I Used To Know Something Funny

After a moment he changed the music on his phone to what sounded like a Hatsune Miku song. Curiosity got the better of me, so I finally spoke up and said “is this Hatsune Miku?”

And he said “Yep. You looked uncomfortable, and I know Transgender women like Hatsune Miku, so I thought it might help.”

he said that he didn't want to sound discouraging or like i can't do it, but that it's best to be realistic with myself about my options in life. and that was so comforting. i wouldn't have minded at all if he really did mean it like "i agree; you can't do it;" the thing many abled people don't understand is that there's a lot of liberation that comes from letting go of the expectation that we disabled people can do everything an abled person can.

it saves us a lot of mental and physical pain, lost sleep, obsessing, self-neglect, injuries, getting acute illnesses more easily, chronic/episodic conditions flaring up more/worse than before, the pain of always masking how hard it is. working 10+ times harder than everyone else just to achieve the same result. and sometimes, if we can manage to hide how much we're struggling, the downside of that is that no one is aware that we are, so they think we have the ability to try even harder so we can achieve even more. so they push us past our limits before either of us realize what's going on.

A Jumanji can be dangerous and high-stakes (to the characters), but it doesn't need to have a metaphor or lesson, it can easily just be a "Would this be fucked up or what?" situation (e.g. a lotta Goosebumps stories). If there IS a lesson/metaphor, it will be on a smaller scale like psychological issues (e.g. Magnus Archives), family/relationship issues (e.g. Zathura), or about a specific topic (e.g. Magic School Bus). Large-scale social issues may be present (after all, Everything Is Political), but they take a definite backseat.

saw

the cabin in the woods

labrynth (1986)

and

Gather a citron, an ancient fruit predating the cultivation of lemon. Notice how it has a wonderful aroma, and consider how its flesh is edible. This represents the Jew who is both learned in Judaism and who exhibits kindness and good deeds.

Now gather the closed frond at the center of a palm tree. Consider how sweet the dates of the palm taste, but how the frond exhibits no strong smell like the citron. This represents the Jew who is learned in Judaism, but who does not practice the compassion in the many texts they studied.

Now gather at least three branches from a myrtle bush. Take in the refreshing scent oozing from the branches' thick leaves, but see how it does not bear fruit. This represents the Jew who is not learned in Judaism, but whose good character and actions are exceptional.

Finally, gather two branches from the somber willow. While mighty and enveloping, the willow exhibits no strong aroma, nor does it produce fruit. This represents the Jew who is neither learned in Judaism nor kind in character and deeds.

Appreciate the various textures and shapes of these four species. Feel the weight of them in your hand. Value how different in so many aspects each of them are.

Take them all in your hands, and bind them together like an embrace. Point them in all the corners of the earth- South, North, East, heavenward, downward, and West. Think of all your Jewish brethren scattered around the world, and bring your precious bundle back to your heart with every direction you send it to. Contemplate the place of every Jew in your community, the Etrog, the Lulav, the Hadas, and the Arava, for they all belong.

There's no support for anti-war and anti-government protests on the ground in Israel (you know, the protests that might actually make a difference)

There's no empathy for or solidarity with civilian victims (only when it comes to Israeli civilians are you going to hear self-described Feminists and Leftists explain why rape is fine, actually)

No understanding of the difference between the state and its' citizens (or even the Jewish people, generally)

Absolutely no desire to actually learn about the history of the region and conflict comprehensively (the expulsion of over 700,000 Palestinians during the Nakba was horrific, and a crime that needs to be addressed. Out of curiosity, what was happening to the 800,000-1,000,000 Jews living in the surrounding Arab nations around then?)

All understanding of complexity and nuance? Of the concerns of minority, queer, disabled, and other vulnerable populations with the country? It's all out the window. It's all just one big Evil Zionist Entity.

This is how even accurate criticisms and condemnations of Israel can end up being antisemitic. You are viewing the Israeli state and the people who live there through a lens that you hold to no other nation-state on Earth. (and then holding random Jews in the diaspora to account for that).