Please Pass the Shame: A Meal with a Side of Hypocrisy

Tonight I sit in a restaurant eating a lovely meal, when a news feed on a big screen catches my eye.

1.8 million Palestinian hostages in Gaza are being starved to death by Israel. Skeletal figures appear on the screen, motionless, fading, the sparkle in eyes lined with suffering, gone. The food sours in my mouth.

Israel calls it a "military operation" and the BBC reports Netanyahu says he's going to "expand" it.

No remorse. No horror. No regrets.

The BBC calls this outrageous display of blatant genocide a "war" - despite any sign of actual combat or military resistance - and interviews the brother of an Israeli hostage - who apparently has been starved along with his Palestinian captors. Who really starved him? Is that not Israel? Of course it is.

Some "war".

The Human Race Is A Psychopath

Thought for the day: psychology hints at serial killers starting off with a loss or absence of empathy for others, and then working up to torturing and killing animals, before culminating in the torture or killing of humans. Isn't it interesting that this is also true for humans as a species?

A Transphobic Transperson? How Does That Even Work?

*Ahem*

So this PM comes courtesy of a person who, unlike most of you here on FB, I have met in real life and knew personally. Let me regail you:

When Your Hole Is Full

So today I got gatvol. South Africans will know what that means - it means "your hole is full".

Yeah, I'm really angry about this.

I call this one: "Alright, I'll Fucking Do It, Then!"

What's this about? This morning I emailed a five page, properly formatted complaint with a dozen references and attachments to the SAHRC.

Devilsdorp - An Objective Review From A Truth-telling Perspective

Last night, as an "assignment" to aid in formulating the outline of content for my upcoming doctoral thesis for next year, I watched all 4 episodes of "Devilsdorp", and took notes. I found it a very interesting show. Here are my thoughts in brief:

A Response To Helen Zille's "The 'Trans' Debate Revisited"

On 23 April, Helen Zille made a social media post in which she doubled-down on her transphobic stance, chillingly throwing in the word "contagion" numerous times for good measure. Like transgender people are some sort of "disease" that spreads and endangers feminism - and society. Unlike TERFdom of course, whose apparent purpose is to "defend women's spaces" and "feminist gains" over the past century. (Insert eye-roll here).

First I'll repost her statement, and then address it beneath that. Be ready for a long read. And yes, have a "trigger warning" - and another, while you're at it. The last time I was this upset by reading material, it was when I reviewed "The Pink Agenda" and almost ripped the book in half. This cringeworthy post by a leading figure within South Africa's second-largest political party should set off an avalanche of outrage in anyone who doesn't have a zipper running down the backs of their human suits. It should beg the questions: 1) How did we not notice Zille's lurch toward far-right extremism before now? 2) What does her shift into the realm of red-hat-wearing conspiracy theory and hatemongering populism mean for the Democratic Alliance and its traditional base of liberal, "woke" supporters?

Decide for yourself.

Speaking Truth To Power: An Open Letter To Helen Zille About Her Transphobic Utterances

For many years I supported the DA, especially when as a young, idealistic human rights activist active in the LGBTQ+ community set out in search for a political party in South Africa that would champion the causes of human rights, equality and tolerance for LGBTQ+ people - and especially for transgender people, as that is a cause that lies close to my heart. After all, I am a transwoman. I was overjoyed when I found the DA, because the DA promised to be all those things - and they were led by a strong, admirable woman - you. Or, at least that's what you seemed to be at the time.