I once watched an episode of some jail reality show on tv. It was straight up torture porn, there’s a guy sobbing and begging to not be put on the restraint chair and the guards are laughing as the guy is hooded, crying and pissing himself. The guards seem to take so much joy in The pain and suffering of the inmates, many of whom are merely suspects and haven’t had their day in court. It’s disgusting that it happens and it’s worse that Americans are so proud about it that they make tv shows and broadcast the torture.
I used to watch COPS back in the day… I feel guilty about it now. Why was I helping glorify the police?
All of us look back on the path that led us to where we are today and see that our hands aren’t clean. I said and did so many hurtful things. Things that can never be taken back or made up for.
For example: The Apprentice is the only reality show I’ve ever watched. You feel guilty about glorifying police? Think about what the fuck I did.
All of us look back on the path that led us to where we are today and see that our hands aren’t clean. I said and did so many hurtful things. Things that can never be taken back or made up for.
That’s how I feel too. But I can at least NOT REPEAT that shit. I can do that much.
It’s not about what we failed at in the past, it’s about doing the best we can with what we have at any given moment, and that includes the knowledge of human empathy and compassion.
I said some seriously horrific and cringeworthy shit in my youth, and actually longer than that. Hurtful stuff that seemed funny at the time. I don’t even wanna talk about it. But I stopped as soon as I realized there were real people on the receiving end of all that, and since I can’t undo it, that’s the best that can be asked for.
Maybe that’s why I don’t completely trust people who have never erred. I trust people who have erred, and then changed their ways. Like Alexei Navalny: the tankies always point to a video he made in 2007 – that has remained on his YouTube channel since because he never took it down – where he is marching with far right wingers and Nazis. But that was it. He didn’t do it again.
And that’s my point: if someone has to go back seventeen years to find your truly shitty behavior, chances are excellent you’re a man with a conscience, and not just another lying fraud pretending at human decency.
We do the best we can with what we have at any given time . . . or we don’t. I am. You are too, sounds like. So is the Squid, above. That’s the best that we can do.
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe
The way that I see it, you were a victim of the fucked up messages in the media being forced upon you, and you were also helping to perpetuate that system. I sympathise with your guilt, because there are things that I reflect back on similarly, but I think it’s important to also recognise the other element of it too; it’s harder to be a part of a better world when you’re exposed to messaging like this.
I think the important part is continuing to be aware and trying to grow past these things, especially because in 10 years time, you’ll probably cringe when reflecting on your current behaviour, and that’s a good thing.
(I feel like there’s a particular word that describes this cycle that I’m forgetting, but I’m very tired. Sorry for clunky wording, and if anyone thinks they know what word(s) I’m reaching for, feel free to remind me. I think it’s something to do with hegemony.)
I’ve responded to calls out of prison hospitals in Florida, the condition of these places, staff, and patients is truly horrific. The utter decay of the building paired with the complete contempt from the medical staff towards the unfortunate souls detained there is something I’ll never forget. If you have chronic medical problems in prison you’re better off dead. I wish I could say differently but that’s the truth. They’ll let you decay handcuffed to a stretcher with only the absolute bare minimum care before they decide to wash their hands of you for a week or two and send you to a real hospital. It’s inhumane
So the stick we use in America to keep you working until you die, is that if you step out of line in any way (Or just happen to be a minority) you’ll be tortured until you die. Got it. y’all got any more of that bread and circus? our masters are lookin tasty
This is awful and major reform is needed. However, the article mentions Ronnie DeSAintGonnaBePresident and I just realized it’s the first time I’ve seen his name in anything for a while.
I just wanted to remind everyone that despite the bleak situation all around us, that loser failed hard, in public, and we’re finally not seeing him pop up all over the place like last year. One day it will be true of Lonnie. One day it will even be true of Captain Cheeto-pants.
Appreciate the good things when you can.
