I'm so happy to see this discussion. It's become a strange world, indeed, when I am the one defending religion and going to church. Yet I do it a lot. Partly because I admire Black churches and the central role they've had for generations of people living with some hideous truths.
I'd far rather spend time/ally with progressive churchgoers than New Atheists. Reverend Warnock or Bill Maher? What to do, what to do.
Definitely Warnock for me! No cynicism, no preaching either. Solid commitment to justice and inclusiveness. And very funny to boot.
yeah, he's great. I hope he can keep that seat! This environment should help. "Should" being the operative word. Ossoff seems pretty good also?
I've heard him here in videos, and he's powerful. Plus he and Warnock like each other, and it's palpable. They're a great team.
I love that! So much better than "I alone can fix it." And you know, I don't think there are ANY Republicans currently in office (at least nationally, that I know of) who even seem to get along? Ally, maybe. Admittedly I don't exactly follow closely. The ones in this Cabinet are all freaks
though apparently Lauren Boebert has a soft spot for Raskin and she's visited him in the hospital and they've had dinner, which was kind of *thud*. Well--ok
I find that oddly charming. Maybe she is tired of the bimbo role and wants to learn a bit from him. Well, you never know. That's just kind of nice. Hope it helps her grow.
yeah, she broke up with MTG, maybe there's some hope. some. maybe. lol.
i cannot wait to see what happens to the Borg when Trump's finally out of the picture. "it'll be as bad as worse bc Vance is smarter and more compos mentis/aligned with Heritage.Yarvin/etc" well. We'll see. *cracks knuckles* I don't KNOW, but... yeah. Fearless Leader Couchfucker. nah.
JD's weaknesses my outdo his few strengths. He's nasty, doesn't really like anyone, and NOBODY likes HIM. He has no base, no followers, no nothing. Congress will be out from under the thrall of Trump but not IN JD's shadow. Game changer.
I'm a sucker for "dumb girl tries to get smart" movies like 1950s "Born Yesterday" w Judy Holliday. From the start I thought if she ever got some moxie and got educated, she might not be a bimbo anymore. Could happen?
I swear none of them can stand their spouses
The party has attracted really creepy people. It's no wonder when their private lives are so dysfunctional.
I really think we all need to talk about this more. GOLIKEHELLMACHINE among others has said a few times we should be using "corruption" as a hammer and even more so, "character" or ethics, even morals, as a dividing line.
Right now, Van Hollen, for instance. How is he not a "leader?" He's not standing up there in the spotlight all the time and being super charismatic, but he fucking went out of his way because he saw evil being done and he wanted to do what he could to right it. Brad Lander. This judge Sparkle now.
Every Congress person who goes to their local detention center day after day and demands to get inside and do their job. I hate it so much when people on here whine "Where are the Dems?" Motherfucker, LOOK.
The few normal ones seem to be the ones who're pushed out. Have a scrap of ethics. Any kind. Like I'm sure I didn't agree with Justin Amash on practically anything but props to him for sticking to his guns and dipping when the options were do that or conform. Kinzinger too. Even (gah) Liz Cheney
It's sort of the, do you at least love your spouse and kids and dog. Do you balk at, like, deporting or starving children. No, it's not ENOUGH for me to vote for you; but, sure, we can march on the same side as needed.
They were and are incredibly powerful in upholding the lives and rights of their communities. I've worked w a lot of them on health care particularly, and they are powerhouses on issues like that. Civil rights, human rights, it doesn't matter. They are THERE. They are also great fun!
I think also non religious folk--I mean this is an endemic issue, none of us can just snap fingers and solve it--are generally hurting for a lack of a (non online) third space. I'd love cafe society but everyone on their phones at Starbucks (closed at 7) is not gonna be the vibe.
I wonder how long an "open late" cafe with all electronics but e-books banned would survive? Would people actually TALK with strangers? Used to have a coffee place w artists and cops that was remarkably social and welcoming. People DID talk to one another. Not sure why that worked so well but it did
I think yes, but it'd be a bit sui generis, not a chain, in a city and it'd have to have committed and good-at-the-books owners. It's a good idea. In SF there is or was a nice fantasy/SF bookstore that had a cafe next store, with frequent author presentations and groups in the back, that was nice
also I should say there's the LGBT center that has a cafe and also rooms; and city community/rec centers, there's at least one group I've attended meetings at my local. but not everywhere has those. They should!
and then there are bars and pubs, of course. I'm not much of a drinker, but I'm happy enough to go, and Working Families for instance does a monthly think at an outdoor pub; thing is, they can get noisy when it's not like theirs where they actually reserve a whole big space.
There are libraries. There are parks. Struggling. And libraries aren't always comfy esp in a back room where you don't have to shush, and parks, there's weather. and omg I went to a WeWork one time for a meetup. I HATED IT SO MUCH FLAMES ON THE SIDE OF MY FAAACE Kombucha on tap. Nuff said.
then I read the Cult of We after those imploded and it was so very...now. these people are all fucking insane. The techbrozillionaires--well, WeWork was never tech, but he SOLD it as tech somehow, which is why he was able to scale up tremendously before it all crashed. high on their own farts
Miss Aja, if you follow her - she's amazing - did a letter writing campaign in a library. I went several times and had a blast. Yeah, the chairs were uncomfortable, but I had a grand time, good talk, and she provided SUPER food. That was great fun!
don't know her!
Oh check her OUT! She is freaking brilliant, also very funny. She is lovely to know in real life, too. She has some of the BEST commentary! She's a strong Black woman who wades social issue and policy waters with enormous skill. I always learn from her. She will link you to others equally fine!
does she have an account here?
Not political as such, of course, but nice. Unfortunately they ended up closing the cafe because it wasn't making enough money. You start to realize how challenging it is when you're in book clubs. Now since Covid a lot more are on Zoom, which is nice bc easier to attend, but...nicer in person.
That's a really good point. People hang onto congregations as community. We've tried "church without walls" that SORT of works, but having secular safe space w conversation and interaction is hard to find. Someone either wants you to draft an 'action plan' or has music that makes you gag. 🙄
it's also a question of--is rentier the right term here? well, again: physical places to just hang out, that you WANT to just hang out and aren't prohibitively expensive. the destruction of public spaces is very much a right wing project for a reason. in cities I just wish cafes stayed open
i guess we could plot the Revolution (TM) at a Denny's
Hell - the servers would become the vanguard!
I still think it'd go better over Viennese pastries and Art Nouveau, oh well
Well...what wouldn't??? But Denny's servers have seen it all and are ready to revolt if ANYONE is!
I gather Waffle Houses would be even more ripe for it--I heard of the Waffle House sign that the hurricane's REALLY serious when they finally send the servers home--but I've never been to one, not being in the right region
My one visit was odd. Driving back roads in SE TN and NW GA during a HUGE smoke event from Mexico. Gag worthy. We stopped for AC and food at a Waffle House only to find something had cremated on the grill. Worse inside than out. Food was good though. That was my only trip. I'm OK w that.
It's true. I live near many and on the Atlantic where there are hurricanes. I've seen them closed only a few times.
true true
...stayed open later. course we're all phone addicted on top of it.
Went to Applebees (sue me; I like them) w older people there all laughing and talking. Four young people came in, sat down, never said a word, all on phones. Server took the order, gave it out, they ate, never said a word or put down the phones. Left. So...why BOTHER? 🙄
Sometimes I sort of get it; as a Terminally Online person who's neurospicy & has friends of the same ilk, I've been in rooms where we're all on the same chat on our various devices *to each other.* Or sometimes just doing "parallel play," you know. But yeah generally. Face to face can be...nice.
also of course most of my friends there's no choice because literally scattered over the world. we need a TARDIS
I guess. I admit because our house while small is oddly laid out, and hubs and I can't hear each other room to room. So recently I've started CALLING him rather than walking 20 feet. The lure of phones is real.
speaking of. I should really start to tear myself away and head to bed. It's been good talking to you! I followed you, hope that's ok.
Oh wow - I thought I WAS following you. Now I do! That's super. Thanks for the GREAT talk. And not even on phones! Good night! I'll head to bed soon, too. Sweet dreams!
heh.