Here’s a lovely little 17th century tailpiece to #finis off the week.
This FinisFriday brought to you by:Thomas Hobbes. The History of the Civil VVars of England. (London, 1679).
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Right now, and for a “limited time,” anyone in the United States between the age of 13 and 21 can apply for a free Brooklyn Public Library eCard, which gives access to 350,000 eBooks, 200,000 audiobooks, and online databases. (Normally, Brooklyn Public Library eCards are only free for people who live and/or work in New York state.)
[id: tweet from "just a regular wifeguy now" @crowkids reading "when a woman in sci fi is wearing a jumpsuit and you're like. yes. and then she takes off the top part and ties it around her hips to show her arms and her tank top/sports bra/etc and you're like YESSSS".]
Are you worried that you may not have stable housing that you can rent or stay in?
Well look no further because TENNESSEE REPUBLICANS have "a plan for that."
What's their plan, you might be asking?
REPUBLICANS in Tennessee plan to CRIMINALIZE homelessness.
The midterms are in November. Get registered and vote Blue in 2022.
I do want to point out that “are there any exemptions” is not the question to be asking. It’s tragic for a woman to have to choose between the streets and a dangerous home, no question at all, and using a story about an abuse victim and children sleeping in the rain (or invoking veterans, which almost ALWAYS gets brought up immediately) certainly tugs on most people’s heartstrings more than a story about someone who lost their living situation because of substance use disorder, who can’t hold down a job because of mental illness, or who simply chooses to live on the street for some reason (which some people do). But ALL of those people deserve the option to have safe, dignified housing and freedom and dignity on the streets as well, which means not being arrested, fines, having their possessions destroyed etc.
Making it a crime to be homeless is cartoonishly evil, but I am begging people, when they talk about these topics, to remember that it’s evil for anyone. To some extent I understand using the most sympathetic examples in order to get support but we also need to recognise that implying the law is bad because of the kind of socially-palatable person who is affected, and continuing to focus on them, is a huge disservice to everyone else. It is along the same lines as the pro-choice people who say stuff like “it’s bad because it’s evil to make a woman carry her rapist’s baby!” as if by extension it would be less bad if she were just one of those irresponsible sluts who doesn’t know how to use a condom. You either support it for everyone, because it’s a human right, or you end up doing harm with the same language you think you are doing good.
It’s especially important not to forget about the people who are on the streets for reasons people are often less sympathetic about, like addiction and mental illness. Contrary to what the stigma around these things says, neither are things people chose, they are not a sin or moral failing, they are mental/social/physical illnesses and the schizophrenic heroin user and the recently-released felon with alarming tattoos have the same human rights as the mom fleeing domestic abuse, the queer kid kicked out of their house, and the military veteran who was let down by the government when it came to support and reintegration. No one ever uses them as examples because they know society hates them and is happy to see them suffer. So whenever you see stuff like this, take a moment to also intentionally think about all the other homeless and housing-insecure people out there and not end up implying that we need exemptions to save women and kids and veterans but it’s ok to do it to the 50yo alcoholic man who sometimes yells weird things because he is as deserving of protection or of safety or of concern.
Floofability score: sheep
Although logic, common sense, and basic self-preservation instincts tell us better, we must agree with you, Good Sir
A point we cannot refute
Quick everyone pretend it's 2015 and we're still doing these. Book musketeers introduction crash course
I'm crying. I'm dying. It's so perfect. It's so them.
I just think it’s important to understand that “you’re always going to be mentally ill” isn’t the same thing as “you’re always going to be unhappy”
pterawaters