m currently serving in the Peace Corps, another privilege that American citizens have. Yet despite all of this, my own citizenship is under attack. I get it, I’ve traveled a lot. But does that mean I should not be considered a person of my own country?
The concept of birth right citizenship isn’t unique to America, contrary to what our President has been saying, as a matter of fact, there’s a beautiful list.
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cuba, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
I was brought up as a Vietnamese-American, being taught about both cultures, playing a beautiful game of balance, learning about both and taking parts of each and molding my own individual identity. I meditate and reflect a lot on my days and how my actions impact others, a trait of the Buddhist-Centric culture of Vietnam, but also have a tendency to be wild and spontaneous based off of the Extroverted-favoring nature of the United States. I consider myself to constantly be a person under construction, as a learn more about the world, I learn more about myself as well.
My parents fled warfare, a corrupt regime that refused to let people speak out about things that were happening and how they really felt. They left a country that was not accepting of ideas. So here we are, in America. The golden land, the country that is held to the golden standard of the world. So what did it mean to be American?
To be American meant to be kind, to be welcoming with open arms, to help others, to love for our neighbors and our fellow citizens in our great melting pot. It never had to do with whether or not someone was born here, where they come from or where they are going, the color of their skin, or their religion. Yet here we stand, in a country more divided than other. Watching this country from the outside, I can almost visualize it tearing apart at the seams.
I have people ask, or rather tell me, that I don’t understand the other side of the argument. That I’m biased. That my view is skewed. I’ll acknowledge that truth, but I can also admit that I’m a little bit more of an expert than at first glance, I majored in Political Science and took many classes on Political Theory as well as the Politics of Immigration. I would now like to invite you to read a couple essays I wrote on refugees and immigration for you to better understand a few concepts, most being that immigrants actually IMPROVE the GDP of a host country while also shutting down Trump’s claim on Sanctuary Cities.
I understand that from a different point of view, having an undocumented couple with a child born in the United States creates a situation where more often than not, the couple will get to stay with their American child. This brings up the argument on the right side of the aisle, with opponents saying that this would take jobs away, and it’s a quick and simple path to citizenship. Need we go back down history road to remember that we are ALL immigrants? Needless to say, the people who end up becoming parents of an American child will almost definitely be finding jobs, learning English, and contributing and becoming a part of a beautiful American society as well. It sounds just a tad better than the colonial days of forced westward expansion, slavery, and how manifest destiny created a power complex where we forget our own history and refuse to open up doors that were previously available to us.
As a citizen (for now) , of the most influential country on Earth, I would like to end with a few remarks. We are a country that should be building bridges rather than walls. With the rise of alt-right groups, hate crimes, and overall intolerance of civil discussions, it’s difficult to remember that underneath all of this, every person on Earth has a potential to be an American. To be an American citizen is not about a piece of paper or where we are born. For the longest time, it was about character. The person that we are. The person that we could be and have the potential to be. To use the rights given to use by the government in place to better ourselves, and in my case right now, using my first amendment right to express my mind… at least, while I still can.
“I received a letter just before I left office from a man. I don’t know why he chose to write it, but I’m glad he did. He wrote that you can go to live in France, but you can’t become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Italy, but you can’t become a German, an Italian. He went through Turkey, Greece, Japan and other countries. But he said anyone, from any corner of the world, can come to live in the United States and become an American.” – Ronald Reagan.
Bruce Wayne: Criminals aren’t complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what he’s after.
Alfred Pennyworth: With respect Master Wayne, perhaps this is a man that *you* don’t fully understand, either. A long time ago, I was in Burma. My friends and I were working for the local government. They were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones. But their caravans were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit. So, we went looking for the stones. But in six months, we never met anybody who traded with him. One day, I saw a child playing with a ruby the size of a tangerine. The bandit had been throwing them away.
Bruce Wayne: So why steal them?
Alfred Pennyworth: …some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.
-The Dark Knight (2008)
They have no rhyme or reason. They just want to cause chaos where they can, when they can.
In this world we have people who transcend common sense and do things that we have tried to make obsolete or want to phase out. They make a scene or hurl an insult at someone not because they want to create something; its just because they can. That is the simple fact. Its just because they have the ability combined with no control of anything that creates a toxic combination.
If you think about 2018 in a nutshell, that is simply why we are going to hell in a hand basket. We have a lot of people burning our world. Don’t believe me? Here are just a few examples;
Separating families at the US-Mexico Boarder
Basically attacking the LGBTQIA community
Mass Shootings
Hate (there are too many types which again makes the world burn)
Sexual Misconduct Cases
etc
The list goes on but these are just some that i think kindle the fire really well.
Now what is frustrating is the fact that you really cant reason with these actions. No person, place or thing will ever fall into a category that is easy to explain. Is Trump that stupid, an ass-hat, or is he very much that evil? We will never be able to reason with him or his thoughts. Of course there will be consequences, but how do you implement them when they are people who have nothing to lose?
This doesn’t just go for the President, it goes for everyone.
The people may be angry and create some heinous things and nightmares in our world, but we can still be the ones who put out the fire they have created.
We can be the people when hate speech is a headliner, we can respond with love and acceptance of those who are targeted by the haters. When we see the demonetization of people because we are afraid of them taking jobs or committing crimes when in fact they are searching for the American dream generations of our family members fought for, we need to be able to give them the tools to create a better life not the tools to turn around at the boarder of their dreams. When the guns begin to fire and take lives, we can be the ones that implement an obscene thing called reason.
We can be the ones that put out the fires
So even if people are gonna just watch the world burn, we can just move past them and put the fires out. I challenge those who are reading this to take up leadership, to take up a “fire extinguisher” and go into the world and create some sense of peace among the disorder and concern. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, just the small stuff, the small stuff always matters.
A part of me has never been good at articulating what is actually on my mind. I tend to turn to blame, anger, fear, and all the other nasty emotions we, humans, tend to get wrapped in – so I guess what I want to clear up before I start is that this post isn’t really about politics – its about me being done with how much hate I have seen lately and that I just want to do what I can to change the conversation. So while this is going to start a little rough – just keep with it, I promise to make it worth it…
-R
Done with Hate
When I say I am done with Politics what I really mean is that I am done with the hate it seems to bring from both sides – and when I say I am done with politics it isn’t really about politics at all its more of a hot trigger word to get people to focus in because no one really gets drawn in by “Hey why don’t you just make someone’s day today!”
So when I say I am done with whatever I guess it means that a part of me is done with democracy. Of choices and sides and slander because lately, I feel as though I have lost faith in the system – in myself, in my faith, in the idea that people can be caring and honest – and I know this may sound like it is angled at one person but I am done with blaming anyone other than myself.
See often there is no outlet for people like me who are so frustrated about nothing and everything that, well it all gets pent up. It all gets focused and gross and rots almost like a dream deferred.
I guess, sometimes, a part of me worries that I am still stuck in my anxiety-fueled teen years. That my mouth hurts from the braces rather than the words trapped in the back of my throat. Then I see all those videos of people standing up and telling me to vote – that my voice matters, but I still wonder if it does.
You can’t call this type of feeling insecurity, but I suppose you could call it grief – because the stress that ensues from trying [and failing] to be PC isn’t one I want to live with so I end up on here ranting to strangers about how unfair it is for my middle-class white ass. BUT IT ISNT – AND HOW DARE I.
Have you ever felt sorry for yourself? and then suddenly a wave passes over you telling you to stop being ungrateful? I have… but then I realize that there is a difference between accepting your shortcomings and admitting that you can do something to extend what you have to others. and this post is a great example because by saying I am “done with politics” I could influence others to be, but that isn’t what I want to do…
No. What I want is to tell everyone that I am done with the system as it is – I am fed up with the way people are treated, I am sick of hate being a primary consumer product and I want to change that. And this isn’t meant to post blame – it isn’t meant to point a finger but rather gives each of us an opportunity to change the world around us because power is nothing without words – without a message – and without a vessel to spread it.
So let’s be the vessel let’s be powerful by spreading something more. Let’s be the change we wish to see in the world – and let us start today.
and a leader who turns privilege into the new definition of victimization.
you see
growing up I was taught to believe a victim was someone whose power was unfairly taken from them.
that a victim was someone who knew what they had lost –
but now it has become the definition of someone who knows what they can lose only to be rewarded for ill-fitting deeds,
and tantrums
I mean drop your arguments on whether or not this man has committed a crime
but look at how he reacted
look at how he was made to be a hero after suffering these false claims
and look now at the names he was not called for being over emotional…
anyway.
this got me thinking…
if Kavanaugh is a victim, is Cosby?
if Kavanaugh was ‘wrongly and evily accused, was Brock Turner?
and if women who open their mouths after years of suffering are mocked by the president himself as a result – if people cheer for a man that mocks women for trying to reclaim what their attacker took from them – if women who do this are evil, then what are rapists, pedophiles, murderers?
if the villains are heroes and the heroes who make statements villains than what chance do I have to grow up and be something more?
because if all men now have to fear being “falsely accused”
if all men – created equal under our constitutions are victims of woman’s words…
then who will hear US while they cry wolf and who will protect US from a constitution where only MEN were created superior?
an explanation
Not all men are created evil – in fact I don’t believe anyone is “evil”. I think the word evil stems from archaic claims of magic and bewitching and things that do not pertain to people but rather their actions.
This week women and girls everywhere were mocked – they were taught that their voice means nothing and that middle age white men (who are in no way victims) can take power from those who actually suffer (male, female, black, white, rick poor, gender normative, or gender neutral without voices) This week we learned the lengths one man will go to weaponize victimization in order to make real victims and those who actually suffer feel inferior, and I know people will buy into it, but not me…
Awkward n' Adulting 
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