#I'm just glad to be playing as John no matter what tbh

[fablexdreams]

I like the rdr2 epilogue, and I'm tired of pretending I don't. (I literally have never pretended. I have always made my love clear.) Is John's model questionable? Mhm. Does he look a bit too much like Arthur? Yep. Could R* have put a bit more work into it? For sure. Do I still love it, tho? Very much so. The family moments between John, Abigail, and Jack? His friendship with Sadie, Charles, and Uncle? The whispers of Arthur and Dutch in everything John is/does? R* actually showing John's struggle to leave the outlaw life behind and be there for his family instead of just pretending he became a perfect family man overnight, (like a lot of other games would have done)? John's adorably sweet and emo journal entries? It all makes up for it for me. I love the epilogue.

[dex-xe]

I’ve made Spotify playlists inspired by each of the ghosts and I’ve made these little written pieces to talk about them. if you wanna read them, please go ahead - if not then enjoy the music!!

This is Thomas' playlist:

If anyone actually reads these let me know, cause they take quite a while to write and while I will finish all of them cause I'm a perfectionist and want them all to be consistent but if anyone actually enjoys these let me know??

Friday I’m In Love - The Cure

This doesn’t really need an explanation, Robert Smith just “really speaks” to him. I think any love song probably speaks to Thomas to some degree but I’m glad he likes it.

I Should Be So Lucky - Kylie Minogue

He loves it so much he stole it. Genuinely that’s one of my favourite scenes when he performs it for Alison just because I love his little *hides face* “please send correspondence to Miss Minogue!”

You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift

We all know Thomas love a lovey pop song so like old Taylor Swift. He would dance to that over and over on repeat. He’d also appreciate the beauty of a modern love story like he does in Friends. Like the holding up the cards through the window in the music video would also remind him of Love Actually which he also loves.

Daydream Believer - The Monkees

This is Thomas’ world and we’re all just living in it. Daydreaming about Alison while not being able to do anything.

Girls Like You - Vitamin String Quartet

I said this with Kitty but it also applies to Thomas: the Bridgerton soundtrack fits nicely. Thomas would’ve been a teenager or have just come of age when Bridgerton was set so the balls and the season and everything would be the ultimate dream of Thomas who clearly loves things like that.

Venus As A Boy - Björk

Yes, this song is probably about just good sex but I also like to interpret it as being about the beauty of a man and the idea of feminine beauty (Venus) in the body of a man which I think is very Thomas who is obviously very in touch with the feminine side of beauty.

Dancing Queen - ABBA


Thomas king of dancing at Button House, his little dances to The Cure and at the party are just so fucking cute?? King behaviour.

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John & Kiki Dee

Self-explanatory but like love at first sight and everything.

Take A Chance On Me - ABBA

Do you reckon Thomas will ever clock that Alison truly doesn’t feel the same?? Cause she’s obviously not gonna take a chance on him and like she obviously shouldn’t cause Mike is 100000% better for her XD (not just because he’s alive…) but like will he ever properly clock that??

Creep - Radiohead

Ngl Thomas I adore you but you’re a creep, you’re a weirdo. I guess because he’s dead it doesn’t really matter that much that he’s thirsting over Alison but imagine being Alison. You’re living in this big old house with your incredibly loving and devoted husband and there’s just some dead guy in the corner like “i love you more than he does”. Thomas mate consider the consequences of your actions XD

Ever Fallen in Love (With Somebody You Shouldn’t’ve) - Buzzcocks

Self explanatory but like, I’ve just said imagine being Alison but on the other hand imagine being Thomas. You’ve been living in this big old house for literally two centuries when all of a sudden it’s invaded by a beautiful woman (Alison, my beloved) but you’re dead and literally can’t do anything about your feelings. Painful. So yeah, I don’t blame Thomas for a lot of his stuff cause like I know what it’s like to fall for someone you can’t have, it hurts, man.

Line Without a Hook - Ricky Montgomery

“She’s a - she’s a lady, and I am just a boy” I feel like the way Thomas loves Alison is like a little boy crush cause Thomas died young and inexperienced in the field of love despite literally obsessing over the concept of love in his poetry. He doesn’t understand the complexity of love as is shown when he’s like to Alison “leave him, kill yourself, marry me” or something like that like he really doesn’t understand love despite loving it. He’s not too far away from Kitty in that respect I guess, they both have quite childish, fairytale-like views of love.

I Think We’re Alone Now - Tiffany

“Alone at last” Thomas get the fuck outta the bath, man!! But yeah, this gives me 90s girls sleepover vibes like little whispered secrets in the dark and honestly I fully love that.

Can’t Help Falling in Love - Elvis Presley

Again one of the reasons I don’t entirely blame Thomas for his love for Alison is because often you really can’t help it.

You Can’t Hurry Love - The Supremes

Significantly better than the Phil Collins cover which seems to get more play?? But yeah just a great song, nothing really to say.

Boys Don’t Cry - The Cure

“As an English boy, you’re encouraged not to show your emotions” - Robert Smith. Thomas is very much the rejection of that and very over expressional of his emotions which tbh is way more healthy. Thank you Thomas, boys do in fact cry (if they don’t then good lord I guess I’m no longer a boy XD)

Oh Patti (Don’t Feel Sorry For Loverboy) - Scritti Politti

“Don't feel sorry for lover boy, he wants the world to love him, then he goes and spoils it all for love”.

This Charming Man - The Smiths

(This is one of the first songs I ever remember hearing, not relevant but it’s true) The idea of rejecting “alpha-masculinity” is I think super interesting and very telling for Thomas, like he rejects the idea of traditional masculinity but he does it by attacking those who embody that form of masculinity. Like calling men ‘philistines’ (it took me so long to figure out the spelling of that) for embodying traditional masculinity and I just find that super interesting. It’s like the idea of women supporting women and the rejection of the ‘pick-me’ girl and the ‘not like other girls’ girl in favour of supporting everyone regardless of what type of femininity or otherwise they choose to employ, one day hopefully Thomas will catch that idea and apply it to other men.

Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood

Bi Thomas, that’s my reasoning. XD Nah it’s just a great song

My Melancholy Blues - Queen

Thomas’ sulking is genuinely just iconic like his sighing place and like when he gets interrupted in his sulking is the start of so many iconic lines.

[palaugranetes]

🔵BLAUGRANETS🔴

JC: Y'all really gonna just be quiet this entire time huh...

Riqui: I mean.. What is there to be said

JC: 😐

9 December 2020

JC: Sometimes I feel so glad to not be there and other times I'm just sad ...

Ansu: These are sad times

Ansu: Very sad times

Ansu: One might even say depressing.

Riqui: That is exactly it.

Carlitos: You know what Ricard.. Look on the brightside...

Riqui: What brightside... There is only one side and it is as dark as night

Carlitos: Even the night has moonlight to brighten it up...

Riqui: Shut up Curlitos

Frenkie: What is that brightside?

Carlitos: Oh.. um.. this only concerns us.. the non playing players

Frenkie: 🤦🏼‍♂️

Carlitos: It is what it is.. the brightside of this @Riqui is that you and I are not part of this clownery..

Riqui:

Carles: Uhm.. why?

Riqui: You can look at this in two ways.. the brightside where it says you got a point or my side, the correct side, that says No shit Sherlock.

Carlitos: I pick the first.

Riqui: And you, once again, would be wrong

Ansu: Who do you guys think we will get 🙄

Pedri: It doesn't matter

Sergiño: It kinda does though

JC: I wonder who we will get.

Ansu: I just asked...

JC: I meant We as in Benfica

Ansu: Ah.. yeah well idc about Europa sorry 😋

JC: Well at least We have a chance at it... unlike you.

Ansu: Hey.. Words hurt..

JC: Don't poke the bear.

Dembz: Sam is the bear.. you are more like a Giraffe..

JC: Either way both can mess you up.

Dembz: Can they though?

Ansu: A Giraffe? Really?

JC: 😒

Francisco: The way the tables have turned on us in just 2 pens

Riqui: 🙂

Iñaki: I would like to not be called up anymore tbh

Arnau: For real.. I mean no amount of pep talk and hugs can save us now

Carlitos: Sure they can.

13 December 2020

Ansu: ARNAU THAT SAVE BOY!

Ansu: Y'all I'm really happy for Alex! Look at him tearing it up!!

Iñaki: Right?!

Iñaki: Cannot believe I am missing the Derbi.

Ansu: Dang Hiroki...😕😕

Riqui: Man his luck.. wtf even was that

Riqui: I really hate them

Carlitos: Me too

Ansu: @Riqui I think it is time to bring in Oscar..

Riqui: Sighs.. I know

Carlitos: Well do it then

Riqui: Fine..

Riqui added Oscar

Ansu: YES!!

Oscar: Well.. this is new

Riqui: Behave

Iñaki: YO!!!

Oscar: I literally just got here.

Riqui: I said what I said.

Oscar: 😊

Carlitos: HEYYYY

Oscar: EL DERBI ES BLAUGRANA!!! Fuck yes!!

Riqui: Language!

Ansu: 😂

Carlitos: Ouff I am so happy for the boys. We needed that

Ansu: We did.. and the adults need a W as well

Riqui: Don't put money on it

Pedri: Okay.. but as long as we have Leo we always have a chance.

Riqui:

Carlitos: Now what

Ansu: I really don't get him

Riqui: @Pedri is right

Pedri: I know

Francisco: I'm lost..

Dembz: What else is new

JC: Bro

Ansu: Harsh

Dembz: JK bro 💙

Francisco: I kinda expected that... but I am still hurt

Frenkie: I have a good feeling about today.

Arnau: hotspot that good feeling to everyone bro cause we are not having a good time

Sergiño: Some decisions are just.. 🤷🏽‍♂️

Iñaki: Yes.. some.

-------------

Dembz: Damn we really do look awful out there

Ansu: Torture. This is torture.

JC: I don't know why I keep watching.

Ansu: MARC!!

Arnau: BOSS!!!!!!! KING

Arnau: I am so glad I'm not there

Iñaki: Same

Dembz: Here here

Ansu: I wish I was... I miss it..

Iñaki: awh

Ansu: How are you even texting

Iñaki: Bro I am bored and I am not gonna play

Ansu: Fair

Arnau: LIONEL DE LA MEVA VIDA!!!!

Ansu: FUCK YES LEO!!

Dembz: Jeez Finally!

Ansu: Look at Geri hehehe being all 💪🏿💪🏿

Dembz: The way we all got injured and the pranks just poofed away

Ansu: I am safe.. so I don't care

Dembz: 😒

Arnau: Don't sleep on him though

JC: It's the Holidays.. times of joy and happiness

Arnau: And crappy football apparently

Ansu: Thank God it's over

Arnau: The way I have been saying that every match lately...

Arnau: I hate it here.

Arnau: So back to the CL.. who do you think we'll get?

Ansu: I hate that I am going to miss these matches

Dembz: I feel a Barça-City

Ansu: Just for laughs.. Bayern

Ansu: And by laughs I mean plenty of manful tears

Ansu: And by manful tears I mean crying like babies.

14 December 2020

Carlitos: So France

Riqui: Oui

Carlitos: Hey we get a free trip to Paris at least @Riqui

Riqui: In this pandemic? What's the use..

Carlitos: for once agree with me on something

Frenkie: I expected worse

Pedri: Our options were so not light

Oscar: I wonder...

Sergiño: You wonder?

Oscar: If we will get a taste of our own medicine.

Riqui: Nope we won't

Ansu: That's the spirit

Riqui: Chill

Carlitos: Look at you!

Riqui: I am trying to be nice.. Apparently I have an attitude problem...

Pedri: You? Smiley MCSmileton?

Riqui: 🤷🏼‍♂️

Ansu: I mean

Riqui: 😒

Frenkie: Nah

Pedri: The amount of BS you read in the papers

Francisco: The only problem you have Riqui is that you are not playing tbh.. and that would make someone a bit iffy.

JC: Like the stunt he pulled yst.. wtf do you mean you warmed up for nothing.

Ansu: 🤦🏿‍♂️

Oscar: Some of these decisions I tell you..

Dembz: You misspelled all*

Oscar: Working on my attitude like Riqui is.

Carlitos: 😂

Iñaki: I suggest attitude lessons from @Arnau

Arnau: Don't drag me into this please.. I only give out hugs not lessons.

Iñaki: See?

Dembz: Both of you are fine.. forget about those idiots

Ansu: You need an Attitude adjustment too

JC: *Calls John Cena*

Ansu: You are not better

JC: I would give you the finger but I won't cause I'm nice like that

Frenkie: Enough with the attitude talk.. You all are good

Pedri: What Frenks said

Francisco: So back PSG..

Riqui: We will get to it when we get to it.. We have more pressing things now I guess.. We gotta win more guys this is really making me upset

------------

Carlitos: Tusquets needs to shut the hell up.

Pedri: He could not be more wrong.

Carlitos: CAN JANUARY COME ALREADY SO WE CAN GET RID OF THESE BRAINLESS PEOPLE!!

Riqui: 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️

Oscar: This is really not helping anyone.. LIKE DOES HE UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS HERE AND HE CAN HEAR HIM SAY ALL THAT SHIT?!

Riqui: I volunteer to pay for some econ and marketing courses for him

Oscar: And save some money to buy him some sense cause Holy shit

Carlitos: I am really pissed off. Like dude.. SHUT UP

Oscar: For real.

[survivor-iceland]

Ep. 9 - “I have some new life in me, and I'm not going to squander it” - Raffy

Maynor

This challenge is agony. I dont know how well im doing or how others are. I know Timmy Keith n Stephen are like way down. Im just hoping Raffy Ellie or Keith dont win it.

Maynor

Im so glad that the game is still going wellish for me. Like i havent gotten a vote yet besides my name being thrown out there. Like some people have like a bad read in the game. Raffy told me yesterday that it was 4-4 and that he was the swing vote 🤷‍♂️ Like maybe paying attention you could see that your allies jumped ship from your side. Dylan and Keith both lied and lead raffy on. He was very confident that he got Joseph gone. People really did underestimated me in this game. I am a very dangerous player.

Raffy

I need to win this immunity challenge because if I do not then my ass is going to go next. I'm going to try to lift myself out of this, but it doesn't seem likely. It feels like I am the tribe pariah. Joseph talked to me earlier as if he wanted to talk to me. He was trying to uplift my spirits, but it means nothing since he is just going to vote for me anyways. He's trying to spout all this bullshit about how things don't have to be this way and how we could work together again, but it's all just bullshit. I'm not going to be tricked into complacency. 

Timmy

Raffy kept complaining that Joseph is cocky, yet throughout this challenge Raffy has been so cocky and he’s being so obnoxious like my god it’s so stupid. And then he’s putting stickers on Joseph which is just causing raffy himself to lose points which is hilarious. I think when Maynor gets home from work we’re gonna do a joint video confessional finally.

Maynor

This challenge is a long one but feel like i have iy won if i just keep going. I have a bit of a lead. So lets hope for an immunity win.

Raffy

Dylan has thrown the challenge to Maynor at this pint by giving him an endless amount of points. And so there’s no way I can win so I’ve given up on the challenge. I just feel so alone right now in this game. Even with Ellie’s support, I feel like everyone is just ignoring me and going to vote me out no matter what. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I’m stuck with these people who don’t care about me. Maybe that’s my fault, but there’s nothing changing that fact. So, I’m just going to wait for results and see what I can do to scrape by. I’m just going to have my pity party all by myself. I hate being in this position because it makes you realize just how alone and insignificant your actions really are. No matter what I do it’s all just hopeless. No one likes me here and why should they. It’s over anyways. I don’t even want to come back if I got the chance because it’ll just be filled with people who will just vote me out again. The game is over for me, so I’m just ready to accept my jury position and vote. Cause it’s the only power over this game that I have left. 

Timmy and Maynor

https://youtu.be/vt6S2ifkZVw

Ellie

I need to be on the right side of the numbers rn, even if I have to vote out Raffy. I love the dude so much but I’m on the bottom and if it’s not him then it’s me

Raffy

With tribal being tonight, I’m trying to convince people to keep me by promising my word and saying that I’ll always be the bigger threat. At least for next round. This means the target is not on them, but on me. I don’t know how well that will pay off, but I have to try. I reached out to Maynor, Timmy, Stephen, Keith, and Dylan. Keith thinks it’s going to be him which is wild TimmyAin’t no time to be subtle right now. Raffy gotta go since tribal is happening tonight! Yet also here I am watching vines to calm me down. But it’s his time to leave.

Keith

Got blindsided in the last Vote. Officially have zero percent chance of winning. So Basically Waiting to get to Jury. Also. JOHNN I AM SORRY 

Dylan C

Raffy is trying to convince me not to vote for him, which I'd consider if other people would get on board w/it. But also he threw out Ellie's name and I wouldn't vote her, that's for sure, bc I don't want to see her go yet and I also told her last night that I wasn't about to target her. His offer to keep him in the game is as a shield which I thought about earlier tbh. If I helped save him, could I pseudo fix our game relationship or is that a lost cause is the question tho. Less lost if I don't vote him out this round. Keith is also convinced he's going which is? Hello?? No one said his name as a potential vote to me yet so?? Joseph CollinsThis is the one. This is the tribal I go home. Because I’m comfortable for the first time. And that’s so dangerous. 

Maynor

I won immunity. 😁😁😁 i really wanted it bad and it showed because I tried to do every 10 minute. Having immunity feels good. The decision for the vote wasnt that hard. Everyone seemed to settle on Raffy. He’s a great person but game wise he wont trust me even though he says he would. Like trust there was broken when I wrote Zoe’s name and I wasnt getting it back anytime soon. Hopefully the vote works and he does go home. Have to play round to round because the game always shifts and changes.

Timmy

Hope everything with Keith is okay. Raffy goes next time.

Dylan C

Keith drops and Jack returns from EoE. The former is unexpected and the latter was somewhat expected tbh.

Raffy

Keith is the Messiah. He died for our sins. He literally saved my life in this game by quitting. For that, I am forever greatful. I have some new life in me, and I'm not going to squander it. For Zoe and for John, I will win. Jack being back may be a good thing because he is a fresh face which means he is a potential ally. We're still at 8 which means I need 4 votes. I know it's me and Ellie. So I jsut need two more to tie and one more to have majority. I can do this.

[pocinperioddramas]

Haha whoops, I forgot to say that if you want sources for any of the stuff I mentioned I can track them down for you - the comments were just way too long already. (Thanks again for the thoughtful, civil conversation. I'm trying to find a non-patronizing-sounding way to say I was nowhere near as mature and self-aware as you in high school and I can't, but I swear I don't mean it that way, I just admire that. It took me way longer and I'm not even sure I'm there yet.)

So to start with I’m glad you’ve put so much thought into this. I personally as kind of uncomfortable bringing it up, as I *know* I’m not super well-informed on Israel, but I didn’t feel I could say nothing. With that knowledge in mind, I tentatively support a two-state solution - I’m not sure whether it’s relevant if it could *realistically* happen without further bloodshed - if it TECHNICALLY could, that’s probably what matters. (I’m maybe not expressing myself well - it’s like how a lot of things in Canada/USA which are technically possible are realistically less possible because of conservative obstruction, but we still aim for them.) Or even just… LESS bloodshed then right now.

There’s a post going around that GG posted on fb that’s getting a lot of flak, but the actual post specifically condemns Hamas, not Palestine, and her statements in the post support coexistence - and, yes, young IDF soldiers, but military service is compulsory in Israel - I know I feel for any young people drafted or convinced into combat. Like - it’s still okay to have an issue with her support of the military (although, like I said, her service wasn’t a choice and she wasn’t in combat), but a lot of the problem I think is that her service in/support of the Israeli military is being scrutinized and condemned, while celebrities like, say, Adam Driver, who supports the American military HARDCORE, like, complete with fundraising and stuff, go completely unscrutinized and uncondemed despite the US military’s own horrible track record/activities.

Last thing I think - it’s been my understanding that the creation of Israel created so many problems due to mistakes/racism/anti-Semitism by Western powers, and not Israelis or Jewish people in general. I don’t know how accurate that is - but it complicates the idea of Israel as ‘colonialist.’ (Although obviously the affect on Palestine has been… unjustly detrimental, to put it obscenely mildly.) I’d feel way more comfortable letting a Jewish person speak on this.

I know you’re looking for a mod - have you considered looking for a Jewish perspective, not specifically, but maybe as a desirable thing? Erm. Sorry for length, I didn’t intend for that number of replies. Thanks again for giving this so much thought. (VERY different experience from the last time I sent a blog I like a message like that tbh.)

Hello again, thanks for all your replies! :) I will respond to all of them here, by the way, for easier reading and so there will be not too many replies in that one post alone.

I understand your point about a realistic solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict not being that relevant as of now, as that wouldn’t be very easy especially if there is still obstruction from self-interested parties, and you make a fair parallel to the situation there in Canada and the US. So yes, at the very least, less bloodshed than before would be something to aim for, which will hopefully eventually lead to the war’s end and full peace at last.

I saw a screenshot of that post - that was the very post for which people began truly disliking and condemning Gal for since it’s so explicit in its support of IDF. She brings up Hamas in that post - but Hamas can be interpreted as either a fundamentalist group of terrorists or a grassroots organization of freedom fighters, depending on your views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict/war in Gaza. To be honest, I don’t know what my stance on Hamas is yet, as I’ve read contradicting information about the group and I don’t know what to believe as of now. But there is apparently one falsehood that Gal perpetuates about Hamas in that post, whether or not you believe them to be terrorists or noble freedom fighters - she says that Hamas is using Palestinian women and children as human shields, something which has apparently already been disproven by a number of major news organizations (see here and here for more information).

Here’s an important quote from the 2nd article I linked that I find relevant:

“Speaking up for the Palestinians does not mean you are supporting Hamas or even are anti-Israel. It is just impossible to ignore the facts. In this so-called “war” there are way more people dying on one side than the other. And most of the people dying are civilians. Not only that, but hospitals and schools are in the cross-hairs, too. Yes, any nation reserves the right to defend itself. But is this really self defense or a variation of Florida’s barbarian “Stand Your Ground” laws played out on a global scale?

The other thing that bothers me about Gadot’s stance on the conflict is one of the hashtags she uses: #weareright. That hashtag is buttressed by other, more palatable ones like #freegazafromhamas and #coexistance (sp), but it still oozes with the kind of nationalism that leads to the kind of escalation that will ultimately make everything worse for both sides.

Here’s the thing. When you have hundreds of people — most of whom are women and children — dead and hospitals and schools destroyed, no one is right. War is terrible and awful. Not a spectator sport. Supporting one’s country does not mean you have to also support what that country is doing, especially when so much death and destruction is the direct result of those actions.

The fact that Gadot will be the real life embodiment of Wonder Woman for generations to come is what makes this all so ironic. Maybe not as ironic as casting, say, Ted Nugent as Batman, but still. Wonder Woman is supposed to be an ambassador of peace. Of course, she’s also an Amazon warrior who isn’t afraid to take up the sword against evil, but Diana of Themyscira only goes to war for those who cannot fight for themselves.

Is it possible that, were Wonder Woman real, her view of the conflict in Gaza would be filled with more compassion for the oppressed? Isn’t that the kind of justice that a character like Wonder Woman is supposed to inspire?”

As the quote points out, even though she says she supports coexistence in her hashtags, she uses the hashtags #weareright and #loveidf at the same time. I am aware of her history as a soldier serving in the IDF and I’m also aware that in Israel, serving in their military is compulsory, so I do not really condemn her for that. But the fact is that she remains an active supporter of IDF when she doesn’t have to be, because as far as I know, it isn’t compulsory for Israeli citizens to actively show their support and love for the IDF like through social media (unless it is, so please correct me if I’m wrong there - because I don’t know enough about Israeli laws and policies on that front). After her service in the military, she could have just remained quiet and not necessarily have been so public about her support of the IDF (but then that might have been a whole other can of worms as she would be condemned for her silence on the issue, for it could be viewed as being still complicit in the oppression due to her not speaking out on it).

I didn’t know about Adam Driver (who, like Gal, also served in his country’s military, although this time it wasn’t compulsory and thus it is less understandable and he actually served in combat too from what I’ve researched now), and in that area, I think you’re right. That is a troubling phenomenon, and thank you for pointing that out. I first knew of him through “Star Wars”, but I didn’t care much about him (and still don’t) because I like the lead actors - Daisy, John, and Oscar (whose character is not really a main protagonist as of now but Poe is more important to me than Kylo Ren anyway) - much better, and he really didn’t stand out as anything special to me although I suppose he was a good actor too. That’s the thing with US-centrism (and West-centrism in general) - these Americans think their country is too good and progressive to be oppressive to other nations and countries. And in this situation, I do think that it’s more likely than not a case of implicit anti-Semitism (and perhaps even a little sexism) and so-called liberals feeling high and mighty about themselves because they condemn one form of oppression perpetuated by a non-Western country while ignoring the oppression perpetuated by their own country.

I will tread more carefully now where Adam Driver is concerned, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I will boycott “The Last Jedi” and Episode IX. I have never had plans to watch any of his other movies and TV shows (and this just solidifies my stance to not watch them at all), especially ones in which he is the main character, and while he has a significant role in the sequel trilogy, the movies have been more focused on at least Daisy and John (and now Oscar and Kelly) and that is what I’m focusing on too. But I understand that would be a problematic stance to take, as it reminds me of the time people urged others not to boycott “Suicide Squad” so as to show support for the relatively unknown actors of color there for whom these people were afraid that their careers would end and be wasted if SS was a financial flop and the time people also urged others not to boycott “The Get Down” so as to also show support for the relatively unknown actors of color (mainly black, Latinx, and Afro-Latinx) who still deserved it despite people’s legitimate concerns about Jared Leto’s creepy behavior and the allegations of sexual harassment/assault against him and the issue of Herizen Guardiola being a child predator. Rest assured, I will think on that and reevaluate my stances, and I totally understand people who will not watch or who will boycott “Star Wars” due to Adam Driver’s presence and I will not condemn them for that.

For your last point, while that may have been the case at the beginning and that may be somewhat understandable (and I’m not fully convinced), that doesn’t account for all the atrocities that Israel has committed against Palestinians, especially at present. I doubt all of the cruelties they inflicted were a result of mistakes or US anti-Semitism - it’s far too many to all have been the product of mistakes, and they are still doing it now so yeah :/ However, I do understand that Israel owes a lot to US support and the US should be called out as vocally for its continued support for Israel, but there’s a line from this article which I linked to before in my previous response that I think we should consider: “Israel is an extension of US imperialism, doing its dirty work of intimidating regional enemies with periodic military aggression and a rogue nuclear arsenal. The US has no special interest in oppressing the Palestinians, but they are powerless enough to be expendable in the Great Power game.”

It may not be the best parallel to make, but this kind of reminds me (not specifically referring to you or anyone else, sorry if it comes off that way) of our current situation in the Philippines - how our president, Rodrigo Duterte, tries to deflect US criticism of his bloody war on drugs and the thousands of extrajudicial killings and murders that have happened in the course of this war by retorting with call-outs of US imperialism and colonialism in the Philippines in the past (although US imperialism still definitely affects our country at present, but Duterte usually cites things like atrocities committed by the Americans during the Philippine-American War and the American colonial period). Duterte’s call-outs are valid in that the US is still messing us up well into the present and they’ve never really apologized, and the US needs to acknowledge that too, but two wrongs do not make a right. Besides, there are plenty of Filipinos who criticize Duterte and his policies too, so that doesn’t mean all criticism of him is automatically invalid (which it’s still not, even from the US or Americans) because most of it (actually, from what I have seen, Filipinos are the most vocal) comes from the US. (And yes, for those who are curious, I am mainly anti-Duterte [but that doesn’t mean I oppose all his policies, for some do make sense, but in general, he has a terrible track record especially when it comes to actually serving his people as it seems he’s actually killing off a lot of them and violating their human rights as well] - though that doesn’t make me a yellowt*rd or a supporter of the Liberal Party/P-Noy/the Aquinos and the Cojuangcos as many Duterte fans are so fond of making false dichotomies - so if there are Filipino followers out there whom we call DDS (die-hard Duterte supporters), you can unfollow me.)

But it is in no way the fault of Jewish people in general at all - only the fault of the Israeli government, the IDF, and the people who actively continue to support them. Not all Jewish people are Israeli and there are in fact plenty of Jewish people who are anti-Israel (I’ve found more websites now like the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network and Jewish Voice for Peace), so if anyone is blaming them for what is happening in Israel and Palestine right now, they can sit their anti-Semitic asses down and shut up.

I think we could also consider that Zionism may be to Jewish people as the Q word is to LGBT+ people and the N word is to black people - it may be an inherently flawed ideology that is only theirs to reclaim and call out if necessary, so as I said before, this means we should be more careful when it comes to using the different terms involved in this issue.

Finally, for the mod/admin thing, I am considering it - that’s actually a good idea. Preferably Jewish people of color would be good, but if there are white Jewish people who wish to join and contribute to this blog, I will consider them. I will be editing my PSAs about admin applications soon in that case, but that isn’t final yet.

Also, I understand that there are people who do tend to respond to criticism like that aggressively, and while there are some situations - depending on the issues being criticized - where that’s an okay way to go, it doesn’t always help.

And yes, sources would be good too, so thank you in advance :) Thank you for that too - I’m rather flattered. I do think I could be even more mature as I don’t consider myself that mature yet, like if you knew me personally, but thank you anyway :) I hope I was able to make more clarifications too, and that we understand each other.

-Admin Dawn