Greenleaf

Yes. For years now, when I’ve engaged with libs on the topic of free speech (usually w/r/t China), I point out that the amount of free speech the people of a country have is directly related to how much of a threat that speech is perceived to be by ruling powers. China has relatively free speech but it’s still a socialist country living in a capitalist world that wants it dead, so it’s not totally unfettered.

Libs love to tout about how Americans have totally free speech (debatable, but still). But up until recently, free speech hasn’t been a threat to power in the US. So sure, let the peasants have free speech, it won’t actually change anything.

Well now it seems that the ruling class do perceive a threat. They thought they could control speech in the internet age by making sure the biggest social media outlets are firmly under their thumb. They have Facebook, Google, and Twitter. But TikTok changed the game. The fact that it’s from China is a happy coincidence for them - if it was instead from a vassal state or some relatively powerless state outside their orbit, they would have muscled their way in.

Not being able to control the narrative is a threat, so that speech needs to be restricted.

I am envious of comrades here who get to live in countries that are doing somewhat good things (South Africa).

And the cousin of that one: “I got into an argument with a lib on Reddit so here’s our chain of single upvote comments, please tell I won the argument”

I’m that way with torture. Like, even though it’s all literally acting I had to bow out of Game of Thrones with all the torture and mutilation they did to Theon Greyjoy.

Us communists should pool our money together, buy every stock on the stock market, then hand the companies over to the workers. Instant socialism! It’s brilliant, why didn’t we think of this before.

I love Ansar Allah so much.

gun safety reforms such as a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and a universal background check requirement

I really hope this part is tied together with the $37 billion for the pigs, because if so then they’re not getting a cent because no Republican and quite a few Dems too will never vote for that gun stuff.

China might not get in involved, but Russia 100% will.

From Resistance News Network on Telegram:

The Islamic Resistance in Bahrain - Saraya Al-Ashtar - announces the targeting of a vital target in the city of Umm Al-Rashrash in occupied Palestine ("Eilat"), on Thursday, May 2, 2024, by drone, in victory for our resisting people in Gaza.

We affirm that our operations will not stop until the siege is lifted and the aggression ceases against the resisting Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

Issued by: The Drone Air Force of the Islamic Resistance in Bahrain – Saraya Al-Ashtar

We’re all shocked at the psychotic rage displayed by so many people in Israeli leadership (like their UN rep talking about how college kids protesting are actually Hamas). On some level that was always there, sure. But I think what we are seeing now in all levels of Israeli society is something new. It’s like a society-wide mass psychosis. What they are displaying is not normal behavior and is beyond just fascism. I was in college when 9/11 happened. In the immediate aftermath, yeah some people expressed some bravado “let’s turn the Middle East into glass” attitudes but that was extremely rare. I think the social fabric of Israeli society is ripping apart, and in the grand scheme of things Oct 7 was basically a paper cut. The Israelis are out of their goddamn minds and I don’t see how bringing the current genocide to a conclusion will change that.

Now contrast that with the social fabric of the Palestinian people. I cannot imagine what it is like to live in Gaza right now. The Gazans who survive will be scarred for life, no doubt, both physically and mentally. And yet, all I see are attitudes of hope and defiance. They are living through hell on earth, and in the face of it all they are expressing a strength and revolve that is almost super human.

So take those two different mental states, and tell which society you have more hope for in the long run?

This is the sort of thing I was talking about when I was talking about the photo of the Palestinian woman holding her dead niece (the photo that won World Press Photo of the Year). I get the idea that the award is kinda lib, but photo journalism itself, when done right, can be a very powerful medium.