Us Politics - Blog Posts

Especially if you live in the US!

Katarina turned to face him. "But Simon, you're not the only person who wants to help others. I'd say a fair number of people do. Most are simply too caught up in their own lives to spare the time or effort.

It takes a unique brand of lunacy to throw everything away and go marching on a mission – one that, in all likelihood, shall end with your death."

I should post about this too, for the sake of courtesy. .

Dear US citizens. .

As someone who was born and raised in a censorship heavy and oppressive country, with an honest heart, I can't say I feel a tinge of sympathy for any of you. I want to tell you that you need to stop whining because just like we do, you'll live. I spent my entire life watching you all have infinitely more privilege and audacity to do as you please than I'll ever see in my country, and how unaware you were until it was too late.

However, I will still tell you some very simple things to keep in mind:

Get a trustworthy VPN.

Switch to Firefox.

Make sure you routinely clear your cookies and get trackers off of your back.

Deactivate your Twitter account(s), and send an email to the HQ to erase your data.

(I do not care how proud you are that you were there when Jack was the CEO, would you rather exercise your right to take your data back or let Elon have your information?)

Find unbiased news sources.

(You lot do not have anywhere near the amount of censorship that would require this, but find underground journalists who post on Tor links, if you really need to.)

Decenter yourself while in public.

(Do not speak of your political alliance. Do not mention any marginalized part of you that you are able to hide. Do Not Out Anyone. Keep everyone's information private. Lie, lie, and lie some more. Keep your lips sealed shut and watch out for even the slightest thing that might give you away, it's much easier than you think.)

Be prepared for anything. The laws mean nothing to deranged presidents. The laws are not as infallible as you might think.

Stock up on food. Grains, oils, and canned foods are must haves.

(The most basic foods will reach insane prices in the blink of an eye. Get them while you can. Grow fruits and vegetables at home if you have the means.)

Don't go around complaining about how it's all so unfair.

(It is very unfair and you have every right to be upset, but once again, decenter yourself and stop feeling entitled to being openly dramatic. You Are In Danger, And Complaining Won't Save You.)

That's a well done summary of everything I should say for now.

Welcome to the club, everyone.

why shadow the hedgehog could legally run for president of the united states of america

requirement #1 : over 35

ok so you have to be 35 to run for president right? well we all know shadow is LEGALLY in his 50s (even tho mentally hes supposed to be around 15) in all sonic media, so that's one requirement cleared.

requirement #2 : natural born citizen of the USA

now you might ask about the fact that movie verse shadow is an alien. however. he landed encased in an asteroid and was transported to a north american station of the international military group GUN's research lab overseen by commander walters (who is also a commander in the US military). it can be assumed that not only did shadow’s asteroid land on US soil since it was under american military jurisdiction, but that the GUN lab is also on US soil. he was later awakened and "born" from the asteroid in the US lab, meaning that shadow the hedgehog legally has american birthright citizenship. so second requirement, cleared for the movie verse! if we're taking from the sonic games a little more, gerald robotnik is said to be working specifically with the united federation sector of GUN, which is specifically made to be the in-game equivalent of the united states of america. therefore, the space colony arc is an american vessel and is governed by american laws. presumably, anyone born on that ship, which is functionally an american military base, would also have birthright american citizenship because prior to 2019 (and shadow was born 50 years ago) babies born to military members on us military bases were granted US citizenship automatically, not to mention the fact that shadow is an entity literally created and owned by the government of the american federation. also, if we're counting gerald robotnik as his "father", we can also assume that he has either been granted US citizenship or has a green card in order to be eligible to work for the US military, and if we assume the former than shadow would be considered a US citizen at birth even if he was born in international airspace. so second requirement, cleared in the game universe! (for the record there aren't like actual real laws dictating what happens if someone is born in space bc that hasn't happened so im being a little loose with my interpretation based on what laws there are about similar things but yknow)

requirement #3 : 14 year residency

he was also 15 in both universes before being put in cryosleep, meaning he operated as a resident of the USA either in the US in the movie verse or on a us military base in the game verse, so he'd meet the "14 years of residency" requirement, so 3rd requipment cleared!

crime?

and yeah sure he was basically imprisoned for 50 years but any crimes shadow may have committed wouldn't bar him from becoming president because we've already established that felons can be president this year so! there you go!

disclaimer : i am not an expert in american law or sonic for that matter so sorry if this isn’t 100% accurate but nothing i could find online contradicts it soooooo

I just wrote an essay for school mentioning this lol. If shit like this keeps happening, the whole country will be out of clean and accessible water, creating more and more shortages until we all are sucked dry :D. We literally can't do anything actually productive if we don't have water including and not limited to: basically every aspect of anything you've ever done.

I'm not trying to be a "Debbie-Downer" over here, but water is such a big issue that we shouldn't just throw it around in the background so people can argue about "transgender" mice, or other stupid shit. People need to fucking realize that we pay for this stuff for a reason. Like not everything is a scam so that blue-haired liberals with pronouns can slip money into the bank accounts of pedophiles in drag...

Same with vaccines, actually. I've heard of ppl claiming that we don't need them, which is far from the truth. We just don't understand that it's a problem anymore bc vaccines are so good.

Source

Waking up everyday to learn that, yes, things did get worse

for my followers in the states—please vote. “boycotting” an election is not a viable strategy to enact any meaningful change besides clearing the way for some truly horrific people to get into positions of power. we know how bad it got last time. now imagine the sheer damage that could be done now with a precedent.

friendly reminder that is it always appropriate to punch a nazi!! (and i encourage you to do so if it wont get you killed because activism is better whenever the activists are breathing)

sin of empathy

I'm getting hanged tomorrow in the town square for having a kind heart

friendly reminder to read martin niemöller's "first they came" and stay self aware

January 26, 2025

LMAOOOOOOO https://bbc.in/4h08sdh

Sorry OP for butting in but: if you cannot go to the protest in person due to mobility/parental/safety reasons, one role you could play is home base. A home base is a person or multiple people in one space, ideally near to the police station where those who get arrested will get taken, with multiple phones for contacting people, or being the emergency contact for others, and food/water/clothes/meds/bail money for the protesters who get arrested. If they get a call, one person can go and give the arrested protesters whatever they need and bail them out. The space should also ideally act as a safe haven if needs be, for injured, overwhelmed or disabled protesters, and should have multiple rooms for rest and first aid. Anyway, sorry for the long block of text, I just think that this is important. I have acted as part of a home base for many protests, and a lot of people are grateful for the help.

ICE raids are happening.

Any immigrants, no matter how long you have been a citizen of the USA, is at risk of being deported either out of the country as a whole or into what are basically concentration camps. Raids starting in Chicago, Illinois. and spreading to other major cities with high POC and Hispanic populations. The US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) have started raiding homes and families in California.

There are no "protected locations" as of January 21, 2025. Hospitals, schools, and churches are all at risk of being raided, where before these places were deemed safe and off limits to raids.

When it comes to spotting an ICE agent, look for these:

Weirdly neat/well kept hair (shaved heads, side parts, military burs for men; low buns, high ponytails, close cropped bobs for women)

Oversized jacket (long and bulky outerwear makes it easier to hide tools/equipment without being suspicious)

Both hands in pockets

Many undercover agents/cops buy cheap plain clothes off the racks so they aren’t seen in their own clothes. This can make their outfit seem awkward

Sweatshirts with the hood up

Sports apparel (warm up jacket, sweats, etc) with non-sports clothes (jeans, cargo shorts)

Cargo pants/shorts (usually full of items like their badge, flashlight, taser, pepper spray, backup handcuffs, zip ties)

Military or hiking style boots, sometimes chunky sneakers (extra points if none of it matches anything in their outfit)

Outline of a gun in their pants/shirt (easy to see when bending, leaning, or raising arms) (NO NOT SAY ANYTHING)

Overly friendly

Overly inquisitive

“How old are you” and “what do you know about this happening” are both red flags, along with generally odd and personal questions

Don’t fit in

Mismatched pairs in public spaces (usually cops do these things in pairs. They don’t talk to each other or acknowledge each other much, if at all)

DO NOT SAY ANYTHING UNTIL YOU ARE 100% SURE

YOUR BEST BET IS NOT TO SAY ANYTHING UNTIL THE SUSPECT STARTS ACTING OFF AND GETTING PUSHY

COPS ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE UNDERCOVER

COPS CAN AND WILL LIE TO YOU

SCREAM “LA MIGRA” AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS

For protesting:

N95 masks

Respirator/gas mask if you have access to one

Water water water water water (I hate to say it, but disposable one use bottles are best here. If it comes to it, you need to be able to drop and run.) Use for flushing wounds, flushing eyes of tear gas, and of course drinking.

Snacks! You'll be doing a lot of walking and/or running and need to keep that energy up. Trail mix, dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, crackers, jerky/meat sticks, fruit snacks, candy, etc. Think of it like packing your lunchbox for a field trip.

Eyedrops (teargas is a bitch)

Goggles (I bring my old snowboarding goggles)

If you are wearing a t-shirt or have exposed skin, put on fake/temporary tattoos. If you are brought into something and they say you were there, showing a picture of you with the tattoos, show them where that tattoo would be and how there’s nothing there. How would you get rid of a giant flower on your forearm in 2 days anyways?

Wigs fall under the same category as tattoos. The person they're claiming to be you has a blonde bob and you have green hair past your shoulders.It also makes it possible to go with a completely different color without the use of hair dye. This means if they try to arrest you later and try to prove it was you by taking your hair and testing for dye, it won't come back the way they hope. (Thank you @violetrosepetals for this addition!)

Hide your hair. I tuck my hair into my beanie since it’s short. If you have longer hair, try to do the same or tuck it into your shirt. Balaclavas are also a good choice, as they cover both your face and hair.

Power bank

Chargers

Helmet. Any is fine, my personal choice is a skating helmet since they’re rounder and can take more damage, but tactical is also good

Hand sanitizer

Gloves with hard knuckles (tactical gloves). These pack a good punch even if you don't have the correct form. Don't have those? Wrist guards for roller skating/skateboarding work kinda like that too. More of a slapping motion, but still hurt like a bitch. Extra points if they're all scuffed up from use and falls.

Bandanas. Somebody might need one for their face or hair, maybe you need to get dirt off somebody’s face, maybe somebody got injured. They’re great for anything and everything.

Cash (try to stick to cash, your card can be tracked)

Medications if you take them. If you get arrested or happen to somehow be away for longer than expected after the protest, it’s always good to have emergency meds

FIRST AID ALL THE FIRST AID (Tourniquet, Quikclot, chest seal, trauma shears, gauze, bandages, duct tape, and all the usual stuff you’d have in there)

Good shoes. Boots and sneakers are your best choices. Not heels, not platforms, not sandals. Good boots or shoes that won't come off your feet too easily when you run. Steel toed shoes are a great option. Your toes won't be squashed, but also it'll hurt someone a lot more if you start kicking.

Spare socks. Trust me. You can use them to stop bleeding if it comes to it, but also you can put rocks in there and boom weapon. Also if the socks you're wearing get wet.

As much covering clothing as you can handle. Plain jeans, plain hoodie, plain t-shirt, keep yourself as anonymous as possible. Black and baggy is best.

Photocopy of your ID, not your real one.

Sunscreen!

Make sure your clothes have pockets, even if you have a bag. You want everything to be easily accessible.

Do not wear contact lenses. If tear gas is used, that will make everything so much worse. Wear your glasses or go blind. If you have overly unique or identifiable frames, goggles are your friend here. Get some goggles that will fit over your frames, preferably ones that are tinted.

If you use mobility aids, cover defining features. Logos, brand names, colors, stickers, all of it. Take some old plain t-shirt and tie it around your wheelchair’s backrest. Wrap your wheelchair frame in cling wrap, then duct tape, or plain black self adhering medical tape. Cover stickers on your cane or crutches the same way. Electric chair? You have a little more work, but you can do it. Wrap it up. Same idea. Walker? Same thing. Cover. It. All.

If you are bringing a bag, make sure that bag is as plain as possible. No pins. No patches. No keychains. Except maybe a pride flag so people know which team you're playing on.

Scarf or keffiyeh if you have one. They have many uses!

Write a reliable phone number (of someone who is not at the protest with you) on your body. On the off chance you get arrested, that is your emergency contact.

Pocket knife.

Pepper spray/mace/bear spray

if you get tear gassed, shake around first before using water. Most tear gas is more of a powder and water has a high likelihood of just spreading it around. (Thank you @actually-a-bread-loaf for this addition!)

Tennis rackets also work wonderfully for chucking tear gas canisters back at those throwing them. Anybody asks, you're going out to play tennis with friends later. Baseball bats also work! (Thank you @azul-nova-24 for this addition!)

Anything you can throw. Soup for my family.

IF YOU CAN, LEAVE YOUR PHONE AT HOME

IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT WITH YOU, TURN OFF LOCATION SERVICES ON ALL APPS AND TURN OFF BIOMETRICS (FACE ID AND FINGERPRINT) SO YOU CAN ONLY UNLOCK YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR PASSWORD

COPS CAN FORCE YOU TO OPEN YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR FINGERPRINT OR FACE ID

MAKE SURE SOMEBODY KNOWS GENERALLY WHERE YOU ARE

If you see a potential or active raid, take pictures and note the time and location. Post online if you can, as well.

You have the right to remain silent. State that you wish to remain silent. Avoid giving information about anybody's immigration status. You have the right to refuse to sign anything before speaking to an attorney. You have the right to refuse searches of your car, your home, and yourself. Schools do not collect a child's immigration status.

I do not want to scare anybody, but this is what life is right now. That man does not care how long you have been a citizen of this country. If you are not a white, cisgender, heterosexual, Christian male, you are seen as less than by men in power. You are not less than. You are a threat to them, and they are scared. Keep it that way.

Even if you're not currently protesting, it's good to know this just in case. Things are happening very quickly, and there is a very high chance of it changing very quickly within the next four years.

Here's the link to my post on what to bring in terms of first aid.

If you cannot attend protests, that’s fine. Do what’s best for you. Even just reposting information helps.

This is an updated version of this post,

Updated January 27, 2025.

I feel like the only reason those of us who aren't in the US are watching the inauguration today is the sort of morbid curiosity that makes people watch a car crash. It honestly feels like I'm watching people's lives and freedoms be crushed in real time.

Senate trying to pass a bill that would force you to use your government id just to use the internet. That means no anonymity at all, ever, and that every pro-Palestinian organizer is immediately a target that the government can track. And they will use it explicitly to come after protestors and organizers.

@ anyone who didn’t vote for Kamala (obviously, this doesn’t apply to you if you’re not american).

Unfollow me right now and DNI. I am furious at what has happened and what has been happening, and I don’t want or need your interactions, your input, or your ignorance in my life or on my blog.

I’m going to keep creating, and keep interacting with my fandoms, because I love the positivity that comes with the artist community, but as a member of several groups targeted by hatred and ignorance, I will not tolerate those who stand back and let this kind of hate control our politics and our lives. I am disgusted and heartbroken, but mainly, I’m just disappointed.

And, to those who did vote for Kamala: I’m here. I’m here if you ever need to talk, scream, rant, or just cry. I’m here if you need a hug, or if you need a distraction. I’m here for you whether or not you know me in real life. Please take care of yourself, and find someplace safe, whether or not that’s here with me. I love you. I’m with you.

and, above all, I’m sorry.

I just watched this happen…

I’m really scared.

Someone please tell me that did not just happen.

[Image ID: A photo of Elon Musk. He is holding his right arm out in a gesture eerily similar to a Nazi salute. /End ID]

source link

The link includes a video and if you think this is just a photo taken at the right moment to make it seem like a Nazi salute I am sorry to report that the video makes it worse. My heart goes out to all Americans that they have now a President that is friends with and has appointed to a government position someone who does the Nazi salute at his inauguration.

via NYPost: Immigration and Customs Enforcement is preparing to launch a “big f–king operation” across sanctuary cities — including Chicago and New York — immediately after President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, multiple sources told The Post.

Starting Jan. 21, multi-day “ground operations” will be launched across cities that have served as safe havens for migrants because the local authorities do not cooperate with the federal government when it comes to immigration issues, sources said.

FRIENDLY REMINDER THAT TRUMP DID NOT SAVE TIKTOK!! THIS WAS ALL A STUNT TO MAKE HIM LOOK GOOD!!

PAY ATTENTION TO WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT!!

Here's the link to a masterpost of confirmed marches (which has reblogs turned off so it can be updated)! Please share this one!

If you don't see a march in your area and would like to organize one, please email march@queeryouthassemble.org!

Since it seems to be getting removed from a lot of places.

I wish I knew how to organize the queer people in my area and become powerful so we can avoid dying because of the government but alas the queer people do not trust me or consider my ideas worthwhile for some reason.

Revolving because I’m an American who can not leave and there needs to be awareness of this!

Do not let them erase this. Do not let them tell you he meant "my heart goes out for you."

This man is the grandson of a Canadian Nazi sympathizer who moved to South Africa BECAUSE he thought the apartheid was just the coolest.

He has a gaggle of kids specifically because he believes his genes are superior and need to be spread to improve humanity.

He has thrown his support behind the neonazi party in Germany and the far right party in the UK, not to mention how far he's wormed up the ass of the Republican party.

He threw two sieg heil salutes back to back at the inauguration of the president of the United States and is trying to scrub the evidence off the internet.

Elon Reeve Musk is a fucking Nazi.

For eel

I will live for spite and human rights.

new reason to stay alive: outlive the trump presidency. In fact, outlive Trump. He isn’t immortal. We can live to see the day he's guaranteed to never be in office ever again and we can make sure he knows that he'll never have enough power to kill you

stay strong, friends, this isn't your fault

I did. As a queer person, directly decended from an immigrant, I will not stand for Donald Trump or his horrible policies.

Now would be an excellent time to contact the White House and call for

1) Kamala Harris not to concede

2) an investigation into the voter registration surge/vote lull discrepancy, and election interference both foreign and domestic

3) a revote.

Do not go down easy.

The White House

Contact Us | The White House

Contact the President, Vice President, get help with a Federal Agency, or request a Presidential Greeting.

Here's the bones of what I sent, feel free to use and build off it.

To the office of the Vice / President of the United States,

I am reaching out to express how imperative it is that there be a revote of the 2024 Presidential Election. Attempts at election interference by foreign powers and domestic oligarchs cannot be permitted to stand.

As evidenced by the January 6th coup attempt and his willful mishandling of sensitive documents, the American people categorically cannot trust that Donald Trump has not manipulated the election in his favor.

I hope that you will listen to myself and the other Americans your office is obliged to represent, and call not only for these discrepancies to be investigated, but for a revote to be held.

[Name]

just as a general reminder

learn how to fact-check for yourself, cause soon enough, most online sources won't be reliable

made a beautiful google slides infographic in 60 seconds on why u should Fucking Vote

"But Harris --"

I know.

"When Harris --"

Yeah, I know.

"DID YOU KNOW THAT, ONE TIME, HARRIS VOTED --"

YEAH.

I KNOW.

WE ALL KNOW.

We knew her history when she got put on the ticket in 2020 (and even before).

And, yes, you bet your sweet bippy we're gonna still organize and lean into community care and hold her tf accountable the moment she takes office.

But we have to vote her in.

She's picking Supreme Court Judges.

She's organizing a cabinet that will certainly have consequences on *my* field of work.

She's not going to decimate the lives of queer people and people of color and not establish a fucking Christian nationalist government.

Hold your nose, get her into office, and we move forward.