@ruthz
CEO of the MA Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence. Knitter, cat lady, grey hair evangelist. Oh, and I box. Five feet of strong opinions that are all my own. Check out my essays at: https://ruthzakarin.substack.com/
The road to peace will never be forged with bombs or littered with dead bodies.
Causing widespread trauma will never bring about safety. For anyone.
Destroying entire communities will never make our community stronger.
And I will never understand why more people don’t understand that.
Let’s be clear eyed about this. Andy Ogles is going to get someone killed.
Hateful rhetoric inspires hateful action, and dehumanizing language further paves the way for violence.
In a country with more guns than people and where hate does have a home in every community, this is a call to violence.
I am grateful for you reading it!
I want to cry. I mean, I was a rape crisis counselor for many years, so I know this. And I still want to cry.
Sir, you just killed a bunch of girls at an elementary school
Let’s be clear eyed about this. Andy Ogles is going to get someone killed.
Hateful rhetoric inspires hateful action, and dehumanizing language further paves the way for violence.
In a country with more guns than people and where hate does have a home in every community, this is a call to violence.
I want leaders who hold a core value of caring about other people, whether they be schoolgirls across the globe or a woman driving the streets of Minneapolis. I want them to care about something besides their own power.
I want them to be horrified by this picture.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
Thank you for sharing 🧡
I was so happy to have clear sidewalks!
We have a government more outraged by spaghetti straps than their own caging of human beings.
And since these *dress code violations* will undoubtedly impact women more than men the policing of women’s bodies adds a whole other layer to this.
A glowing sun rising over a frozen lake that is covered in snow. Trees are at the edges and a red canoe is in the front.
First outdoor run in what feels like forever. Did not disappoint.
Morning, all.
I want leaders who hold a core value of caring about other people, whether they be schoolgirls across the globe or a woman driving the streets of Minneapolis. I want them to care about something besides their own power.
I want them to be horrified by this picture.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
Today, International Women’s Day, I am thinking of girls who will never become women. And the callousness of men who hold great power but very little care.
How we will never be safe unless we have world leaders who hold safety as a core value. I mourn these girls.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
🙏🙏🙏
Our freedom is inextricably tied to each other no matter where in the world we live.
💔
The fact that it happened is horrifying. The fact that no one is talking about it is also horrifying.
The path to safety cannot be littered with dead bodies and destroyed buildings. Such widespread destruction can only lead to more violence.
I don’t think we have even begun to comprehend the generational impact of Trump and Netanyahu. Their legacy of violence will far outlive them. 4/4
A country hated by so many can never be safe. And now too many people equate all Jews with the Israeli government (which is false and unto itself antisemitic) and that also makes Jews less safe. We can never achieve peace through bombs and burning streets. 3/
And a further note about Israel: as a diaspora Jew every single thing Netanyahu does makes me feel less safe in the world. The narrative that world Jewry needs Israel to be safe has been upended by an Israeli leader who has perpetrated so much violence and made so many enemies. 2/
Trump and Netanyahu have caused so much harm and inspired so much animosity towards their respective countries (and sadly of Jews in general) it will take generations to undo it. If we can at all. It’s dizzying to consider and terrifying to think of the long term implications. 1/
Today, International Women’s Day, I am thinking of girls who will never become women. And the callousness of men who hold great power but very little care.
How we will never be safe unless we have world leaders who hold safety as a core value. I mourn these girls.
open.substack.com/pub/ruthzaka...
Why are we doing this? What will this accomplish? Tell us why. Explain to us how this will make us safer, our lives better.
Why?? 2/2
When you are trained as a community organizer, you are challenged to articulate your why. As in, why you are in the work. Deep and authentic organizing work is predicated on deeply understanding your own reasons for engaging in it.
So my question right now is — why? 1/2
I also think Miller and Hegseth ultimately don’t care what the voters think, they’re going to do whatever they want anyway. Another aspect of their profound arrogance and violent entitlement.
A picture of a sign in front of a church that reads: join us for Sunday shit 10:30am
I think I’m gonna join this church
It’s International Women’s Day and all I can think of is the Iranian schoolgirls killed by a bombing that we are likely responsible for.
There will be no peace in this world unless women and girls are safe in every community. In public places and private spaces.
I wish our leaders understood this.
I think this deserves at least as much sustained attention from US media as Claudine Gay's dissertation
Yeah, that’s why I’ve maintained activity on both. I find them to be super different. Definitely more community on threads.
I have had my license to practice clinical social work for more years than ICE has been in existence. If I did something like this they would yank my license and shut me down. And fast.
Like we should shut this down. And fast.
Abolishing ICE is not a radical stance.
I also think Miller and Hegseth ultimately don’t care what the voters think, they’re going to do whatever they want anyway. Another aspect of their profound arrogance and violent entitlement.