(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
This New Year, resolve to remain outraged [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2024-12-31
Wanna know my greatest fear? Erasure.
Not the kind that comes with death.
Death is inevitable, as certain as a winter chill. When men like Jimmy Carter leave us, they remind us what a life well-lived can mean. His legacy isn’t just etched in history books—it’s alive in the hearts of those he inspired. Sure, there’s always a bitter handful, but the overwhelming sentiment is grief for a loss and gratitude for his life. What a towering monument to kindness and humanity he left behind.
Contrast that with the cheers that erupted when certain villains left this world. Brian Thompson, for instance, whose life work involved rewarding cruelty and suffering, got a very different kind of send-off. In death, as in life, the truth of who we are is laid bare.
When I die, I hope some will reflect, grieve, or even celebrate in a way that acknowledges the love and truth I tried to sow. If that happens, I’ll have done my job.
What I truly fear isn’t death—it’s the loss of identity.
The erasure of self.
It’s why I only write when I feel compelled.
Writing just to churn out content feels greedy and hollow. I’m lucky to make money from my words, but the day I write solely for a paycheck is the day my voice gets buried in the noise.
That’s part of the erasure I dread.
So, I aim to express myself honestly. I won’t smile when I’m sad. I won’t act unbothered when I’m furious. And if you pull some dumb shit? Oh, you’ll hear about it.
I expect the same from others—be real with me. Let me know what I’m up against.
But we live in a world where civility and niceties are weaponized. Republicans have turned politeness into a trap, a tool to silence dissent. They want us to "play nice," even as they trample over basic decency.
"Speak No Evil"
Ever seen the Danish-Dutch film Speak No Evil? If you haven’t and plan to, skip this part—I’m about to spoil it.
The story follows a Danish family vacationing in Italy—Bjorn, Louise, and their daughter, Agnes. They befriend another family, Paddy, Ciara, and their son, Ant, and accept an invitation to stay at their home.
What unfolds is a masterclass in manipulation. The Danish couple faces one microaggression after another, each disguised as politeness, testing how far they’ll bend before they break. They’re lured into a psychological trap where their own civility becomes their undoing.
It starts small: forcing a vegan to eat meat. Forcing them to leave their daughter attended by a strange man. Sticking Bjorn with the dinner bill for a meal he didn’t plan. Then it escalates. By the time they realize the danger, it’s too late. Gaslit and shamed into compliance, they’ve handed over their power in the name of politeness.
The film’s gruesome ending is a cautionary tale. How often do we, too, second-guess ourselves, wondering if we’re being “too harsh,” “too judgmental,” or—heaven forbid—discourteous?
The White Room
Then there’s the “White Room.” It’s a form of psychological torture that terrifies me more than anything.
Imagine being locked in a stark white space: no shadows, no color, no contrast. You’re dressed in white, fed white food, and deprived of human interaction. Survivors describe losing their sense of time, place, and self. It’s erasure, distilled.
MAGA extremists are building their own version of the White Room—an ideological trap where dissent is painted as impolite, and silence is demanded. Like the predators in Speak No Evil, they test us, probing for weaknesses and exploiting kindness as a weakness.
Refuse to Play Their Game
Be kind, yes. Be decent, absolutely. But don’t mistake civility for submission. Don’t let sadists and manipulators dictate your boundaries.
In 2025, we’ll see the same bad actors claim women are “too emotional,” Black people “play the race card,” and LGBTQ+ issues are a “distraction.” Some on the left will nod along, urging us to focus on the mythical “forgotten” White working class. It’s a sleight of hand, a trick to convince us to abandon marginalized communities.
But here’s the truth: when one domino falls, the rest will follow.
Don’t let them steal your outrage.
Be outraged!
Don’t let them dull your anger—if you’re paying attention, you should be angry.
And for the love of all that’s holy, don’t let them gaslight you into silence.
Speak that damn evil.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/12/31/2294584/-This-New-Year-resolve-to-remain-outraged?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
