We Keep Choosing Hurt — But We Don't Have To (A Letter on Kindness)

I've tried to write this newsletter several times. Initially, it was going to be a rant about how Amnesty International are cowards and, after 75 years of doing good work, have destroyed any faith in their LGBTQIA rights work. I was disappointed and saddened by this, as I used to write letters for Amnesty when I was in high school and college.

But I'm tired. Tired of a small group of billionaires and right wing evangelical types deciding what it right and proper for the world. It's been exhausting seeing all these people who think they know what's right for everyone else continuously being hateful, evil, and cruel. The obsession about the intimate lives of others is such an American Cult ideology and the patriarchal misogyny of using the law to control women specifically, but "the rabble" in general, is just... so...

Boring. Soulless. Uncreative. Sterile.

There is no joy. No curiosity. No wonder. No magic -- and I'm talking magic in the child-like sense. There is no grace for making mistakes, and not enough personal accountability to admit wrong-doing and to make things right. It's the same old song and dance we've done before. 1930s. 1800s. Colonization. Rome. For as long as humans have existed.

We have had short periods of time where humanity was moving in the right direction. Where things were changing, becoming more equal, more open. But we sabotage ourselves every time. It's as if we think hate and evil are the inevitable.

We have the capacity for so much good-- hell, we keep writing about it, and making movies and TV about a better, more just world.

Thing is, most of us are kind and good, but we keep letting the fascists and bullies win. We tend to think that being kind means you have to let them walk all over us, that compassion and kindness isn't power, and that we have no power to change things.

But we do.

Truly, kindness, in action, isn't hard. It's making sure everyone can eat, everyone is clothed, and everyone has a home. It's making sure that all people can get healthcare for free. It's making sure no one is degraded for their skin color or body or who they love or what gender they are. It's making sure people are protected and that those who are abused can find healing. It's also a world where abusers can be treated and reformed. (And don't get me wrong here, this doesn't mean forgiveness, it means giving those who do harm the possibility and tools to change themselves.)

It's saying NO to the bullies, the fascists, the greedy time and time again until kindness and compassion is normal and bullying and greed is considered weird and abnormal.

The thing is, kindness and compassion is a choice. It's always been THE choice. You choose, every day, to be kind. To help. To protect. We could choose, as a human race, to end this and change. In a lot of ways, it's just as simple as that: humanity, collectively, choosing a different path.

But we keep choosing hurt, and pain, and suffering because we think that's what's normal. The problem is, it's killing us, and we keep allowing it.

Book and Podcast Updates:

There's only 3 episodes of the current season of Tales from Flat Space, Nemetona, left. When that's complete, I'll have a full novel video available on YouTube shortly after. I plan to take about a week off then start the next novel, Control (Season 8)

The Spencerverse's current season has 6 more episodes left, and then I'll be taking a longer break before Season 2

I'm also planning to re-record the first 4 Survey books into a regular audiobook format, and I'll probably find some way to sell those through the website. I'll keep you posted.

I'm also thinking of recording The White Queen as an audiobook, too, as I'd like to get that out.

eBook versions of everything are still on hold for the time being. There will, eventually, be eBook versions and as soon as they're available, I'll let you know.

A belated Blessed Lammas to you all, and I hope, today, you choose kindness and compassion.