The Incredible Reason You Might Start Seeing Safety Pins Everywhere

[moonshaz]

OP NOTE: Since posting this, my enthusiasm for this "movement" has cooled considerably. If I could turn back the clock, I wouldn't post it, but since it's too late for that, I hereby add the following disclaimer: Due to what I've learned from some of the comments to this post, I no longer feel comfortable advocating the safety pin thing, or even

Comments

[moonbladem]

This brought tears to my eyes. It's awesome to know that, even though tons of people lost their minds when they voted in this asshole, that there are tons more who aren't like that and will actually step up to help.

It seems the Tangerine Turd told his supporters to "stop it" when it came to them harassing minorities. We'll see how that works. Speaking for myself... I'm not holding out hope they'll stop. Him winning has emboldened them. They think at least half the country shares their racist views and are on their side.

[senshicalico]

tbh I could be on a bus full of people wearing safety pins (that I can't even see cause my eyesight is so shot so whoop) and I still wouldn't count on a single one of them to stand up for me when some bigot gets on the bus and starts coming for my butch ass

you know, like the last two times it happened.

Besides, hasn't this been coopted by hate groups already?

[sugartitty]

Yep white nationalist have already co-opted it so don't trust anyone, basically.

[moonshaz]

I had no idea. I've googled and can't find anything about that. Can you tell me more?

[sugartitty]

It's being passed around among white nationalists on the cesspool that is Twitter.

[TW: Nazis, white supremacists]
Unsurprisingly the hypervisible symbol of solidarity has been co-opted by white nationalists. Be careful. pic.twitter.com/NCI84vDJv1
- Zoé Samudzi (@ztsamudzi) November 12, 2016

[jeeelim5]

[ineverycolor]

Why do I feel like this a pamphlet that belongs in the Anne Frank museum. I am so sick this week. Thank you so much America. Lol

[jeeelim5]

I know right? Between this and my own country's political fuck-ups, I'm just banging my head against my desk and wondering how the fuck we got here. I've spent most of the past week in a daze.

[moonshaz]

I've been on an emotional seesaw, up and dowb, with the downs much lower than the highs are high. There's a sense of dread that I can't shake about what lies ahead.

The worst thing that I thought could possibly happen has actually happened, and it fucking
SUCKS.

[golden_bastet]

Pins are fine (and they help people stay engaged) - but fer gawd's sake, please don't let this be the *only* thing you do.

It will take getting out and getting politically active, in addition to the internet and symbols, to address all this.

[moonshaz]

I hope you're not assuming I'm not going to do anything else! I'm already politically active, for one thing. If I had a ton of money, I would glad pour buckets full into the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, NARAL, etc., but my meager financial resources mean that my contributions are meager  well, and I sometimes wonder if it really does any good.

Tbqh, I feel incredibly useless right now, useless and helpless. Also, my sister hates me because I've made no secret of the fact that I think Drumpf is the scum of the earth. Yay, life.

[jeeelim5]

I think the OC means people in general? There are some people who will wear the safety pin, post it on social media to show "Hey look, I'm an ally!" but when it actually comes time to do something, they don't take action. The act of wearing the pin becomes more of a self-serving pat on the back. People need to be fully aware of the fact that by putting the pin on, they are making a commitment to get involved, even if that means endangering oneself. If a person feels like they can't do that, then they should rethink wearing the pin.

Also, major kudos to you for all the work you do! :) (Edit to add: Any kind of help, no matter how small, is better than no help at all. I'm sure that the people who receive your help are very appreciative of the help you give.)

[moonshaz]

Thanks for this. I can't tell you ho much I appreciate this reply.

I think what I really need right now is to find something to do that's more CONCRE TE and IMMEDIATE than just sending off money or waiting for something bad to happen so I can intervene. (Not that I won't continue to do those things, of course.) I have no idea yet what that will be, but I need to find it stat.

[yamamanama]

I'm torn. Pins make it easy to identify each other but they make it easy for them to identify us.