Queer Edge: A Community for Queers and Allies
I was using the social network Ning to run a queer punks community. However, they decided to start charging for their service. Being the diy punk that I am, I decided to give the corporate gods the middle finger and make my own social site. Thus, Queer Edge was born.
It’s a site for genderqueer, genderfucks, bois, birls, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgendered, and everyone else. I want it to be a safe space to have community. The forum might change a bit as the future of “Queeries” is up in the air. I also made a space for the minorities of the minorities: queer punks, vegan queers, and straight edge queers.
Help me build community, start, and join the discussion!
Some days, The Most You Can Do Is Sew On Patches To Show Discontent.
Breathe. Resist.
That’s the best you can do to stay alive and not become one of the living dead. Some days, the most you can do is sew patches to show discontent with society. Discontent is the catalyst for change in men and nations (so said a fortune cookie I got!). I get people who get upset at me sometimes. I mean really upset and confused. “How can you be the way you are? You can’t change the world!” I believe I can. I can change myself. I can change the world. Sometimes that change requires patches being sewn on a vest or a pair of pants.
“A change of perception turns emotion into action. The search for a solution will end in revolution.” sings Abandon XVX in their song “To Defy” and it’s true. Unlike how we’re conditioned to be in school to be passive observers of life with the fable of news being something bigger than yourself – the truth is the revolution lies within you. Unlike some Doomsday theorists, I don’t believe that a violent revolution will change anything. Without the proper education – even if the state was overthrown, people would just set up the same system all over again because it’s all they know. In Spain, when there were the anarchist nations during the civil war was a result of anarchist material being in circulation and widely available for 75 years running. “It doesn’t have an affect if you don’t recognize the cause,” says Crass in the song Big A, Little A – which is very true.
My goal is to make a media empire to rival that of Rupert Murdoch. Might as well aim for the stars, if you miss, you’ll hit the moon.
Seriously, I came up with two ideas how to see the change I want to occur and to achieve them realistically. The first one would be to become president and turn the military into the biggest humanitarian aid effort the world has ever seen. Use force against those who force needs to use force (fascist, violent people) and completely revolutionize how food distribution is handled to end world hunger. Put a focus on renewable energy and listen to the experts about the environment. I am not personally sure if global warming is being caused by humans but I do know a mass extinction of the planet is going on and it is being caused by humans. That needs to be stopped. Money needs to be put into education to produce the next thinkers of the world – not merely dumb down next generation of workers. Studies have shown money is more efficient being spent on preventing not the result. Like, I was reading in The Real Cost of Prisons – that in some areas in NYC there are blocks that a million a dollars a year are spent on keeping the citizens incarcerated. If that money was spent on making the neighborhoods safe, food programs, and after school events – it would keep the people out of prison to begin with. It’s a money making institution that needs to be reformed. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. That is pretty ridiculous for a land marketed as, “the land of the free.” I would put more regulations on animal testing and find out truly how relevant it is to test things on another species. I would put an end to factory farming and antibiotic abuse. I would want to give the people the right to decide the president – not the electoral college. I want to get rid of ridiculous pork barreling. I want to change so many things. Yes, I am an anarchist but I can’t live in an anarchist bubble and pretend the state doesn’t exist. I need to work with what I got. An option of mine is to run for president.
The other option is to become a big media giant. “Don’t hate the media: become the media.” is a famous punk saying. Then I can keep people inform about what’s really going on. No more having to read a dozen different news stories to try to get an idea what’s going on. I’d have news relevant to the community so that people can take action. A pet peeve of mine is when people are like, “They control things.” “They make it happen.” The reality of the situation is that there is no mysterious “they” but only we. The thing is we’re conditioned to believe that there is some mysterious entity out there that controls us but really we control them. It’s time to take the power back to the people.
The rich are getting richer at the expense of the poor. People deserve their dues for their hard work but really, how many yachts does a person need? Things need to change. The entire institution needs reform. The only way to change the institution is to educate the people. Voting hasn’t really changed anything because the rich with their own agenda control the media and pay off whoever needs to pay off to keep themselves comfortable.
My agenda is for freedom. Not corporate enslavement. Capitalism needs to be abolished. So many people are fighting the branches but we need to get down to the root. We need a non-violent revolution from within the system – destroying the system to create the next evolution in the progress of mankind. If we keep walking the path we’re walking, by 2050, life as we know on this planet will be extinct.
As long as we have a system on have’s and have not’s there will always be the poor. Global wealth creates global poverty. I want everyone to have food to eat, a roof over their head, and clothes on their back. I want to put the power in the hands of the people were it belongs – not in the hands of the rich. The rich are shaking in their boots because people are starting to get the idea to revolt like in Greece. However, I don’t agree with Chris Hedge that the Greeks get it. They have the idea and are willing to fight because they don’t have food – but they don’t have the whole idea.
Instead of spontaneously revolution, what if we learned to put aside our differences for a half a second and address the fact we are all human and all have needs? What if we acknowledged that our current system is killing us and we need to stop. What if we just stopped and started building a world of friendship, community, and mutual respect? I don’t expect everyone to like each other – I don’t like everyone – but I respect everyone and our differences.
As Aus Rotten said, “What good is money when there’s nothing left to buy?” Under current regime, that is exactly what is going to happen. The only way to change things is to work together and build a better tomorrow. Who’s with me?
Cat Wars: Elder cat wins. Little cat goes home.
Tick-tock and Uni had some confrontation. Uni wanted to play with Tick Tock and Tick Tock didn’t want to play. Tick Tock swatted at Uni and Uni became scared of her. Tick Tock was defending her territory. However, there was never an outright fight. Tick Tock was annoyed by Uni was in her space but learned to accept her presence and tolerate her. I wish humans could do the same.
Question: Where are the freedom loving punk rockers?
“My father told me “Son it’s futile to resist. You can topple the ideology but not the armies they enlist.†I questioned the intentions of the boy scouts chanting “WAR!†“Well, that’s the sound of freedom, sonâ€, he said (free to say no more). But wait a minute “dadâ€, did you actually say freedom? Well, if you’re dumb enough to vote, you’re fucking dumb enough to believe them. Because if this country is so goddamned free, then I can burn your fucking flag wherever I damn well please.” – Propagandhi
Answer: Most punks are freedom loving. It just depends on your definition of freedom. If you mean the racist, classist, sexist, homophobic society we currently have – you probably won’t find many punks who agree with you. Some punks are apathetic and apolitical. My flavor of punk – anarcho/peace/crust punk are typically very political and care about freedom a lot. We want equality and freedom from oppression for humans and some of us for all beings. We want you to have the freedom to be you and me to have the freedom to be me.
However, most people want their version of freedom. Freedom to be how they want you to be and not true freedom. That isn’t true freedom. True freedom is allowing everyone the right to decide for themselves even if you disagree.
For example, I am straightedge. I have never done drugs nor will I ever. It is a personal choice. It isn’t my right to decide how others should live. Thus, I am for the legalization of marijuana. More harmful substances are legal like alcohol so it doesn’t make sense why marijuana isn’t. It would make the substance, reasonably price, and put an end to crimes. Plus, it will stimulate the economy with the tax money it’d bring and end some horrible drug trafficking. Sure, there might be more stoners, but it’s people’s choice. I don’t think zoning out on pot is any different than being a vegetable watching television.
I am for freedom to do as you please as long as you don’t hurt anyone else or infringe on the freedom of others. For example, hateful ideologies that promote violence against groups of people such as the KKK and Nazis shouldn’t have their freedom to believe what they do because they violate other people’s freedom. I can’t justify giving them their freedom if they won’t give me mine. Fascism, in whatever form it takes, must be stopped. Fascism doesn’t allow for “freedom” to exist. Make sense?
My form of freedom is equality for all beings. That doesn’t mean I think dogs should have the right to vote. I do think they should have the right to life though. Last night, I freaked out because I accidentally stepped on a snail. I really felt like a murderer. It isn’t my right to take the life of another living creature as long as that creature isn’t doing any harm to me. My family didn’t understand what the big deal was. It was just a snail; it was nighttime, and they didn’t have a light on. My stepmother even had a “talk” with me about how a snail is a lower life form who’s emotional experience is limited to eat, poop, and mate. I couldn’t even begin to explain to her how that’s specist. That life is life. That all life is precious and should be respected. That unnecessary taking of life should be avoided to put an end to violence. That specism, sexism, classism, racism, and all other forms of hierarchical oppression are connected. That human liberation is dependent on animal liberation. That it is all connected and must all be stopped for peace to exist. For freedom.
Punk 101: The Black Denim Punk Vest
I know, I know. Punk isn’t about fashion. It’s about attitude. However, sometimes it’s fun to dress up. There are a few ways to get the mythical black denim vest. One way is to get a blue denim vest (either in vest form or by cutting off the sleeves) and dye it black. This method works okay – it’s not a solid, crisp black usually turns out blackish/gray but it does have a diy feel to it. The other way is to simply get a black denim vest. There’s a couple of websites that sells them. My favorite is Black and Blue. It isn’t the cheapest out there but it’s American made so you aren’t getting a vest made in a sweatshop. To me, part of being punk is being ethical about what you buy when you can. I own a vest from them and the only problem with it is the extra wide arm holes are too wide. I’m female-bodied so not that broad plus I am wearing it solo and not over clothing. If you were planning on wearing the vest over clothing it might be an advantage which is why it was designed that way. But, for my purpose it just looks baggy due to the big holes. So, if that’s a concern – just order the jacket (same price) and cut off the sleeves to make a vest with normal size arm holes. The fit for me, other than the arm holes, is just right and I highly recommend it.
Now that you got a quality vest – what are you going to do to it? The punk vest is a labor of love and can be very time consuming. The last vest I made took 30 hours which was relatively short. The next vest I am planning is going to take 60 hours at least. Unless you’re going to silkscreen your own patches – there’s lots of different sites to get patches from. It just depends what bands you are into – you can either browse a site like Angry Young and Poor, Interpunk, or Crustpunks. Or just google band names you like. Try to stay off of Ebay – there’s one guy on there who’s selling Contravene patches for $7.50 – for $7.50 I’d make my own patch but people are buying them. There are some really cool back patches at Punk Stuff and if you have a month to wait (they custom print all their orders so it takes a month to get it usually) – Night Gaunt Graphics has some awesome stuff. You can also get studs for your vest from Studs and Spikes. I don’t recommend getting spikes since they can hurt people in the pit or with any physical contact. Studding denim is really easy because you don’t need to poke holes through it first as with thicker material but it still takes a LONG time. If you want to learn how to stud, there’s how-to-videos online – just google or youtube them. Try to get brass based studs – they cost more but they don’t rust like the steel ones do with time and wear. Just be patient – with a punk vest, you get what you give.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask. Good luck!
On Privilege, Racism, and Oppression
Let’s talk privilege. So, I’m a middle class white female-bodied genderqueer mentally ill Jew. I’d be the first to admit I have some privilege but I am also fairly oppressed by the system as well. There are people who hate me because of my heritage. There are people who hate me for being queer. There are people who won’t view me as an equal if they knew about my mental illness. I wasn’t born into money. My family was lower class and worked really, really hard so that their kids would never know what it’s like to go without food. My class status is a result of hardwork, not old or blood money. So, because my family wanted a better life for me than they had, somehow my privilege state is somehow my fault that I need to take responsibility for. I am being told by peers that it’s somehow my fault I am white and middle class. I never asked for this life. I just happened to be born into it.
However, for everyone person like me who admits their privileges – there’s a thousand people who don’t. I was talking to my friend about being privilege. My friend mentioned when she got home from work she turned on the television and “Desperate Housewives” was on. She watched the opening scene and one of the characters stated, “I am privilege and I don’t care.” That sentiment is a majority of people in my position. Yet, I do care and I am trying to use what I got to better the world – not just my own personal interests.
I keep being told I don’t understand racism but no one can explain to me how I don’t get it. I might not have to deal with racism but I do have to deal with the threat that people will hate me for my last name or being visibly queer. How is that any different? Yet, somehow, I am told by anti-racist racists that my experience as a human being isn’t valid because of the color of my skin. Just because I was born into a white meat suit, my whole life and experiences don’t matter. To classify a group of people, due to their skin color, and to automatically decide that people of a certain race experiences aren’t as valid as another race experience, is no different than what Hitler did by blaming the Jews.
Racism is always going to be a problem and I know class/race is related. That most people in prison are people of color and there’s racial profiling. But, if there were more people of color than whites, the situation would be reverse. If there were more queers than heterosexuals, the heterosexuals would be oppressed. It’s just dumb luck that things are the way they are.
Now, I have been told I’m not being a good enough white ally because of my lack of understanding that no one can explain how I lack it. I know my life and personal experiences. I know when I go to people of color events to try to be a good ally they don’t want me there because I am white. I’ve had people who won’t date me because of the color of my skin. I have never rejected anyone based on skin color. The anti-racist racists have already judged me and decided they don’t want me. Why should I bother trying to befriend people who don’t want to be my friend or want my support? Why should I go out of my way to try to support people who won’t support me? What about people caring about being an ally to me for being queer, Jewish, and mentally ill?
I’ve lost lots of friends over being mentally ill. I have people who I’ve known for years turn on me for something beyond my control. I’ve been assaulted for being a homosexual. I don’t know many people of color who’ve been assaulted for being a person of color or lose friends over it. It’s not like they wake up one day and they’re a person of color like I woke up one day with a chemical imbalance. I deal with anti-semantism due to my heritage. Yet, due to my visible race, I am being told I don’t understand oppression?
I am not trying to play the who’s more oppressed than who game. But I find the radical circles intolerable of differences. They want to be project an image of representing a minority and apart from my class and skin color, I am a minority. But all that is ignored and not validated because of my skin. I am told I don’t understand. I do understand and can relate because I am oppressed to.
With that being said, I am doing the best I can do to make the world a more loving, tolerant place. I am trying to be the best ally to everyone but to be told I am lacking without being able to be told why is madness. I would never turn to anyone and say, “You aren’t being a good enough ally.” Or “Your experience aren’t valid.” Or even “You don’t understand.” That’s hateful and violent within itself to not valid another’s experience. I do understand and know what it’s like to be hated for something that isn’t your choice.
To automatically declare I am an oppressor based on the color of my skin is as ridiculous to decide I oppress due to my gender, sexuality, height, weight, type of peanut butter I eat. It’s to make an enemy out of a friend. It’s to become the oppressor yourself.
To simply be told by people who don’t know me that I’m a “privilege rich white kid” and I’m “not a good enough white ally” without being able to explain why other than saying “You don’t understand.” is to not even begin to examine the whole picture. It’s not validating the oppression I face. It’s not validating my family’s struggle so that I can have a better life than they had. It’s not looking at the fact I am using my privilege to try to fight against all forms of oppression. That I acknowledge my privilege but it’s not my fault. I can only work with what I am given and I doing the best I can. I don’t, however, see people of all colors lining up to be allies to me or approaching me to find out how to be an ally for what I need allies for as they expect me to do for them – which I do. I have had people get upset at me for asking how to be a better ally since I should “educate myself” which is what I was trying to do by asking. I’m not a psychic or a mind reader. I’ve never had anyone ask me how to be an ally to me for anything already mentioned. It’s not fair that so much is demanded of me but I can’t ask for the same in return. Because I’m white and I don’t understand oppression.
Cambodia’s ‘Jungle Woman’ Flees Back to Wild
What does this say about us that one of our own kind can’t adapt to society?
You can’t be a “real” anarchist without being a pacifist.
To be a “real” or a “true” anarchist is to oppose all forms of oppression. Violence, by it’s very nature, creates an oppressor – person with the gun – and oppressed -person without a gun-. The only way anarchism can be achieved is through peaceful transitions – not force. Violence creates more violence. Any state with a foundation based on violence can not be an anarchist state. To be peaceful, unarmed, and harmonious to other human beings are characteristic of a “real” anarchist. Anarchy and peace is “true democracy” in which everyone is given an equal voice to one another with no one being oppressed. But for a state of true anarchism to exist, it needs to be based in a community whose foundation is peace not militarism.
Cat Wars: The Saga Begins + http://ugliesttattoos.com/
Things have been pretty calm. I went to a punk show this weekend and met a fellow anarcho-punk. We’re rare. So that was nice. Things have been pretty mellow. I thought I sold my punk vest – but things came up that made the sale not go through. So, if anyone is interested in a uber denim punk vest – riot grrrl style – check it out here.
The only thing of note is that we have a visiting feline in the house: Uni Cat. She’s a kitten that’s less than a year old and can’t quite meow yet. This is not going well with our older cat, Tick Tock, who’s about 17 human years old. Tick Tock usually keeps to the upstairs and Uni has free reign of the downstairs. They don’t really interact with each other except for eating each other’s food. If Uni happens to cross Tick Tock’s path she’ll hiss at her but overall, there isn’t much trouble.
Not much else is going on. Just mostly waiting for things to sell so I’ll have the money to buy the jewelry I want to sell. Business has been slow but maybe it’d pick up in a few days when people get paid. I have some music I need to listen to and review that I haven’t done yet and my pile of books isn’t getting any smaller. I am hoping to finish reading some and do some reviews.
Oh, yesterday my friend told me about the website http://ugliesttattoos.com/ when we were talking about tattoos. Some of the tattoos are just bizarre. Lucky for me, my tattoos are awesome so I don’t have to worry about ending up on that site. Haha.
Alien seeks Alien – Earthlings need not apply.
I’ve been a little down the past few days. Mostly because my ability to form personal relationships has been seriously lacking. I am very straightforward and honest. I was told that can be perceived as being boastful and forceful – two things I am not. I try to live each day to it’s fullest and always tell people what I have to say when I have to say it. It’s getting me nowhere. Usually, when I tell someone I like them I get blown off or ignored. I mean, if the situation was reversed, I’d be like “Hey, awesome. Let me get your number and we’ll hang out.” But the situation is never reversed. No one has ever told me they found me attractive.
I recently told someone I wanted to be an important part of their life – friends or otherwise – but I would like a relationship. They kind of blew me off, “I just wanna be friends.” and didn’t address the larger issue of wanting to be someone to them. I’ve been putting forth some effort and it hasn’t been returned at all. So, despite my desire of wanting to be there for them, everything they’ve done on their end shows otherwise. So, despite my wanting to have a relationship, I’m not important enough to them to make time for me. I kind of wish they would outright just be like “Dude, I don’t want a relationship with you and I don’t want you in my life.” Rather than dragging me along so I think I am done with that correspondence. I do care but there’s nothing left to be done. I mean, I made every accommodation. I offered to travel to them or if they wanted to travel to me – I’d give them gas money since that was an issue. I deserve someone better anyways. Someone who cares to be with me but I can’t find anyone.
I get quickly judged and dismissed for being: vegan, straightedge, or mentally ill. All three have no affect on being a friend to me. But, I can’t find people to be friends with. The last attempts at making friends have all ended the same way: I get their number. I call. They never call me back. I mean, it’d be cool if they would be like, “I changed my mind, I don’t want to be friends.” But just nothing and being ignored is the worse.
I talked to a friend for some advice on this issue. They were like “Play games. It’s all a game.” And I am like, “Dude, I don’t play games.” And look where it’s gotten me: nowhere and nothing. I mean, I’ve been “out” for four years and I haven’t had a second date – let alone a girlfriend. I even had my dad turn to me and tell me he thought I really wasn’t queer because of my lack of relationships.
It’s not for a lack of trying. I don’t understand human mating rituals. I am just me – kind of alien to this world since where I am from – we do things differently. We tell people how we feel. It’s not a big deal. It’s either you want connection or you don’t, and whatever you want will be respected but you got to communicate how you feel because we’re not psychic. We don’t give out our phone number and not return phone calls. We don’t play games. We are honest and forthright. I wish I could find another alien like me because the people on this rock are nuts and I refuse to be brought down to that level of madness.
