Jackdaw's Pocketbook

Okay, Net of Stars, listen up.

You are, each and every one of you, amazing. I am continually awed by the talent, passion, humor and compassion y’all possess. How is it even possible that the world can contain such splendor? I don’t know, but I’m overjoyed that it does.

You - yes, YOU - are amazing and you deserve nice things. Whatever that nice thing is that you think is beyond you, for whatever reason. You are amazing and you do indeed deserve nice things.

Both parts are true.
You are amazing.
You deserve nice things.

I will say that as many times as necessary, and believe it even when you don’t, gang.

youcantcancelquidditch:

IF I MAKE A TYPO IN A TEXT POST PLEASE FIX IT WHEN YOU REBLOG IT THIS IS ME GIVING YOU ACTUAL LEGAL WRITTEN PERMISSION

vanessadoes:

negativecos:

galacticpleasuredome:

ayiman:

Or, a quick reminder, because it makes me itch whenever I see someone doing it:

Nothing is your goddamn “spirit animal.”  Find some other wack method of self-identification that doesn’t twist the spiritual practices of other people into a fucking joke.

patronus is a really good substitute that doesn’t appropriate anyone’s culture except that of fictional british wizards

appropriating fictional british wizard culture is always o

I’m curious as to how having a spirit animal is cultural appropriation? It’s not confined to any one race or culture; many cultures past and present have spirit animals. I have a spirit animal. I take it seriously, and my race and the  assumption that I should stick to the current perceived mores and traditions of modern Western culture is somewhat naive, at best and insulting at worst. My spirit animals is part of my own personal system of belief which pulls from many traditions, including a strong ancient European tradition. It doesn’t prevent anyone else from believing in their own way, nor does my having a spirit animal misrepresent any specific culture. My doing so as well does nothing to diminish a culture’s own spiritual or cultural practices and beliefs.  

I know I’m going to get flamed for this, but whatever. Use of a specific term such as spirit animal does not always signify cultural appropriation. It depends on so much more, including context and how specific the belief or practice is to a specific culture rather than something universal to all cultures at one time or another, regardless of what it is called. And also, it depends on the kind of damage that misusing that belief or practice would have to the culture or cultures in question. 

Once again, I have to wonder how much of the internet policing comes from the peoples who are supposedly being appropriated? 

And finally, I’ll say this: I’m not in favor of cultural appropriation (re: misuse, oppression and misrepresentation while wiping said culture out). I don’t, however, support the idea that nothing from various cultures get integrated in; cultures are all ever-evolving and part of that is from learning and adapting to other cultures as we encounter them. Rigid structures fall; something with meaning to someone should not be ignored simply because of some false idea that we must adhere to our racial/gendered/assigned at birth culture.That does no one any good, especially not the cultures we’re supposedly trying to protect. Protection comes from honoring traditions and respecting them. 

Pretty much my sentiments exactly. Spirit animals are damn near universal culturally. The term ‘spirit animal’ is as general as you can get, really, when discussing that kind of connection. I can’t comment one way or another on the nature of those doing the internet policing on this subject; I can’t see you, and thus refuse to presume characteristics or heritage. But again, this concept doesn’t belong to a single culture - it belongs to many, including a pile of Western ones.

stackedcrooked:

jamiesugah:

Now that Halloween is over, most of us here in the States will soon start seeing the red kettles of the Salvation Army asking for donations for the holiday season.

The Salvation Army is religiously affiliated and not LGBT-friendly. [x] Not at all. It actively discriminates against those in need if they are LGBT.

Instead of giving to the Salvation Army, give to secular charities like Toys for Tots, Goodwill Industries, or the American Red Cross. Or any number of local charities in your area.

I can not stress this enough.