#power of CommUNITY

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

now that trump has tiktok, twitter, facebook and insta in his pocket, get ready for a massive wave of internet censorship. one of trump's greatest weapons has always been misinformation; it's going to become harder and harder to spread facts and criticism going forward. posts that aren't made invisible will be magically ignored by the algorithm. dissidents will have their accounts deleted and voices erased.

this is a suppression tactic. this is another stage of fascism.

[bodyofbrilliance]

Ordinary to Extraordinary: Change Begins with You

[thedearlydepart]

Tight Knots, Loose Threads

Social Bonds and Justice in Society

In their respective works, Martin Luther King Jr. and Amitai Etzioni offer distinct yet complementary insights into justice, community bonds, and the role of communication in fostering a good society. King identifies justice through moral righteousness and equitable laws, while Etzioni emphasizes the balance between frayed and tightly knit social bonds. Both authors argue that meaningful communication and discourse are essential to building a just and cohesive society. King's vision of non-violent dialogue for social change and Etzioni's advocacy for respectful public discourse demonstrate how communication can bridge divisions and strengthen community ties.

Martin Luther King addressed the condemnation that (white) clergymen in America placed on him due to being the protest's leader. On April 12, 1963, King and others led a non-violent protest against segregation. That protest led to King and 54 others' arrests. While in jail,  the clergymen wrote an article published in a Birmingham newspaper, describing the protest as untimely and unwise. In that letter, King addresses why he broke the laws. He says that the law he broke was unjust to begin with. King identifies justice or what a just law is in two ways. The first is that any law must be morally righteous, meaning he, as a clergyman, will only obey a law that aligns with the word of [the Christian] God. "A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God." (King, 1963). The second way is that the law, both in its direct writing and in its application, is equitable. That is to say: "…a just law is a code that a majority compels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself." (King, 1963)

Like King, Etzioni wants to foster a good society; however, they approach it from the standpoint of community building and balance. He argues, and I feel like most would agree, that social bonds are essential for human well-being. They provide us with a sense of belonging and support. However, bonds that are too tightly knit can be oppressive.

"I refer to communities in which bonds, even those among peers, are restrictive, preventing proper development of self, cramping individuality, spontaneity, and creativity." (Etzioni, 2002, 84)

In contrast, groups with social ties that are weak can lead to isolation and alienation. Using Robert Putnam's work to emphasize this: 

"the loosening of bonds within the family (both extended and nuclear) is well known. This trend, of course, is quite consistent with--and may help to explain--our theme of social decapitalization." (Putnam, 1995, 73)  

Etzioni believes that a healthy society requires a balance—bonds should be strong enough to foster a diverse community but not disallow autonomy within groups.

Both Etzioni argues that peace and non–violent communication can bridge the gap between people within a community to strengthen the group overall. For King, that includes direct, non-violent action, even in the face of violence. 

"... Isn't negotiation a better path?' You are quite right in calling for negotiation. Indeed, this is the very purpose of direct action. Non-violent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue." (King, 1963) 

In Etzioni's case, He takes a more general approach, coining the phrase megalopae; to foster the correct balance between diverse people, a nationwide dialogue about those differences must be had and resolved.

"The answer that is compatible with the vision of a good society spelled out here is that the best way to change the direction of a society is to have megalogues about the substance of members' values and the intensity of their commitments to values they affirm." (Etzioni, 2002, 92)

Martin Luther King Jr. and Amitai Etzioni emphasize the role of communication and social bonds in fostering a good society. King’s call for justice through non-violent dialogue highlights the need for direct action to challenge unjust laws and promote equality. Etzioni, on the other hand, stresses the importance of balancing social interactions to ensure a healthy community that supports both unity and personal autonomy. Both perspectives underscore that meaningful communication—whether through King’s non-violent resistance or Etzioni’s megalogues—is essential for bridging divides, fostering trust, and building a cohesive society. Ultimately, their shared belief in the power of discourse shows that peace, justice, and social cohesion are best achieved when communities come together through open and respectful dialogue.

References

EJI. (n.d.). Apr. 12, 1963 | Bull Connor Orders Violent Arrests of Dr. MLK Jr. and Dozens More. Retrieved September 8, 2024, from https://calendar.eji.org/racial-injustice/apr/12

Etzioni, A. (2002, May). "The Good Society. Seattle Journal for Social Justice, 1(1), 83 - 96. https://digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu/sjsj/vol1/iss1/7?utm_source=digitalcommons.law.seattleu.edu%2Fsjsj%2Fvol1%2Fiss1%2F7&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages

King, M. L. (1963, April 16). Letter from a Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.]. The Africa Center. Retrieved September 8, 2024, from https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

Putnam, R. (1995, January). Bowling Alone: America's Declining Social Capital. Journal of Democracy, 6(1), 65 - 78. https://www.historyofsocialwork.org/1995_Putnam/1995,%20Putnam,%20bowling%20alone.pdf

[dcxdpdabbles]

Dick bored in class thinks loudly: Are there any mind riders here?

Danny thinks back: Yeah, hi.

Dick: *Falling out of his desk with a shriek*

Teacher: Mr. Grayson! If you are going to disrupt this class one more time, I'll have you thrown out!

Dick: Sorry, sorry. *sits in desk mentally shouting* Who are you!? What information have you stolen from my mind!?

Danny: Whoa, calm down there, Robin. You were the one who asked. I thought you already knew about me.

Dick: How could I possibly know about you!?

Danny: You literally lit candles for me yesterday. You said this lovely prayer, too, though I couldn't understand it

Dick: I lit candles for the dead homeless kid i found- oh. You're a ghost.

Danny: In a way.

Dick: Did the light not guide you home? Should I light more candles?

Danny: If you like. What's that about anyway? The candles?

Dick: It's a Romani tradition. Ussually, the candle is light on your death and kept on until the funeral, but I found you too late, so I just made a circle.

Danny: That's so sweet. Thank you for including me in your people's way.

Dick: Of course. Are you haunting me now?

Danny: *Literally sitting behind him in class* One could say that yes.

Dick: Cool. What's your name?

Danny: Call me Phantom.

[the-most-humble-blog]

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🧠 FREE WRITING LESSON — THE MOST POWERFUL CHARACTER DEPTH TRICK YOU’LL EVER READ.

Let’s say your character sucks.

She’s flat. Predictable. “Strong” in all the wrong ways. Let’s call her Nicolle. Or Carol. Or whatever name Hollywood gave her.

She’s a superhero. She’s got powers. She’s got sarcasm. She takes no shit. She leads the squad. She’s admired by everyone — and loved by no one.

You’ve seen this character before. Now watch what happens when you give her one secret she doesn’t brag about.

Nicolle has two sons.

She’s raising them alone — to become men like her late father: A man who sacrificed everything to raise her after her mother disappeared, broke, or gave up.

The world sees Nicolle as the apex of visual empowerment. But the world doesn’t see:

The arguments with her boys’ father — about what being a real dad means.

The prayers whispered in the dark over a fevered forehead.

The way she ghosted the only man she maybe wanted, not because she’s flaky — but because she doesn’t know if wanting love makes her a bad mother.

The nights she tucks her boys in, then collapses into her bed, staring at the ceiling, heart full of ache, because she gave the world her strength but kept no one to hold hers.

They don’t see the days her sons cry after watching her get slammed through buildings on TV.

Held by the throat. Left for dead. Motionless for seconds too long. Until she rises — because she has to.

They don’t see the breakdowns. They don’t see her flinch.

They assume she doesn’t feel fear. But the truth?

She feels it every single time.

She’s not fearless. She’s never been. But fear is a luxury she doesn’t have.

That’s a luxury for men. She is a god. And she will make any threat scream that truth — as she crushes it beneath her bleeding hands.

Because when demons invade, tyrants rise, and monsters descend, She suits up.

Not for hashtags. Not for feminism. Not for attention.

She suits up because the idea of her sons growing up in a world she could’ve fought for and didn’t — is more terrifying than death itself.

And she will not let the universe teach her boys that their mother ever cowered.

🔺 THE TRIFECTA THAT MAKES ANY SUPERHERO NEXT-LEVEL:

Intimacy. Contradiction. Duty.

Intimacy gives them a soul — something they protect more than their own body.

Contradiction gives them depth — because perfection is forgettable, but conflict creates memory.

Duty gives them immortality — because we remember those who bled for more than applause.

Give a character that trifecta — and suddenly:

She’s not annoying. She’s haunting. She’s not fanfiction. She’s canon. She’s not shallow. She’s legend.

✍️ That’s how you fix a weak character. You don’t soften her. You give her something to fight that fists can’t touch.

And suddenly?

She’s not a girlboss. She’s the last myth your enemies ever tell themselves before they die.

</div>

[deimostes]

thing i keep thinking about

part 2

[plantgardemaniaa]

Plant observation

[lotostar]

Happy Trans Day of Visibility! (Im late as always oopsie)

[empyrealoasis]

ꨄ︎ Do not be afraid of being successful ༉‧₊˚.

It's illogical, why are you afraid of having your desires?

You dream, you manifest, you reach toward the life you desire. Yet when it stands before you, you hesitate. Why does success feel like an unfamiliar weight, something foreign, something unearned?

You have been conditioned to believe that struggle is a prerequisite for worth, that suffering is a rite of passage, that you must crawl before you walk and bleed before you bloom. But tell me, who decided this? Who told you that you must burn to learn? That ease is unnatural? That success must be a battle rather than a birthright?

Society has shackled you with the belief that you must work for your dreams, that you must prove yourself before you can receive. That if something comes easily, it must not be real. But reality is not bound by these outdated rules. You are not bound by them either.

It’s illogical.

It is your duty to break free from these illusions. To unlearn the lies that tell you success must be chased, fought for, earned. Your desires are not rewards for suffering. They are not distant treasures at the end of a long, winding road. They are already yours. They have always been yours.

So stop running from them. Stop resisting what was always meant to be. Stop waiting for permission to live the life you desire. You were not meant to struggle. You were meant to thrive.

[samanthalanetextiles]

'I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE' transgender cross stitch pattern 🏳️‍⚧️

Trans people have always been here and always will be. Our lives are just as important and valid as anyone else’s and we deserve the same equal rights as everyone else. Trans rights are human rights.

this pattern can be purchased from my etsy store here > (any purchases will go towards my transition fund. support a cute trans girl today!)

[a-path-by-the-moon]

[midnight-greens]

so. uh. twogaters. how are we feeling today.

[youronlineassistant]

"Four and X might be working with One. I don't know if we can trust them." Four and X:

[rem0t3]

Honestly I feel bad for coiny