Mike C

“Don't feel sorry for yourself. Only assholes do that.”
― Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

“Boycotts have served as a form of discursive enfranchisement and political empowerment that queer Palestinians have, in many ways, used to globally reclaim their voices from the Israeli state and its satellite institutions and their formidable resources. In turn, boycotts have become a primary form of transnational queer Palestinian solidarity activism. Augmenting them with openness to differences in ideology and strategy is critical for movement growth. Radical purism has created conditions in which activists often wind up just preaching to the choir. Avoiding this trap requires a commitment to deep listening, the formulation of means that mirror the ends we seek, a generosity of spirit, and a fierce kindness toward ourselves and others. Such steadfastness is essential, even in the face of cruelty, if the movement is to achieve peace and justice.”
― Sa'ed Atshan, Queer Palestine and the Empire of Critique

“It must be so sad to die, to feel yourself miss out on everything that will come after, even if there are still bombs and diseases and disasters, even if people do get murdered and beaten, if they die in unspeakable pain, if it is still a fact that some live with their damaged bodies, or simply their aged bodies, bodies that were once beautiful and now are not.”
― Patrick Nathan, The Future Was Color

“We won't grow old together, Cyrus. But can't you feel this mattering? Right now?”
― Kaveh Akbar, Martyr!