• 0 Posts
  • 54 Comments
Joined 1 year ago
Cake day: July 7th, 2023
  • WoahWoah@lemmy.worldtomemes@lemmy.world•Semantics is divisive
    53·
    22 hours ago

    It’s rarely ever possible to fix something that is fundamentally and compositionally flawed. No one is arguing that it’s easier. They’re arguing that it’s necessary.

    Always looking for what’s easy instead of what’s necessary is part of how we got here in the first place.

  • WoahWoah@lemmy.worldtoHistoryPorn@lemmy.world•An indigenous man knocks over a statue of a Spanish conquistador on the 500th anniversary of the European discovery of the Americas, Chiapas, Mexico, 1992English
    21·
    5 days ago

    So let’s break down some of these “dubious achievements” people love to throw at the Zapatistas. First off, the whole “refusing government aid” argument misses the point entirely. They’re not declining aid because they want to stay impoverished—they’re rejecting the strings that come with it. Accepting aid often means compromising autonomy, becoming dependent on a state that historically hasn’t had their best interests in mind, and losing control over how their communities develop. Instead, they’ve built their own systems for education and healthcare, and while those systems aren’t perfect, they’re trying to solve their own problems without interference. So yes, they’re poorer than if they sold out to the government—but they’re at least in control of their poverty rather than having it dictated to them.

    As for “sabotaging national left movements”—give me a break. Their cautious stance toward leftist parties like MORENA is more about protecting themselves from co-optation than about undermining anything. MORENA and other parties have plenty of their own issues and aren’t exactly champions of Indigenous autonomy. Leftists always think they’re great for Indigenous people, but history and contemporary politics around the world shows that settlers, even leftist settlers, need to be dealt with cautiously. Just because the Zapatistas aren’t blindly falling in line with a leftist party doesn’t mean they’re sabotaging it; maybe they’re just refusing to play a game they know is rigged.

    Then there’s this idea that they’re somehow “bleeding the youth from the region.” The EZLN’s focus on community involvement isn’t about trapping young people; it’s about empowering them to be part of something that isn’t just another cog in the mainstream system. Sure, opportunities might be limited, and not every young person wants to stay, but they’re offering a path that’s rooted in autonomy and cultural integrity. It may not compete with the economic lure of the cities, but it’s a meaningful alternative in a world where indigenous voices are often marginalized.

    And that last bit about “preventing outside examination”—that’s ignoring the reality on the ground. The Zapatistas restrict access not just because of a supposed lack of transparency but as a necessary response to the constant threats they face from both government forces and cartels. They’re located along the border of Guatemala/Mexico, and the cartels are encroaching on their lands, bringing violence, kidnappings, road blocks, robberies, and forced recruitment into the region. Opening their communities wide to “outsiders” in this context isn’t just risky; it could jeopardize their security and survival. So, while it may frustrate people looking for a close-up view, this control over access is a form of self-defense against a very real and immediate danger.

  • WoahWoah@lemmy.worldtomemes@lemmy.world•Weww lawd he's a coming
    21·
    17 days ago

    We’ll be told the economy can’t afford another lockdown, so people will just have to report to work and risk dying. I highly doubt most countries will do that again in the near future. Let alone people abiding it.

    I really feel like that was a moment where we could have seen radical social change, but instead it just ended up being a blip when everyone made Tiktok videos. I always imagine what it would have been like if, for some unknown reason, like a massive EMP flare from the sun or something, made all digital and internet technology die.

    I think the best hope for the world at this point might literally be an extremely large and direct solar event/CME. It would cause chaos and result in a lot of deaths, but it seems like the only thing that would actually radically change the suicidal trajectory global society is currently on.

  • WoahWoah@lemmy.worldtomemes@lemmy.world•Americans when they visit Germany the first time
    1·
    18 days ago

    Going almost triple the speed limit like that in the United States will end up being a combination of felonies, you’ll be taken directly to jail, and your car will be impounded as evidence. You could serve years depending on how the felonies shake out, you’ll no longer be able to vote, and the fines will be thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars. Further, lethal force on the part of an officer would arguably be authorized given the clear and present danger to the public by someone going at such an egregious speed.

    I’m not sure such an over-the-top example is great evidence of how strict Danish moving violations are.