Star Spangled Capsicle

“If you’re reading this, it means I have been killed—most likely targeted—by the Israeli occupation forces. When this all began, I was only 21 years old—a college student with dreams like anyone else. For past 18 months, I have dedicated every moment of my life to my people. I documented the horrors in northern Gaza minute by minute, determined to show the world the truth they tried to bury. I slept on pavements, in schools, in tents—anywhere I could. Each day was a battle for survival. I endured hunger for months, yet I never left my people’s side.

By God, I fulfilled my duty as a journalist. I risked everything to report the truth, and now, I am finally at rest—something I haven’t known in the past 18 months . I did all this because I believe in the Palestinian cause. I believe this land is ours, and it has been the highest honor of my life to die defending it and serving its people.

I ask you now: do not stop speaking about Gaza. Do not let the world look away. Keep fighting, keep telling our stories—until Palestine is free.”

So there's this thing called Celiac disease. A lot of people have it, me included, and it's an autoimmune disorder. The way it works is simple:

I eat gluten

My body screams and eats my intestines in response.

Not a good time, as you can imagine. As a result, people with Celiac have to avoid gluten at all costs. It's not like an intolerance where you feel sick but will recover. If you have celiac and are exposed to even the slightest amount of gluten, it will cause lasting and sometimes permanent damage to your body. It's a genuinely serious disorder.

Now here's the big issue. No one gives a shit about how careful we have to be. The tiniest amount of gluten can be enough to trigger a reaction.

I cannot kiss someone who has eaten gluten recently, or else I risk cross contamination.

This isn't some gluten free fad. This isn't some diet I can cheat on, or just an intolerance that isn't serious. I can develop cancer from eating bread. Literal. Fucking. Cancer. And just the tiniest amount of gluten is enough to trigger an immune response.

People with Celiac can rarely trust any food they haven't prepared themselves. Even food labeled as "gluten free" isn't always safe. Social gatherings where people bring food are a minefield. Restaurants are a huge risk each time.

I'm a college student, I have to eat in a dining hall. I'm terrified that I won't be able to eat anything other than salad, and even that's a risk because someone may have used the crouton tongs on the broccoli.

So please, if you work in food service and someone asks if things are gluten free, please be careful and please be honest. We're putting an insane amount of trust in you just by asking for food. Use a different cutting board, make sure to wash the knife. Little things like that can save us so much stress and pain.

It's like someone being diabetic and asking for the sugar free soda instead of the regular. We're not doing this as part of a fad diet, we're being so careful about what you serve because we don't get a choice.

I tore her a whole new one. You. Don't. Mess. With. People's. Food.

I can't handle dairy. Not any part of it. Not things cooked in butter, no dash of cream, no splash of milk. No powdered milk in my granola clusters. No lactaid. No, we-accidentally-put-cheese-on-your-sandwich-but-didn't-remake-it-because-everyone-likes-cheese. I get violently ill. In twenty to thirty minutes. People assume I'm lying because they don't understand allergies. And it's HARD to understand if you don't have them.

Don't. Mess. With. Other. People's. Food.

Even so. Those people in restaurants you're convinced are lying? I don't care. If they're being "trendy" about it. I don't care. Even if they just hate onions and tell you they're allergic, because that's the only way they've found to get people who think they know better than everyone else from putting onions in their damn food. Let me speak directly to you. I understand. I see you. I cannot blame you for the callousness and disregard of others. You're trying to take care of you.

✨ her ✨

i think i’m finally clean…

✧ Taylor Swift