Diane @alienghic@octodon.social

"CALL TO ACTION! Join us Sunday after services to write letters of comfort to refugee children that have been separated from their families. We will be collecting small stuffed animals to take to the children with the letters. Children's artwork is especially wanted."

I can't read that and not cry.

@gamehawk alas. may you have a good weekend doing the other things.

@gamehawk Oh that's cool looking. If you decide to go could you share some photos?

@miql @Are0h

That criticism is fair. My lack of knowledge isn't your problem.

@miql @Are0h

I believe empathy is the foundation of all human ethics and morality.

Empathy and meaningful interaction with Black people have caused at least a few white supremacists to renounce their white supremacy.

I have a hunch that the 1960s civil rights leaders deliberately tried cultivate empathy among moderate whites to support ending Jim Crow.

One story is point two in this long essay on empathy. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_habits_of_highly_empathic_people1

The other is https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2016/11/03/take-money-and-run-how-don-black%E2%80%99s-son-escaped-white-supremacist-movement-he-was-born

@miql @Are0h

So what should I do?

If I don't talk to you I don't learn what I don't understand.

@miql @Are0h

Don't let anger dominate your actions.

Anger can motivate you, but let your reason and empathy control how you seek freedom.

If you just let anger control you, your opponents will be able to manipulate you into making mistakes.

@Are0h

FWIW I'm in California, and the majority of whites in California believe and vote differently than the rest of the USA.

https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/california-forum/article119870398.html

I know many of my direct representatives are Black and Asian. So in my world American Black people do end up in positions of power.

While Attorney General Kamala Harris' office argued in favor of prison labor (AKA modern slavery).

Though that may be sound bite slander, I found this story where she tried to recant. https://thinkprogress.org/california-attorney-general-says-her-offices-defense-of-prison-labor-evokes-chain-gangs-5c768fd447a4/

@Are0h Mugabe was scarred by white supremacy and colonialism.

The Daily show clips show Mugabe speaking using the language of racism.

That anger he felt triggered his decision to engage in disastrous land reform policies of Zimbabwe, which led to local famines.

In families, children of abusers frequently grow up to be abuser.

I am concerned that societies may behave similarly.

So, just please be mindful of how you define in-group vs out-group.

@Are0h ok Donald Trump and Robert Mugabe have definite similarities. Also its totally fair to refer to European dictators of the mid twentieth century.

@Are0h

Ok I'm totally on board with working out how to have conversations that recognize other peoples experiences and fundamental humanity.

@Are0h

A good example is Trevor Noah's monologue on how Donald Trump is America's first African president.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FPrJxTvgdQ

He cut clips between horrible things Donald Trump said and similar things other African dictators had said.

@Are0h

Just be careful, hate can fester in anyone's heart given enough power.

Yes, people of European descent have had their run at exploiting most of the people of the world, and yes the system of white supremacy in the USA absolutely needs to be dismantled (And the EU needs to face up to its own racism too)

But being able to dehumanize someone, to kill ones ability to empathize with the other, can happen to any human who holds power long enough.

Essay by bunnie studios how currently proposed US tariffs will hurt hobbyists and small businesses.

https://www.bunniestudios.com/blog/?p=5349

@Are0h @thornyonmain

Can we bring back the word Quisling? Seems relevant these days.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quisling

It's hard to write down the anger I feel toward this regime and his kool-aid drinking, white supremacist, neo-nazi supporters.

@rhiaro you need access to some emission free electric buses.

@gamehawk YOU MUST KEEP STARING.

Here have a bigger wreck.

@cosullivan one of my Debian key signings was a total spy novel.

I met a stranger at a specific time, in a major train station to exchange a secret code.

I stumbled onto an amazing photo, and there's a banner saying creative commons, so I'm going to share it.

Found on https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/grjotagja while I was looking for underground lakes.

Apparently so many people were happy about Mexico's World Cup goal, their excitement showed up on seismographs.
http://abc7.com/sports/false-quake-detected-in-mexico-city-after-players-winning-goal/3613602/