Inauguration Day

[tassosss]

I feel like I should have something profound for today. I'm writing this after midnight, so technically it's Inauguration Day already. All I got is solidarity.

We are here. We are with you. We are going to be here, together, for the next four years. And our small community here is not alone. In this week's check in posts folks have been going out and finding others in their communities, too, who are with us too. On Saturday the Women's March and all its sister marches are a world full of people who understand what's at stake and are making their voices heard.

Friday Jan 20
What you can do - is really what not to do
Tomorrow, the current call I've been seeing around for boycotting the Inauguration is don't reward any media format covering it, which means all media on the Internet. Don't go to news sites, don't get on Facebook, don't get on other social media. Those companies are counting those clicks.

If you are on the internet or your computer, fandom_stocking has an open invitation to keep filling stockings. It's also fandom's More Joy Day tomorrow.

Saturday Jan 21
If you're planning on attending a Women's March sound off!

I'll be at the one in DC. If you're planning on attending as well and you're not local, please pay attention to all the travel, metro, and road closure info. It's going to be a mad house and getting anywhere is going to take about twice as long (at least) as you think it will.

ETA: If you can't go to a March and still want to participate, the_rck pointed out that there's Disability March
https://disabilitymarch.com/join-the-march/

Chin up, everyone. It's on us now.

The worst thing that can happen in a democracy - as well as in an individual's life - is to become cynical about the future and lose hope. - Hillary Clinton

We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope! - Jyn Erso, Rogue One

Feel free to share other inspirational quotes in comments too.

Comments

Mostly tangential/OT, but

[rydra_wong]

Not gonna lie, Bodhi Rook from Rogue One is one of my inspirations: the poor guy is scared out of his wits the whole movie, but by DAMN he keeps going on and doing the next thing and the next and the one after that.

You probably know this already, but just in case it enhances your inspiration, Riz Ahmed (who plays him) seems to be a delightful and multi-talented human being; he's also the "Riz MC" who features in the stunning "Immigrants (We Get The Job Done)" on The Hamilton Mixtape:

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2016/dec/04/riz-ahmed-actor-interview-star-wars-rogue-one-outspoken-scary-times
http://moosesaywhat.tumblr.com/post/153993194354/madlori-soyeahso-busyasabree
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/15/riz-ahmed-typecast-as-a-terrorist

Re: Mostly tangential/OT, but

[sathari]

I did not! What with the relative timing of Rogue One and the "hellection" all of my energy that normally would have gone to stanning for SW characters and their actors has gone instead to researching various politicians and related issues and Doing Stuff About Them. (Politics, it is my new fandom.) So I am very very grateful for the links.

Re: Mostly tangential/OT, but

[rydra_wong]

*beams*

Glad I could share, then! It does give me a little moment of happiness to know that some of the huge media attention and love that you get from being IN STAR WARS is going to someone who who talks so acutely about being a British Muslim, getting searched every time he goes through an airport, being typecast as a terrorist, and so on. Maybe it means someone will hear and listen to it who might not otherwise.

And obviously actors are not their characters, etc. etc., but (for me) it's always a nice extra bonus when a character I love turns out to be played by someone awesome.

Re: Mostly tangential/OT, but

[rydra_wong]

Also:

https://twitter.com/lin_manuel/status/820235120858828801

http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/riz-ahmed-the-new-star-wars-is-about-waking-up-to-political-reality-a3393676.html

“Rogue One is about waking up to the real political situation of your time and accepting you can’t sleepwalk into the future because there won’t be one.”

And he went on the Women's March on London, too!

Re: Mostly tangential/OT, but

[sathari]

Aw, thanks! AAAAAH Ahmed and and Miranda are SO CUTE TOGETHER!!!! That interview was awesome, and OMG HE WENT ON THE WOMEN'S MARCH. :D :D :D :D :D :D Thank you for sharing!

Re: Mostly tangential/OT, but

[rydra_wong]

And he has a fundraiser to support Syrian refugees:

http://www.crowdrise.com/riz

And he takes photos of protest signs with Hamilton quotes on them and tags LMM in them:

https://twitter.com/rizmc/status/826155388714184709

I feel we should take all the fannish squee we can get in our activism; it will help sustain us. *g*

(Also, you know Ian McKellen went on the Women's March carrying a placard with a shot of Patrick Stewart as Picard facepalming?)

Re: Mostly tangential/OT, but

[sathari]

OH WOW. ALL OF THAT IS AWESOME. And, yeah, fansquee in our activism is LIFE. I've started referring to my own personal model of pluralism/intersectionality/coalition-building in said activism as "the Alliance to Restore the Republic."