In December 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics released a report showing the number of homicides in state and federal institutions in 2019 was almost quadruple that of 2001, when the bureau began collecting data.
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 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.
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.
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.)