We must stand up some of the time. ... apathy is the greatest obstacle. ... We must not forget that if we try nothing, nothing changes. ... not forget that our words and actions must follow each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUJ3IVyojPU

#apathy #change #ebook #books #action #takeastand

I’ve not seen all, but many nonetheless 😅
---
RT @playinglesshurt
#jokeoftheday I’ve had a long career sooo I’ve run into all of these! #music #takeastand #stands
https://twitter.com/playinglesshurt/status/1632573617933533187

#Disney didn’t cause a #dictator to rise in #Florida but they are sure as hell going to have to deal with it. Capitulation is not the solution. If Disney wants their park to remain the “happiest place on Earth” then they’re going to have to stand up to the #bully to ensure that happiness. Disney has the means to fight back and they need to draw a line in the sand and take a stand. We all need to. #politics #desantis #takeastand #boycottflorida

One morning a couple of weeks ago, I woke up and I was 60. Just like that. Should I hide my age (as apparently I am expected to do) or celebrate it?
No, we won’t go quietly

Proudly 60 - UNDER THE MILKWOOD https://underthemilkwood.co.za/proudly-60/
#ageism #takeastand #blogging

#ethics #politics, and #religion *cannot be separated.* Ideas (beliefs) always have consequences. Political and religious tribes provide tailor-made communities for the sorting and self-selection of people's different attitudes about right and wrong.

When you observe the collective actions of political parties and religions, you can form some basic rules about the behavior of members. The opposite is also true. If you observe someone's behavior, you can usually predict their affiliations. This isn't being judgmental or stereotyping, it's a heuristic that has a high likelihood of being true, with a margin of error.

Yet there seem to be endless attempts to sidestep acknowledging the influence of these powerful groups on individual behavior. People will claim to want to avoid "labels" or say just be a good *human,* just be *kind,* and stop being *divisive.*

Sometimes this even takes the form of claiming that identifying behaviors of religious or political adherents represents *bigotry.*

This is all conflict-aversion 101. And it's incredibly destructive. Because if we can't even clearly identify the specific groups that are causing moral harm, we'll never have a chance of correcting moral harm.

Let's take the example of the common meme that was circulating a few years back:
"A Muslim, a Christian, a Jew, a Pagan and an Atheist walk into a coffee shop...they talk, laugh, drink coffee and become good friends. It's not a joke, it's what happens when you're not an asshole!"

This isn't just false, it's barking-mad, batshit crazy!

Let's change one thing about this meme--from coffee shop to bar. Now it doesn't work, because Muslims can't drink alcohol.

Let's change another thing about this meme, replace Pagan with Mormon, and now it doesn't work with a coffee shop, either.

Religious and political systems are 100% about regulating human behavior. As such, they generate guaranteed frictions between belief systems, that cannot be papered over with pleasantries.

And there are severe moral differences between religions and especially between political parties.

Democrats are pro-social and anti-hierarchy, republicans are anti-social and pro-hierarchy. No matter how much pretzel logic you may use, you can't deny these basic differences.

Which means *even if you don't belong to a political party or religion, your moral compass aligns with one of them more than others.* Please read that again: *even if you don't belong to a political party or religion, your moral compass aligns with one of them more than others.*

So there's no such thing as staying apolitical.
Whether you know it or not, whether you are politically active or religiously observant or not, your inner self has already chosen its affiliations.
The best thing you can do is figure out how you identify, and take a moral inventory.

If you want to be kind, compassionate and pro-social, if you favor equality, that probably means you're some form of social democrat, and not that fond of organized religion. You put reducing human suffering at the top of your priority list first before status, wealth or creed. You believe in accountable leaders, and global democratic solutions to the world's problems.

If you believe in an afterlife, care more about tradition, scripture and hierarchy, support wealth inequality, believe in the concept of chosen people, and believe that suffering can't/shouldn't be prevented, you are probably some kind of conservative, religious republican. You're likely to support nationalism and strong, authoritarian leaders.

Obviously there are many nuances in the culture wars, which speak to moral subtleties within these positions, but in broad brushstrokes, there are two basic tribes.

It's time to stop deflecting and take a stand. You're on one side or the other. We can't solve our national or global problems without a showdown between these two basic camps.

#takeastand #choose

Never victim-blame.

Never condition your help on someone "helping themselves."

Never assume that if you give a panhandler cash, they will "spend it on drugs."

Never worry about what's in someone's grocery cart when they pay with an EBT card.

Never assume that the poor are lazy.

Laziness doesn't exist.

Never worry about "unintended consequences" of helping. Just help.

Never be envious because someone qualifies for public assistance.

Never get mad when other people's wages go up.

Never make excuses for the wealthy.

Never give "business leaders" a pass for unethical behavior.

Never settle for double standards that give corporate criminals a slap on the wrist, but jail people for life after their 3rd petty theft.

Never forget that if the penalty for something is a fine, that law only exists for poor people.

Always root for the underdog.

Always lift people up who are struggling.

Always be happy for other people's success.

Always put yourself in other people's shoes.

Always make the decision that reduces unearned hierarchy.

Always hold the powerful the most accountable.

Always give people who are less fortunate the benefit of the doubt.

Always stand in solidarity with the refugee, the orphan, the widow.

Always feed the hungry.

Always give a panhandler whatever you can afford.

Always brighten someone's day if you have the chance.

Always hire the disadvantaged person first.

Always strive for greater equality in everything you do.

Always knock down the bully and lift up their victim.

Always stand against harassment if you witness it.

It's not hard to be a good human. But some people are too eager to forget just exactly what that means.

#takeastand #humanism #kindness #compassion

𝐈𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
https://robertsonp.substack.com/p/in-defense-of-the-twitter-quitter
You don’t need to stay on Twitter and ‘fight’
via @Probs

How many people think you could talk someone out of their Ideas on #TruthSocial ? That's a hate-based space. That's #Twitter today.
If you weren't there, hateful trolls would be attacking each other.

NO matter what the purpose, you are groveling to the Chief Turd's own values.
#TakeAStand #TwitterMigration #Mastodon #ElonMusic #Convictions #Ethics #Morals
ɪᴛ's ᴀ ɴᴀsᴛʏ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ!

Hey, quick PSA: numerous British sporting organisations have called for a boycott of social media starting today (2021-04-30) at 15:00 UTC+1 and lasting through Monday (2021-05-03) till 23:59 UTC+1.

They're protesting inaction on abuse, especially racist abuse, by the big social media companies.

You can show solidarity with the hastags #TakeAStand and #StopOnlineAbuse.

More info here:
https://www.kickitout.org/News/english-football-announces-social-media-boycott