papercrrane

WHA's setting is clearly inspired by the medieval period in its aesthetics and worldbuilding, but it doesn't include any organized religions (iirc) because the secular Pointed Hats roughly fulfill that role, including as moral arbiters for this society. Knowing that can also clarify the position of forbidden magic in the story as not just crime, but sin (as defined by Pointed Hat dogma). Despite sharing the name of "witch," Pointed Hats aren't at all comparable to witches as they were understood in the medieval period, while the Brimhats are functionally the witches in this analogy. They are marginalized thanks to their heretical beliefs and/or sinful practices (esp in cultivating knowledge preceding and/or contradicting the current world order) and offer a precarious alternative to the stifling conformist institution of the Pointed Hats.

Who up missing Akilah.....

idk if i'm just grasping at straws but i always felt like tai is visibly more tense and joyless at the pep rally than the others. the rest of the team is at least somewhat cheering and smiling, while she's just kind of standing there. and especially compared to the way she acted while getting ready with the team, she just seems so uncomfortable here.

like this is tai when it's just her and the other girls.. idk i feel like there's a very clear shift in her attitude. and i can't help but think of jackie saying that they're just doing the pep rally to "give freshmen something to jerk off to later". obviously, this is not an objective truth and might just be jackie's perspective on the event but i'm thinking about how this might feel for tai. she's genuinely working very hard to help the team move forward and to be taken seriously, only to be reduced to a sexual object. and especially as a lesbian, who's atp very closeted, it feels likely that she's uncomfortable with having to appeal to men in that way.

Intervering on international waters There were clear signs of the Israeli army blocking any radio communication from the boats to each other, as well as to any mainland stations. Instead they would hear Britney Spears' Oops... I Did It Again. This is problematic for a number of reasons, most of all that any signals of distress would not reach harbor institutions that could send help, but also because this happened in international waters where no state has jurisdiction.

Systemic (psychological) abuse Will list this because it's a lot.

Shooting rubber bullets at unarmed civilians

Dousing people in water and forcing them to sleep (semi)outdoors

Tasering unarmed civilians (sometimes while they were soaked)

Beatings

Sexual assault

Forcibly removing hijabs and other head coverings

Keeping people tie-wrapped at the wrists for over 24 hours

Forcing people in uncomfortable positions (such as kneeling) for over 24 hours

Keeping people from sleep

Providing little food and water

All this not by individuals, but by groups or militia men, in full view and knowledge of any higher ranking figure. One of the sailors said how their abuse was put on as a spectacle for all to watch, but those beating them were careful enough not to hit anyone in a visible spot (such as the face). He says that a majority of the Flotilla sustained broken ribs.

This man is one of two journalists aboard the Flotilla. They were there to document the (attempted) journey to Gaza from their departure in Barcelona. From the start, it was agreed with the network they were doing this for that any files would be uploaded as to keep them safe from confiscation/destruction, and to throw their devices overboard if they were to be taken by the Israeli forces. These files have been saved, and if the network here goes forward in putting them together for a broadcast, it could mean a lot to at least have something on the journey out there for all to see.