My SIL was asking me what's really happening in "war torn" Portland as I was working on this comic.
I find this video clip to be the vibiest of vibes.
TRANSCRIPT:
My city is a current target of the Trump Administration's fascist militarization of U.S. cities; apparantly it's a "war zone" taken over by an imaginary gang called Antifa. (Many of us are in fact anti-fascism... but it's not a club or anything.)
Meanwhile:
I'm spending the weekend watching 10-year olds self-ref Ultimate Frisbee.
Uh...
Yeah, coach.
Um. I think...
You gotta make the call...
I could see him wrestle with it- he really dove for it and it was hard to tell if his hand was under it before it hit grass.
Nah. It hit the ground.
Good hustle.
NOD
Ok!
The parents on that part of the sideline may have seen it, but-
-asking a bunch of 4th and 5th graders to prioritize truth, fairness, and improving together within a competitive game-
AND having the (mostly) male coaches CELEBRATING and ENCOURAGING it-
-feels REVOLUTIONARY.
FEELS anti-fascist, in actual practice, not just words.
Alright, turnover.
Good dive, good call.
It is not dissimilar to the type of peaceful protest actually happening down at ICE -
Dude in a blow-up frog suit
Grannies
Veterans
Middle aged stoners (It's not illegal to drum on the sidewalk, bro. )
"ICE fishers" (holding fishing rods baited with donuts)
-all saying: Hey. Bad call.This doesn't help us connect, improve, thrive.
In other words: same Portland that I've loved since I moved here.
I know the ICE dudes weren't taught to check on their opponents after a collision, or take accountability for their actions.
but if they don't learn...
(a sticker with a picture of a kale leaf reads "I deployed to Portland and all I got was this lousy kale sticker")
...seems like we'll all be worse off.
FIN