A protest t-shirt of one’s own
I have a friend. She owns a vintage white t-shirt with the word ‘peace’ on it. It’s tattered, cool, soft, rough, see through in parts, study in others, white, yellowing white, off-white, …. all in one. She wears it every time she goes to cast her vote. I have admired her t-shirt since the 2016 election.
And now, I have an old ragged t-shirt with holes and fades, of my own. I appointed it “my protest t-shirt” to keep up with the tradition and times. It was once white and brand new. Everlane made it. I dyed it blue with Indigo. The residual acidic water went into my garden to prepare soil to grow grapes. That was the t-shirt’s childhood. She spent it being cute and innocent.
…
…
2020. I have no voting rights in America. But I exist.
The call came for me. “What can you give up, from now till the election?” they asked.
Some of my disposable income. But money is no substitute to grass root organizing, is it ?
Some of my time and energy. I don’t have to write a blog or instagram or watch tv in excess or take outfit photos of myself or …..
My contribution to 2020 can’t be thoughts and prayers. I wore my hole-ey t-shirt and phone banked. I called folks who marched for climate and urged them to vote. My t-shirt went from being a pretty thing to a uniform that reminds me of the work that needs doing. Wear it and show up.
My t-shirt is now in a teenager with raging hormones phase. She continues to be a thing of beauty.
I adopted one friend on the other side. And tried to make a bridge. He didn’t flip. He was born into old wealth, took on tax cuts as the numero uno cause for his activism and will probably vote accordingly till he dies. He sees the climate movement/progressive policies/taxation/BLM/most ideas, through the filter of Fox News. Now, he discusses ideas with me, someone outside his circle. He started caring about climate a tad more. The walls are there for a reason – to climb over.
I have no voting rights. But the kindest strangers are carrying me over.
The political outcome of the 2020 election isn’t a happy ending, but start of the next marathon. The race is on and we have a ticket.
I am incredibly grateful.
Thank you !
2020 has been a crazy year and a year where some scientists have been silenced because they don’t fit a narrative.
Who can you trust Karris Mullis, nobel prize and inventor of the PCR or burocrat Fauci? Tesla or Edisson? Pasteur or Bechamp? Censorship?
I think you know the answer… How do research get funded? sadly there are trends in science and part of the climate change is no expection. What did Sebastião Salgado did to restore nature? Why is he less famous than Greta? Is it about destroying the little famer? What did Bill Gates do in India? Who is Vandana Shiva?
Science is an open space for debate not a religion or dogma…
Right now the main issue is Freedom. Is socialism or communism a good economic model? Is China a good example to follow?
I am not patronizing and I hope that as a good researcher/scientist that you are, you will answer these questions by taking off your your silicon valley glasses..
I am a not white. I am a working class immigrant scientist and I think that we all benefit from tax cuts like the super rich. Class problem or race problem? Are white people racist? If so how come immigrants thrive in these societies? Why always bring the race card? From which party are the members of the kkk? Rebranding?
Back to economic models…Do we have control over how the state spends our tax/ hard earned money? Want free college and free healthcare? How do we increase public spending without increasing taxes? Do we tax the super rich? Nop the super rich have the means to go elsewhere maybe to China or India where they can cut costs and increase profit?
Then who will pay for the free public stuff? How about taxing the middle/working class and small businesses? Can they flea? Why do most socialist countries have high inflation despite high taxes? Where does the money go?
I hope that I have triggered you enough 😉 yes to progressive ideas that will change our world for the best, yes to brotherhood and no more wars in the Middle East and Afganistan because Middle Eastern lifes matter, Afgan lifes matter, No more experimenting drugs and wars in Africa because African lifes matter. We said after 1945 no more concentration camps….Uigur life matter…All lifes matter…. Are the ideas proposed really progressive?Have we heard them before? When? Who are championning them? Again Rebranding?
Wishing you all the best
With Love,
A fellow human
All of your questions are really good ones. (I think they have answers.)
My walls have doors and windows. Nothing to be triggered about. (I would love for nothing more than drink beer and discuss ideas all day.) I wish I could converse with you. I doubt I can start one that covers them all in this comment section.
Can we pick one question at a time so that I get to talk to you ? Or will listen when you talk. ( It usually takes me time to digest ideas.)
( P.s : just to put it out there, I am pro-capitalism with some progressive policies I would support. I switched to this view in the recent years after being libertarian when I was younger. Capitalism supports innovation and builds the drive to push boundaries. I am absolutely against taxing the middle class for labor, more than capital gains incurred by the wealthy. I would march the streets protesting, if it were to happen. I have no fandom for any politician including Joe Biden or Bernie. I think of them as public servants/company who should provide me certain services in exchange for my taxes. If they provide me with shitty service, I wouldn’t want to give them my taxes. Which services need to be provided, are always up for discussion and debate at the community level, state level and nation level. )
It was so interesting to read about this, thank you for sharing. I have always wondered if it was awkward for non-citizens to become involved political processes in which they do not get to participate, but you’ve shown how you can support even if you cannot vote.
It’s still awkward. I am usually the only immigrant and brown person in these organizations. I wonder if they are as welcoming as they are, to get the diversity check mark. But I think they are genuine.
When I made calls, I am hyper aware of my accent. But it was a good exercise. At the least, its more than thoughts and prayers.