Autore: ealdor2

elisera:

“The most dangerous thing you can do is believe life is a narrative.
Narratives imply that you are its protagonist. As a protagonist, it’s hard not to believe you deserve satisfying resolutions to your conflicts and a happily ever after. It implies that certain people, because they don’t interest you, aren’t important. It implies that other people exist to further your story. The thing is, you can’t treat other people like side characters. Your best friend is not a side kick. Your friends are not comedic relief or dramatic foils. Your parents do not exist to provide your tragic backstory or dispense fortune cookie wisdom. Your first love, your current love, your ex-love, your would-be love, your unrequited crush, your almost-love, your soulmate—they’re not there to fill your emptiness or give you emotional depth. But, you say, aren’t we all the protagonists of our own story? I say no. Because I’m not a side character in anyone’s story. I’m no one’s two-dimensional soulmate. I’m my parent’s child, but my life is my own. I’m just a person, with my own heart and my own fears and my own dreams. I deserve to be treated as one. And so do you. Narratives also imply an author. A guiding hand who will make sure things work out because that’s what happens in books and movie screens. Or, at least if you die, it’ll have meaning. That’s convenient, because it means you’re not responsible for the things you say and do. You’re just a puppet, bending to the strings of Fate and everything you say, every choice you make, has already been written. Fuck that. I want my mistakes to be mine. My pain to be mine. My joys, my loves, my laughter, my tears, my accomplishments, my failures—they’re all mine. They belong to me, and whoever I share them with. The universe doesn’t get to take credit for my messy heart and all its wanting. I don’t care if things are meant to be. I’m not looking for a neat, clean ending. I am greedy and I want everything I can get my hands on.”

— Life is not a narrative, 01.27.2018 (via genericpseudonyms)

chauiee:

Feinstein: You’re a big, powerful man. Why didn’t you [gestures pushing motion]?

Crews: Senator, as a black man in America [sigh]…

Feinstein: Say it as it is. I think it’s important.

Crews: …you only have a few shots at success. You only have a few chances to make yourself a viable member of the community. I’m from Flint, Michigan. I have seen many many young black men who were provoked into violence, and they were imprisoned, or they were killed, and they’re not here. My wife for years prepared me. She said, “If you ever get goaded, if you ever get prodded, if you ever have anyone try to push you into any kind of situation, don’t do it. Don’t be violent.” And she trained me. I’ll be honest with you it was the strength of my wife who trained me and told me, “If this situation happens, let’s leave.” And the training worked because I did not go into my first reaction, I grabbed her hand, we left, but the next day I went right to the agency. I have texts, I have phone conversations, and I said, “This is unacceptable!” And I told them how -you know- I almost got violent, but I didn’t. And I said, “What are you going to do about this predator that you have roaming your hallways?” And -you know- I was told, “We are going to do everything in our power. We are going to handle this Terry. You’re right. It is unacceptable.” And then they disappeared. Nothing happened.