Exactly. And I think there is also an important distinction between those who are fully in solidarity but cannot act or act always due to personal finance, disability, internet access, etc. vs those who say they care and actively don’t do things when able.
@@ErutaniaRosethank you I said this in another comment. People in privileged positions should do more because they CAN do more. Let’s not demonize people who clearly care but are forced into a corner by society. We must recognize that is by design to have the people too focused on survival to fight back. Ik it’s a work of fiction but think about the hunger games. They were always in a state of survival and in the case of katniss resistance was unthinkable as that would result in the death of herself and her family.
what was it that james baldwin said? "The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality." i reject the notion that individualism and apathy is the way forward. the only way to make meaningful change IS solidarity with ALL marginalized communities.
@@charlieistryinghisbest Absolutely. But you aren't not supporting Palestinians because they may not be or may not want to be vegan right? The majority of the working class in the US isn't vegan either. So how do you deal with that and encourage solidarity at the same time?
@@loadishstone Of course not,Palestinians that are actively being killed and bombed should not be held responsible to be vegan :/ I just wish we talked about veganism more in these spaces,220 million land animals are being slaughtered every day and nobody bats an eye,it really scares me
@@methoyu I'm not ragebaiting,i'm genuinely worried that so many progressive people don't consider veganism to be a moral necessity :/ The fact that talking about the rights of animals is considered ragebait is really,really worrisome to me.
Best comment including the word "betterhelp" I've ever seen. I get so disappointed when people accept sponsorships from them given everything we know about them these days. It shouldn't be hard to know better than take betterhelp money and I'm glad Elliot does 🫶
@@brandonmyers3319 many things, generally they don't use properly trained psychologists and psychiatrists, way over charge for their service, and have several scandals and examples of abuse committed by their therapists towards their clients. The video goes into more details as well as pointing out a few other RUclips advertisement scams ruclips.net/video/7NiJNmTZc3E/видео.htmlsi=30UEypnJdaCOGGzn
@@brandonmyers3319 they partnered w the state of israel, but the main thing that most ppl have a problem w is that they’ve sold customers’ private info/data even though they originally said they wouldn’t. i think the FTC sued them for that? i can’t remember exactly. just shitty company all around
I am not exaggerating - this video actually tangibly explained neoliberalism and socialist praxis in a way I have never been able to comprehend until this video. I will be moving differently with my life, and I will forever be grateful to this video in helping me become more congruent in my lifestyle with my morals and therefore increasing my solidarity practice. Thank you.
@@cadesmandela1935you can literally just say “I don’t agree with you- I refuse to comprehend your points; or I comprehend them just fine but would literally rather be a ghoul- and it makes me scared” we’ve had the language for that feeling for ages.
Third. I never really understood the definition of neoliberalism until this video. I found it very helpful in also connecting it to something I am familiar with. I remember hearing about brittany's IG video and just getting whiplash from it. She has continued to disappoint by subtly siding with cody ko when he was exposed.
If solidarity costs ya nothing, hate to be the one to ruin your day... But ya ain't in solidarity with anything/one, just paying lip service so long as it does not create waves. But the folks ya wanna be in solidarity with can't avoid the waves, and true support demands ya get in the rough waters with us. Standing dry on shore does nothing to help the drowning.
I dont even think, it has to cost you more than looks probably in many cxases, but it should be a nobrainer that you at least put thatr over your own comforbility. Also yeah it can cost you to stick wit hprinciples naturally there and it can cost you, but thats included in that. Dunno solidarity at least is uncomfortable often which is a cost i guess?
I agree. What we get from solidarity between dominated classes and the results of cooperation are just too good to say 'no'. Just to use a Proudhon quote: "A man could never do what 200 men did to erect the obelisk of Paris in one day while trying alone in 200 days". The usufruct of collaboration is just too valuable to not favor solidarity and organized labor.
@@marocat4749 exactly. At the low end of expense it will cost ya comfort and even your reputation in the eyes of some (every hero is a villain in their opponent’s eyes). At the high end it can cost ya materially in cash or resources. But if you can’t even risk the low end of expense ya don’t get to claim the highest of moral value. Periodt. Walk the talk or get off the toes of those who are trying to march forward ✊🏼👏🏼
@@ChickadeeBoi this is why true support requires mutual aid, too. Because it is the most marginalized who will be most at risk, so solidarity means lifting those out of the water most likely to drown.
“If Starbucks in the only thing open do you want me to starve” the way people have forgotten to do even the slightest amount of planning due to the commodification of our lives… dawg idk how to tell yall this but grandma and grandpa just packed food with them if they knew they were traveling somewhere
Right. Like, in which world aren't there extremely cheaper alternatives to f*ing Starbucks? Lol Giving "what if I'm extremely hungry in the desert and the only thing available to me is filet mignon? 😢😔"
honestly it just comes off as a purposeful way to start shit. Like they're the arguing for the sake of arguing because what could you be doing that by the time you're hungry the ONLY place you can get food is Starbucks. You have no food in your home but feel like you can afford Starbucks? If there's a Starbucks there's almost certainly a lot of places open 🙄 Why even make this argument unless you just want to front reasons why you are exempt from doing the "right" thing.
Not to mention... What kind of situation is that? Maybe I'm just European but you're telling me that you're 'starving' and there isn't one convenience store open to get.. actual food that isn't just an expensive cup of sugar Edit: I stand corrected. Food deserts are a thing so a situation like that can happen in some cases
i got banned from a subreddit for saving free palestine on a post where someone had starbucks and the mods said it’s a privilege to be able to boycott 😂
Remember when thesauruses were on everyone's school supply lists? Yeah... That's one way of figuring out what synonym is best in your work. For instance, "famished" is a better choice to describe how someone is starving when "hungry" is closer to "feeling peckish" in the spectrum since some words not only hold a certain meaning but also in terms of intensity.
So many mellowdramatic people out there. That person sounds incredibly priviledged if they are regularly going to Starbucks getting coffee and food in this economy. You won't starve by not getting your $10 worth of food and coffee from Starbucks when you could get the same items at any grocery store for $3-5.
Shit, I have significant malnourishment due to my limited diet and sporadic access to food, and I still would never say I starved. I've gone hungry multiple times and over years it's lead to physical issues. But like... I was never going to get sick or die due to not having food.
Under neoliberalism, sacrificing food, sleep, wellbeing etc for the sake of your individualistic dream, your business/entrepreneurship, your athletic/artistic career is celebrated and cherished. You're supposed to go through tough times before you make it. (In particular, I remember Jennifer Lopez claiming she ate one slice of pizza a day as an up and coming dancer before her big break) But let any left ideology (socialism/anarchism/anti-capitalism) even remotely suggest a smidge of discomfort should be experienced for the struggle and everyone has to chime in with a "Well, actually..."
oh my god, that is such a good point. i've never seen someone put it that way before. to suffer for the sake of yourself is met with praise but even minor suffering for the sake of others is met with disagreement or ridicule ☹
It’s funny because your prolonged hunger by not being able to go to the nearest starbucks is nothing compared to the hunger the people you’re “trying” to fight for are going through
You dont have to resort to grass, or anything humans arent even supposed to consume, you just deal with hunger pangs until you can get home or to another restaurant. Now im not saying starve yourself to death if you are genuinely on the brink of starvation but 99% of the people holding this sentiment are not that
Does that apply to animals too? For example:" not being able to eat meat is nothing compared to the suffering and death the animals you eat are going through" What do you think?
@@charlieistryinghisbesthmm, I dont know, maybe? My conflict is that for animals this is a way of life, the smaller get eaten by the bigger, however humans possess a higher degree of intellect and we don’t need to do such things. An animal isnt trying to commit g word it’s just feeding itself, and even if we bring it back to the animal being the person who cant eat starbucks to boycott. You have plenty of options that an animal may not have, especially when that animal may not see another meal. As we know in the wild no meal is ever promised. I just think animals and humans play on different rules
@@charlieistryinghisbestthis comparison is apples to oranges. a food chain exists and always has, it’s all part of a cycle. human beings are not meant to be bombed, held captive, molested, and watch their loved ones be slaughtered in front of them. nevermind this becoming their daily lives.
An influencer sharing their venmo for rent support if they struggle after turning down a sponsor is a great example of mutual aid. This touched on two really important parts of solidarity - sacrifice and discomfort in action and confrontation with others, and conflict within movements. I learned right off the bat as part of my uni's encampment that there will always be disagreement and a bit of chaos within these movements - because they are organic entities and they are built on passion. I have thought about "infighting" within leftist spaces a lot recently, and this video goes a long way in showing how that's essential to democratic processes that take visibile action .
And on the flipside actually, your comment has made me think about how much unwavering support is expected towards political candidates to be considered as "part of the group"
Yup. That’s why the conservative assertion that unity and lack of any public conflict is a sign of a “good” movement is bullshit, it just means everyone uncritically accepted an existing viewpoint, which is bad, actually.
Real growth, not the capitalist definition of it, but real, tangible personal and collective growth cannot occur without some level of discomfort within that process. If an individual or a society's views are not constantly challenged and assessed with time, how can progress ever be achieved? Unflinching adherence to established norms, the importance of which has waned or has grown outdated, is how we preserve harmful policies and laws that continually worsen the quality of life for everyone except for those who benefit from the status quo. Change is never easy, but is necessary and it requires confrontation and discomfort to overcome.
That section of the video and this comment made me realize that people genuinely consider that to be "e-begging". Then again, considering the general public's perception of homeless people as "unfortunate poor souls" but also "human rats that steal your money and don't choose to lift themselves up by the bootstraps with the $2 you gave them"...I wouldn't expect them to be any more empathetic. Because clearly empathy is "earned", and apathy is default.
Literally. US policies are exported into other countries (and visceversa) all the time. Drag has just been banned in Nuevo León, México "to protect the children". Guess where that came from.
In general, thank you for the video. I'm going to overshare lol, but I kind of needed to remind myself that there are people who believe in community (in contrast to being pushed/'crushed' into hyper-individuality, which I don't necessarily blame them for, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't feel extra-isolating anyway). I kind of got to a point this year in which I forgot that, if I exist, other people like me do too; even if we haven't found each other yet (in case that phrase could help anyone else, as well) 🤓🌞. So parasocially-consciously thanks again. 🎉
You're so right, I'm not from México but from Panamá, and the influence here from the U.S is so horrible, they literally made us their dream fascist evangelical regime, and now they're all moving here. I'm literally losing my mind, there's no church separation with politics at all, and they also use the same bs excuse of 'protecting children' when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues in general, like the hatred here is soo horrible, especially to trans people and drag queens. And the fact yankees are received so well and they are more welcomed than our own citizens. In fact they are so worshipped here than even the invasion they caused is EXCUSED?? BY MAJORITY??? Is just so frustrating, so frustrating. I feel like I'm losing it. (I had to vent too, I needed this out of my system)
i tell people this all the time when they want to "laugh at american decline". if america fails, the world fails. period. whether we like it or not. though to be ever so slightly charitable to my homeland, a big reason for a lot of our most dogshit politics have been precisely due to foreign influence. namely russia, but also china to a certain extent, and also? canada. all of the biggest right wing talking heads involved in our politics aren't even from here.
As a half Palestinian/half Amazigh, I'm tired of trying to convince Americans that I'm not a human animal. I'm tired of getting calls from my parents telling me not to say my race, speak Arabic or be pro palestinian in public in case I get murdered (I live in a very racist area, Trump flags, isreali flags, ect.). I'm tired of people acting like they are in solidarity cause they don't eat at Starbucks, but when I ask people to donate or come to a peace vigil they don't do anything. I'm tired. I cant even go to the Arab community cause some consider me a "half breed" for being half african.
@@immkk1125 Shoukrun Sahbi, it always good to see another Amazigh brother/sister. It's crazy being half cause alot of Amazigh are so Arabized, but we get shit on for being backwards heretics by Arabs all the time. It's the reason I don't consider myself Arab at all, I am a proud native African and a Pround Levanti. We need to leave Arabization throughout MENA behind, they have done nothing but spit on our faces for decades. Even my palestinian side, they lived in Saudi after fleeing from palestine and then from Jordan decades ago, were treated like 3rd class citizens with no rights, where Arabs used "Palestinian" as a literal slur. The Muslim community pretends that it is a united and loving front, but that couldn't be further from the truth. These last couple years have made it harder and harder to justify being Muslim but humdulilleh I try.
As a Bangladeshi still freshly free from dictatorship, a lot of the points are so relatable. Protests being about the cause and not all about winning hearts and mind. At a point there was no way of winning hearts and mind as our "Govt" just killed people left and right for exercising their right. It was unity and brute force that helped and also the sacrifice of hundreds.
I know what you mean. In fact during that revolution, I was living in Bangladesh. And Bangladesh is one of the worst conservative countries where almost all social system is based on pure discrimination. So much hatred, prejudice is going on here. Poor children & people still are being treated worst than stray animals.
That you lived through successfull revolution means you (and the others in the movement) have valuable life lessons about how to be a society, that you have learned vividly. Share them with the world, and never stop using y'allses newfound power to reshape your society into something better. For many countries in the West, much of this revolutionary stuff is history. The lessons about freedom may be dusty in places. Your people now have something extra to contribute to the world. Cheers! Someone from The Netherlands.
Not to be contrarian, but was that revolution truly left wing? Hasina seemed oppressive to be sure, and at the same time the movement lifted up a neoliberal capitalist as their leader and it seemed like a major demand was just “we want market meritocracy” (e.g. get rid of the employment quotas-but not just the revolution-family preference, but also trying to get rid of marginalized people getting preference for public jobs (affirmative action)).
My grandma was a kidnapping and torture victim after the coup d’état. I’m grateful this story is being told and is still relevant in discussions today, it left a giant traumatic wound in Chile that’s most of us are still trying to heal.
@P0rk_Sinigang Sabra. She was a Mossad agent superhero. Mossad is Israel's intelligence agency. Think Israel or KGB. They were responsible for the recent pager bombings. She's been changed to a "high ranking government official". I'm guessing the decision was made at least two years ago, before October 7th.
@@P0rk_Sinigang The actual superhero in the comics is just as bad, she is a mossad agent that gains superpowers and the moral of the story is the same liberal two sideing the genocide in Palestine, nothing about colonialism at all they paint it as a religious conflict. I don’t know if the creation of the character is linked to actual Israeli officials telling marvel comics to do so, but it seems more like a classic liberal take of the “conflict” so there is no need for influencing, when liberals do it themselves.
too cynical imo. this has been the broad narrative for a while now and i don’t think it reflects any conscious decision on anyones part. that being said, yeah if you have a big platform maybe be a little more thoughtful.
I have to admit it's been a real real real struggle, I'm black and trans and it's very unfriendly out there off the internet - where ppl are nicer and upstanding compassionate etc.. So while I believe in yall. I have to support from a distance, from a safe space. Bc ppl are wild , ppl are rude, ppl are violent. Ppl say they're for solidarity but their solidarity is only for the groups of ppl they favor and it's palpable in real life.
I'm here. I see you. Even if it's just digitally. I'm sorry people are the way they are. Just take care of yourself and be safe out there. One day we'll build a world where we'll all walk together united.
Support in your private life by boycotting and speaking about this with people that will listen in your own community. It’s simple, paying lip service online is nothing compared to actions irl.
I genuinely can't venture outside of explicitly gatekept spaces sometimes. Like I hang around other black people for so long that I'm almost surprised by the vitriol and hatred I get when I put a toe out anywhere else. Like "damn... Y'all *hate* us hate us. Like ten toes down, on your mama papa and granny hate us". Don't even get me started as a non-binary person. It's gotten to the point where yeah I do just stay in an echo chamber to protect my peace and mental health.
@@bye1551 Less of us should be surprised. Start expecting it, and caring about others only insofar as it helps the black struggle. Have the same energy toward others that they do toward us.
I normally dont comment b4 the video is over but I'm screaming @ the thumbnail tweet .. that Starbucks shit is giving that classic tumblr ask 'so if a dying kid's last wish was to say the n word would you get mad?' 😭💀
Also the "what about x" argument is so stupid because if you truly are unable to find alternatives to walmart for example obviously boycotting won't apply to you, you bringing up that what aboutism shows that you are in position where you can boycott but you just don't want to but also you don't want to feel bad about not boycotting
@@awhimsyreader9015 This is how people justify not being vegan as well. "What about indigenous people and food deserts" Well,we're clearly not talking to them,are we? :/
i did a project on allende vs. pinochet in high school and while at the time i made it so that i criticized both of them for whatever reasons, i honestly felt pretty bad for it because he was such an amazing and prolific figure for south america, and the earth as a whole. i am also devastated and i don’t even live anywhere near chile
My parents were at a house party that their student friends threw to welcome some Chilean refugees who were also there. I've understood the friends offered these Chileans a place to stay when they first arrived in this country. My mom has fond memories of that time. Solidarity was a key word in the socialist movement, so to me it has always had these connotations. (I wasn't yet born when these events took place, and yes, my parents were socialists.)
As a fatso who used to like Harry Potter and plays tabletop war games, it is unpleasant to not be able to eat Chick-Fil-A or buy things at Hobby Lobby or engage in the Wizarding World But it’s tolerable, there are other places to go to get what they’re selling
@@isthiscereallife Yesss, her earthsea series are classic! A little outdated, but otherwise more clear messages over time. Love her growth as an author!
@@vivi-ws9yltales from Earthsea? I loved that film as a kid. Also, despite reading the HP books also as a kid i thought they were nowhere near as good as the Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Ridell. Four trilogies and a large novel spanning multiple centuries, watching the rise, fall and rise again of civilisations, following the same bloodline. Its wild. Would also recommend the Deltora quest books by Emily Rodda if you want a similar group dynamic and escalation of peril as the HP books, they’re very much for kids but that makes them nostalgic. They also have small elements of horror, and the later books are slightly more mature.
@@cam4636 Is there a place or time that would be more convenient to you,your majesty? Billions of animals are chocking on their own blood right now. There is no wrong place or time for this.
The way neoliberal individualism sneaks into even those who ARE acting in solidarity is so poisonous. Maybe this is just a me thing, but I put so much pressure on myself to do absolutely EVERYTHING, and if I don't, I see myself as a moral failure - if I don't go to every protest then I feel like I'm somehow singlehandedly bringing the entire movement down. (And I typically am not able to go to every single one bc of disability reasons, so you can see the cycle I get into...) This mindset is because I was trained by life in the US to see things in matters of individual heroes, good and bad individuals, and it's hard for me to trust that I'm still contributing to a community if I'm not this perfect, self-sacrificing hero.... And if I'm not perfect, I must be bad. (It doesn't make logical sense but, well, neither does neoliberalism!) This is something I'm trying to unlearn because it produces so much anxiety in me sometimes that it leads to detachment and disengagement, rather than involvement. This is exactly what the neoliberal regime wants, this is how they divide us. Basically - everyone having solidarity imperfectly is more effective than a small group having solidarity perfectly! Let's do our best ❤
Yes, exactly. Same goes for interactions between people within the movement. All of the finger-pointing and callouts between folks on the left stokes the flame of perfectionism, and makes it EVEN HARDER to take imperfect action. When living in late stage capitalism already leaves you drained and exploited, of COURSE folks would rather do nothing in order to avoid criticism, than be brave, take imperfect action, and potentially mess up & be criticized by people who are supposed to be on the same side. I wish this video had gone into more depth of what counts as real, substantive conflict, vs. finger-pointing, performative "activism", and lazy moral posturing. I suppose that topic is a separate video in itself lol
haven’t watched the video yet but this is exactly how I feel as well-it really HINDERS solidarity and people’s growth into more radical movements. it becomes less about liberation and then the focus turns to individual’s morality. a politics born out of a desire to look good is meaningless. I haven’t been able to do anything politically outside the house within the past few months because of extreme disabling burnout and I feel terrible for it, like I’ve fallen into complacency and let everybody down, but really I have gotten to a point where it is extremely difficult for me to focus on anything but survival. and of course, the reasons why I have come to this point don’t exist in a vacuum either, it is all a result of oppressive structures…also I very much relate to the other commenter about moral ocd. actually, before this period of burnout, I was putting so much pressure on myself to do way more than I am able to and that is what led to my burnout. so be gentle to yourself, take note of what your body is telling you because if you push yourself too hard, you will inevitably crash like I did. thank you for your comment ❤
@@sopha4089 tbh this is why I've disengaged from a lot of leftist spaces. I've had enough friends turn out to be sanctimonious hypocrites (and in a couple of cases rapists) that now I can't help but see a lot of peoples' calls to action as deeply performative.
A lot of us don’t have a community to lean to imact change. So don’t blame urself and I’m Glad ur now recognizing your limitations bc we are only individuals and America culture has really gotten most people so divided it’s better to find safety of those that support u then to worry about issues that we can’t control
Also tells me about how car centric is America that a simple protest will cause a huge jam, probably should fix that first buddy, bc you can just walk past the protestors
@@bibitta most bosses are. they’re the ones who have to change though-it’s a privilege to be able to hold a job wherein you maintain such flexibility as being able to be late.
Although I very much agree with your main thesis, I think the natural continuation would be to ask how much solidarity can be expected of others and ourselves? In a day and age where we are uniquely aware of most issues around the world (and if you're not, you're free to educate yourself through a quick Google search.) How permissible is it to not participate? It seems natural to stand up for every cause you believe in, while also kind of an impossible standard to set.
This is especially true in a mental health crisis. Not everyone can engage with war and activism while surviving. I don’t think it is psychologically “normal” to be aware of every global catastrophe on a daily basis. It’s really difficult to pick choose where you spend your attention and energy
I think step 1 is maybe accepting that right now, it is an impossible standard. Religion has the “born sinner” confession thing, Mark Fisher’s book, infamous leftwing purges, etc; those all cleared that up for me. To a maybe harmful degree, I don’t expect much from others life is hard people are stressed. But it doesn’t take much to stand out and make an impact, on an individual level progress and rebellion itself is probably more important than hard results
My favorite author just refused an award because the center that was presenting it to her fired an employee who wore a keffiyeh and banned the wearing of one. Jhumpa Lahiri is a great writer and I would totally recommend her if you want a good book.
I agree. I think long term it might even help him with audience retention/money because I think that kind of integrity is something a lot of his audience really values and respects. I still would watch Elliot if he took it and not think much differently of him, because I would assume he needed the cash instead of it being from any personal investment in the company. But I would have been disappointed he had to make that decision
I am ignorant on this - if you have the extra time, what is the issue with betterhelp now? It’s beside the point of Palestine I know but I missed this.
1:03:31 this is why i hate when people say they’re “fiscally conservative but socially liberal” bc it’s like …. okay…. how do you expect us to achieve things socially without paying for it through taxes or other means?? it’s such a cop out answer that just placates whatever conversation they were in or question they were asked about
I think people say that because the implication of being fiscally liberal to them is overspending and over taxing for unnecessary and frivolous social programs and increased bureaucracy in the process. Just like you, they picture the extreme opposite with no room for nuance.
Every person in the internet who has ever said "i'm too left for the right, but too right for the left" always turned out to be either an islamophobe or pro-izzy
@@novinnovations4026Fiscal Conservativeism also means (or meant) support for tariffs and protectionist trade policies. It’s remarkably common within more rightist socialist spheres that emphasize labourism and the support of the workers over things like social justice or anti racism.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but if your politics are subtractive rather than additive then you are not creating solidarity, and you are not helping the cause you are fighting for. Solidarity REQUIRES compromise, discussion, and finding points of agreement. If you “cancel” someone, discussion ends, opinions harden, and people begin resisting change. Look to what France just did to prevent the right wing from taking over: with less than a week to the election, they created a coalition between the left and the moderates, they determined the strongest candidate in every race in the country, and the weaker candidate between the two dropped. Do they agree on everything or even like one another? No. But in an emergency, they pulled together and changed the course. It IS uncomfortable and hard. But consider that the oligarchy of this country seeks to keep us fighting and divided, and we are constantly being manipulated to that end. We ONLY win together.
@@jadziaschillzone LOL, I am 3/4 through the video and got too excited because I loved what he was saying - so you’re right. Sue me, I have ADHD and am impulsive. 😂
And what did french leftist get as a reward for their coordination? Right-wing conservative government, a president who's bound to collaborate with Le Pen's party and no representation in the minister cabinet. Historically the truth is if a party unites its forces in solidarity with everyone (who's remotely aligned) you just end up defending the ruling class' interest.
I'm from a third world country and relatively doing ok compared to other working class people as my education is admittedly good, but the richer kids in my age range go to Starbucks,, a coffee there could buy groceries for a family down my street for the week, it's insulting, and they think "ooooh look at me I'm trendy 🤪" Like..... How just wasted 10$ on a mediocre product to seem closer to white people and yes they are missionary kids with American evangelical funding
they aren't even rich. they are the idolizing middle class/managerial class. i grew up with their daughters and have seen next to none of those girls post about Palestine. the most vocal pro-palestine friends I have are a black guy from Baltimore and a jewish guy from Brooklyn.
Genuinely who event eats in starbucks. Idk if its different where they are but most Starbucks i’ve seen barely have a food selection and its overpriced pre-prepped dogshit. The chain i go to is a local uk one called Caffe Nero (also lovingly called Caffe Nerd bc the O looks like a D) and they have some decent food, but i’d only eat there if i’m with friends who want to. Otherwise i’d just buy a sandwich from a supermarket if i havent got a packed lunch, or go to a dedicated food place. I’ve never even really thought of corpo coffee shops as food places. Some cafe’s can be but the ones that do nice food are almost always local owned independents, in my experience. Starbucks aint a proper café.
my roommate eats at Starbucks at least once a week and it is genuinely baffling to me, like my man there is a real Mexican place down the street selling breakfast burritos three times that size at ten times the flavor.
activism is Not transactional & i fear many people do not fully comprehend and Believe that. support & Outspokenness for the plight of Palestinians in particular being conditional on what Palestinians have to say about [insert group] says to me that there is Little understanding of the Subjacent systemic issues in play concerning the liberation of Palestinian peoples. a Bit incredulous at the comments of people who appear to believe this. solidarity amongst people of Colour is absolutely not a myth do not be swayed. inshallah We will see a liberated Palestine if not now In generations to come
People doing a "gotcha" to progressives who support Palestinians with "You're supporting them; how about you go live there as a blue haired gay trans woman and see how that works out for you". A people don't have to be perfect to "earn" the right to not be genocided
49:00 I saw this exact thing at a Palestine solidarity demonstration outside of Washington Square Park last winter. An ambulance was directed through where we were marching, and we all made way, but they stopped and wouldn't move because of the police.
it is consistent the way in which the police (or in some cases universities) enforce repressive violence and then use defamation and lies to try to make the activist look back. and i will never understand why it works on people.
reading about criticism/self criticism gave me so much optimism. to criticize in good faith and hold someone to a higher standard is a gift. of course online, large platforms, its unreasonable to consider ALL criticisms made of you. which is why community with people irl is so vital. a trusted friends telling you to rethink your stance or position on a topic will be a lot easier to struggle with and discuss than 120 characters on a tiktok. love this video, been thinking about this topic for a while
for about the same reason Abolitionism was considered an "extremist" position for 100+ years of american history: solidarity IS hard especially when the status quo is oppression
because "standing up for palestine" can mean literally anything because all kinds of actors across the political spectrum say this, so you have to bring nuance into this to make it leftist, which is hard and complicated, sth influencers and algorythms don't like
also because there are a lot of liberal z10n1sts who conflate their beliefs with being inherent to jewish identity in order to call their detractors antisemitic (even though israel does NOT speak for all jewish people and thinking so is antisemitic in itself). sometimes having a backbone can cause you to alienate a large portion of your audience.
It’s the most pampered BS take, if it’s too much to ask that you cut out whatever garbage fast food you eat every day what use could you possibly be to any cause? The people saying stuff like this aren’t the people in food deserts who can’t afford better, they’re very comfortable and cannot comprehend any inconvenience that doesn't satisfy their immediate desires. Nothing going on here but addiction to treats and convenience.
Dude. I keep seeing you bring it up in various comments and i get that this is something you stand on but there’s nothing wrong with people eating meat. Yes there’s places that treat animals cruelly and thats messed up but you cant just equate this to ppl eating meat is bad. Meat is an important source of nutrients and energy for many. It is vital for many. And it’s a staple in many cultures. Not to mention that some people cant afford veganism because vegan foods are just expensive. And it just feels weird to watch you comment continuously on unrelated things to shove this in peoples faces. Pls. Chill. No hate. But chill.
Thank you for making this. We need more content like this. I am tired of being shamed, called naive, or told I'm stupid for taking a principled stand against genocide. I am 50 years old. I am neither naive, nor uneducated I happen to be a firm believer in Kantian philosophy, I get that following Kant's principles is "too much" for many people today but that does not make me the flawed person who needs to change.
@@kylezoor, she’s an adult and nobody responds to sarcasm and browbeating favorably. This is not going to get anyone to stop going to Starbucks, it’s going to create “us” vs “them” and everybody is just going to dig their heels in. It’s unproductive.
@@Funnylittlemansometimes humor can help, but it depends on the level of inconvenience that someone is capable of aproving. Like... The point of the video. Yeah
Excellent telling of Baker's story, the refusal by some to criticise consequential politics, figures, and issues out of a faulty understanding of solidarity must be challenged. Excellent video!
it's crazy to think about how many union organizers and activists across the world have been murdered for solidarity. I've barely dipped my toes into labor history... Still, my toes are baffled by her definition of costless solidarity. If you're standing between the powerless and their oppressors, resisting the status quo, and demanding redistribution of wealth... Does she think that position is a safe place? She's aware of the police violence BLM activists were subjected to. She knows solidarity requires courage. Anybody who poses a risk to the status quo is literally placing their existence on the line for solidarity. Does she think "solidarity" is a synonym for "tweets"?
Public rhetoric of resistance movements devolving into the “terrorist group” label doesn’t help either. Because how do you even explain to the professionally comfortable that the cost of sacrifice others must choose on a daily basis is an inevitable choice for most people? It’s conveying another worldview to people who think the middle is the best place to belong, if you’re anything more than that, it’s a dangerous extremism that must be punished.
To be fair many people in The past that wanted radical changes got killed (Malcolm X comes to example) most humans aren’t brave enough to change alone so we as the people need to come together instead of having another figurehead that represents us to get killed once more
What a great video, Elliot. As someone who grew up surrounded by family and friends who gave everything for Allende's goverment and the dream, who had to pay the highest price and who are still living with the consequences, material or not, of those actions, it's always great to see it ackowledged. I've been thinking about solidarity a lot lately, as I've been doing a lot of disability right advocacy in college lately, and we have had a lot of trouble garnering support from our university and able-bodied peers, who are often not willing to risk their job security or to get blacklisted by being openly critical and calling out the institution on the lies they tell about how inclusive the university is. And christ is it tiring. To try and be out here screaming about how we do, in fact, have the right to study and not experience abuse and discrimination. Also, I'm interested to hear more about solidarity in neoliberalism. Specially everything that has happened in the last 5 years here in Chile, with the utter and crushing defeat of the new constitution to replace the one made under Pinochet, and how now still complaining about the same problems, after individualism made so they voted against the solution. This has given me a lot of food for thought, so thank you
i kind of understand not being able to boycott, but for a different reason..i work at starbucks, and in my area, it’s one of the most high paying jobs. unless you have a degree or want to work 12 hour shifts in a factory or do hard manual labour, you’re gonna end up in fast food or retail, and most of those places in my area pay literal minimum wage ($7.25) or ~$10/hour. i don’t go to starbucks besides to work, but i also just can’t like quit my job, y’know? i get it from this perspective. at the same time, it’s fairly easy to just…not go to a place to eat/get coffee.
My sister has to work there because it’s the only place around that has insurance that will cover any of her transition. It’s also the highest paying restaurant around.
@@aliasfakename3159 Literally this. I’ve had to seriously consider working for my local Amazon but I don’t think I could take it physically or emotionally. I have chronic pain/CPTSD so finding and staying in a job can be ROUGH man. Let ALONE all the bs that goes on there. But like, it’s one of the highest paying places near me that seems to always be hiring (wonder why) I’m queer so am part of the solidarity need, but what I NEED is stable housing, transportation, and food. Poor people aren’t the ones who should be sacrificing and suffering here. I need to eat first and then I can scrape the money together to go to a rally for my own rights 😭😤
Consider unionizing! I judge the hell out of people who are still starbucks customers but the employees are cool. If its not starbucks its gonna have to be some other equally evil corporation bc we live in an economy
i really dont understand this lol nobody owes you to quit your job especially when its your only source of income, like surely that means ur making them give you money?? i truly dont understand why people consider having a job at something as a form of support
It being hard doesn't make it good (that rhetoric reeks of Puritanism, suffering is just and all that), but doing things to help people that are being marginalized in a real, tangible way will likely put you in opposition with systems designed to make it easy to act without solidarity. There are relatively painless things you can do to help in certain issues, but complete solidarity will require you to remove yourself from complicit systems, systems that became entrenched because they were more convenient, or easier, to go along with.
(and will typically put you at risk from the enforcers of those systems) but yeah none of that "the suffering makes it good" b.s., especially since people deserve credit and grace for what they've endured.
i'm not sure i understand completely what you're saying...removing yourself from complicit systems is hard...because so many of these systems are entwined...
@@betmoI think they just mean to say that it’s not good BECAUSE it’s hard. It is, and it will be, but it is not difficulty that helps people, it’s is the tangible actions you take.
@@betmoright but starting to do good for ur communities is a good start. There are things like paying taxes as an example-we are obligated to do no matter what
My 'hot' take is solidarity isn't supposed to be hard, nor easy. Solidarity is standing together, in recognizing every single one of us as human. As such, it needs to be worthwhile and accessible, for people of any circumstances. It shouldn't be misery based or driven by shaming, degrading, coercion. The requirement for being part of solidarity shouldn't be self-harming, shouldn't be unreasonable self-sacrifice, shouldn't be demanding that of other people by coercion, harassment. On the flip side, solidarity is not a mechanism of convenience, not a means of individual profit, self-aggrandizement, or personal entitlement. Should the individual come before the collective? No, but should the collective come before the individual? Also no. That's the lie of supremacy-hierarchy and exploitation. The lie that there must be suffering, that suffering is necessary and correct. Remember, if it's worth dying for, it's worth living for. Fatalism is not fighting for better. A culture of sacrifice can quickly become a culture of disposability. And there can be no true solidarity in a culture of disposability. Because solidarity only works by valuing every individual, and disposability only works by denying anyone individual value. Both might be collective mindsets, but still, an antithesis. Sacrifice can be necessary, yes, but it shouldn't be treated as always necessary. There is a path to devaluing sacrifice, an inflation of sacrifice, until it becomes expected, normalized suffering. Sacrifice is significant, and should be understood to be significant. It is also not the only significant aspect of solidarity, nor the most important. That's reductionism. Solidarity, at its best, is valuing each other, mutually, strongly. It's taking the care to understand each other, struggle and strength, and to appreciate each other. By building each other up, creating infrastructure, society, a world in which no one is disposable, or at least dreaming of such a thing, having that as the truth in your own heart and soul. It isn't easy to practice solidarity, it does take an effort of thought to value everyone, but it is worthwhile, individually and collectively. Nothing worth having is effortless, but that doesn't mean it has to be achieved by misery either.
coming from decades in fundamentalist Christianity, (now escaped at last), I've been seeing things the same way lately. religions also push the idea of the sacrificial lamb and I'm tired of sacrifice, tired of community group think. Individualism is very important and collectivism is just as important.
@@rammym23 love these commenters who aren't ready to accept the premise of the video for themselves and really want us to listen to them rationalize it away. Like just say you're not ready to sacrifice much, it's alright girl noone is here to shame you
Your comment makes such good points and people replying to you are so dumb they think you wrote this much to say you wouldn't be willing to sacrifice at all for nothing worth it. That is not at all what you said. You put your point very well, and for all these people know, you could have very well sacrificed a lot already - just because we as individuals might be willing to sacrifice, that doesn't give us the right to demand that from everyone or shame them for it. I'm sorry that you have to deal with reductionists
Solidarity is hard because it involves stepping out of the comfort of your own life to help and support people who are currently in the rough of it (for any reason at all). I’m in a comms class and a major part of successful communication is empathy. It takes a lot of empathy to have solidarity with others, and for others to have solidarity with you. Unfortunately, we live in a world where a lot of the time all you’ll get is sympathy. They care, but it’s not the same as them choosing to stand with you despite how it might affect them. I think about that a lot.
The thing about actually being poor is that they can sue you all you want, but they can't make you have money you don't. By all means, sue me. You will pay a lawyer, sink a lot of time and effort into getting a judgment that cannot be enforced. Its civil, they can't send you to jail. They can only waste their valuable time and my valueless time.
Not entirely. Sometimes they can use wage garnishing to require that the debtee pays a portion of their wages to the debtor, or they can take your property. It's like any other debt.
@@cpro6508 well, bankruptcy always affects your credit score. However, there are two versions of Bankruptcy: sell all your assets (so any property you have), or pay all debts within some time period (so no change). Either way all your property is gone, so no house (if you have one), no phone, no car, no money whatsoever, etc.
I feel like until we abolish rent people will be forced to do what is unethical in order to remain housed. So many times you hear I had to do it to pay my rent and rent keeps going up and up.
the 'neoliberal individualism' part was so incredibly good. as someone from a country that just elected a far right neoliberal (milei) one of the first things we started seeing was the need for community organizing, because individualism was trumping everything else. this wednesday we're about to have a protest defending our current free & public college system and it's been said that this is the only thing that scares milei, because he knows it'll be one of the biggest protests our country has seen thus far. the only appropriate response to neoliberal individualism is class solidarity & community organizing❤
Im a black man. I live in Seattle WA. Partly, because of the "CHAZ". Solidarity from a city like this seemed like a good start. I moved here right before Ukraine was invaded and aaw the support from this city for them against Russia. Then, oct 7th happened. I saw these same people give these weird mealy mouthed excuses for supporting a genocide. I always "jokes" if Ukrainians were brown, or Muslim, how much support would thwy really get. I got my answer fairly quickly.
As a German, I also think Ukrainians get more Solidarity bc theyre White and christian. But you should also Know that it's not selfless solidarity - countries like Poland or other neighbours of Russia may also be afraid that if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, it'll continue further west. So to a degree, it may be self-preservation.
@@garfieldkater5469 oh 100%, I'm strictly speaking from my small, American perspective. We, ultimately, have little to lose. It's mostly a virtue signal.
@@JesseHenderson-xc2kg Yes, of course. The US American stance on genocides has sadly always been neutral to alright if it benefits them & their allies :/ Here in Germany, many are pro palestine Gut its still hard to criticise Israel for many due to our history,
Thank you for this 💜 solidarity does cost you something. It's like when people say kindness is free. People devalue the emotional labor behind compassion and kindness, essentially saying it's worthless. It's usually said as an "own" or dunk on someone and it upsets me every time. Being kind/compassionate when you're so tired and about to have a sensory meltdown? It's hard! And still withwhile!!! Just me ranting about how we act like taking care of each other is the easiest thing possible it requires no thought or reflection when in reality it requires so much (and is of course worth it!)
I think it's okay to feel disappointed if your favorite influencer or public figure doesn't use their platform to support certain causes, but I think your energy is much better spent nagging your elected officials to do something rather than influencers to say something. The impact will be better felt. (As well as protesting, of course.) Also, boycotts are different from simply refusing to buy from a business. Boycotts are meant to push a business to make a certain change or take a certain action, while the latter is simply consumer preference. I've never patronized Starbucks - both because I think their coffee tastes bad and because they've ALWAYS been an unethical company that prices out small mom n'pop coffeeshops. But I can't call this a boycott.
100%, the fact that we view celebrities and content creators as sources people should look up to for political information is really really bad. A famous enough celebrity could literally change the opinions of a ton of people and mess up an election by announcing which side they support and all their fans with obsessive parasocial relationships basically following their king/queens orders rather than thinking for themselves and checking facts. Brittany Broski's situation is a bit different though.
The thing with Brittany is that on her podcast she literally said "you have people's ear, you have their attention, how dare you not? How dare you not sing about things that matter? How dare you not show things that are hard to watch for some people? It is a responsibility that you have" but when it's her turn.... It's very hypocritical and a very "rules for thee but not for me" moment.
@@jovianmelendez Right, and I think it’s valid to judge her for her actions (or lack thereof). I just think people are wasting their time and energy on things like the “digitine” when they are better off calling their elected officials and participating in political organizing.
Honestly for me. It's hard when I have to miss out on a lot of fun stuff but then I just immediately think of the people getting m*rdered and then the answer is easy.
I'm torn with this one. Solidarity can mean making sacrifices, but I also don't think internet browbeating really stands for much either. I also think demanding celebrities/influencers take stances on everything IS ridiculous. Yes, if you've cultivated your platform to be one of solidarity then there's more expectation, but I don't really see the wrong in saying "I'm not educated enough on this topic to have input". I think Chapell Roan's recent hit back at people's expectation on 'celebrity' is a perfect encapsulation, like yes she makes music and is now famous, we don't know her, she's not our best friend, and you wouldn't demand the same off a total stranger on the street (at least in most cases I won't be screaming at the guy scanning my shopping to give me his stance on x issue). People with a large online platform can use that for support, but I think expecting them to come out with opinions and stances on every single thing isn't aiding anything, and sometimes we just sub to people to see them do silly little dances, not to hear their most recent political take. However I do think there's an inherent laziness to some levels of solidarity. Such as people claiming to be trans allies but then like "but I have to play new Hogwarts game tho :(" and actively giving money towards a woman who's literally said outright she uses her money from HP to actively continue her ongoing anti-trans campaign. You do not NEED to buy or play that game/consume that media, that is a thing you can live without, if you can't even forgo an entertainment source for the sake of solidarity, there's no way in hell you can be relied on for further support. I also don't think it's inherently individualistic to just admit solidarity is exhausting and sometimes you are going to do 'bad' things. I think the importance is your overall output should outweigh that, so go to protests, participate in unions, get out there and help your community, then at the end of it all buying a single starbucks because it's the closest thing around and you're exhausted and just want a second of chill time WILL lessen the impact.
on the first point I'm entirely on board. it's a similar case that's made for veganism, that in a world with food insecurity and food scarcity, one cannot solely relegate the suffering of animals to a problem of agential speciecism. if life is to be valued, there is an imperative for one to fulfill one's physiological necessities, and it will sometimes entail acting within systems that one could be opposed to. as you point out, not playing X videogame has no impact to physiology. but one already having awareness of starbuck's anti-union history and funding of bombing campaigns in civilian zones, I reckon, cannot be weighed against one's purported acts of good. it would be another case entirely if the effect was a collateral one has no awareness of. what comes to mind is a teacher buying nestle candy for a classroom party, without knowing nestle's history of... choices, to put it mildly. where I try to get to, is that I find it hard to reconcile a good faith utilitarian calculus if one has ample awareness of one's direct and collateral effects. it might come off as vitriolic, but there comes a point, I reckon, where this epistemological awareness overrides even one's intentions. An example that comes to mind is the many videos of people buying Andrew Tate's course to "critique" it. The thing here is, there's nothing in the scenario that would make one thrown amidst the conundrum of buying or not buying. It is a fully willful choice. the tweet seems to make the notion of buying Starbucks fit into a double effect dilemma. Where the agent has, seemingly, no choice on the matter. and it's more so made as an appeal to physiological needs. "If no other place is open and I'm hungry" might sound dumb, but I'd buy into that more than from someone purported to have a virtuous disposition and just happened to want some Starbucks to chill and relax.
I find it very ironic that you can't understand how Chapelle Roan is a hypocrite. But can see it with the Harry potter fans who claim to care about trans rights. Politics affect everyone and it is especially wild for a woman, who is queer, to not speak on her rights being stripped. She is the type of person where if her oppression hasn't directly effected her, she doesn't care. Which is insane. In her own words, she feels empathy for her republican relatives....and obviously you can't control who your family is. But to feel empathy for people who are stripping your rights is insane. It's like the say "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice,shame on me." We'd be fools to support her. It is a much different between a stranger on the streets and somebody who has already made political commentary and is directly affected by these laws. &in this time frame, all of us should be speaking up. Especially those with a platform. Our country's democracy is on the line. She's the one who made a political and continues to bring up politics. Regardless, it does matter what celebs or anyone you support thinks and does. You seem to understand this, with JK Rowling, so I don't get why you can't grasp it with her. When you give money and support somebody who believes in abhorrent views, you're supporting it. That's why we have boycotts. Also, It's interesting that you say you subscribe to people for silly dances and not to hear their political takes. Which means if you're following someone who isn't open about where they stand politically , that means you could actually be giving money through views/ buying products or someone who depending on who you are could want you to have no rights. Why would you want to risk supporting someone like that? I mean, you do know the saying that "there is no ethical consumption under capitalism" Doesn't mean that you shouldn't look into things at all right? So, why can you understand this in regards to Harry Potter,but not with other content? These are genuine questions btw, just trying to help you see the bigger picture since you seem to care about things / how what we do and consume does matter.
It might not stand for much, but it might still help create a chilling effect. If I was a struggling creator I don't know if I'd be able to turn down a bunch of Zionist money, but if the calculus included a possible shitstorm leading to decreased viewership it might actually help me justify not taking the money, at the very least raising the price tag of my sellout a bit.
@@chrysrizal4653 Well,animal agriculture is a major cause of climate change,and definitely the single largest cause of deforestation and loss of biodiversity,no?❤️
and this is why i continue to talk about covid! it’s NOT over, it’s a mass disabling event, it causes so much damage to your brain and immune system. it’s never too late to start masking again to show solidarity with disabled people. wearing is caring for those in your community ❤❤❤
Sarah Schauer has been speaking about Palestine from the start!!!! They've also been sharing incredible book recommendations and resources on topics such as immigration, disability, trans rights, amazing topics all around. It hurt me DEEPLY to see their audience move away as soon as she stopped making content with Brittany. I'm not saying anything about Brittany because enough has been said, but it's so sad that somebody with such insightful content was pretty much abandoned by their followers like that.
as a 22 year old reaching the end of my time at college, sometimes it really crosses my mind that if i abandoned even a few of my morals, the options for making money would expand greatly (and the options for making A LOT of money would open up at all). it hit me around october/november of last year though that there is truly no point to having morals if you go back on them the second things could be easier for you if you did. my brother is in the military and sometimes i look at his benefits and wish i didn’t care about other human beings, or i remember my mom called me an idiot for turning down a government job my uncle offered to help me get, and i have to reckon with the fact that i am consciously choosing to turn down money and opportunities. but there’s truly no point in saying you believe something or saying you stand for something if you change your mind on it the moment money can be made or security can be guaranteed, in fact, that’s when your ACTUAL morals are revealed. that’s when your beliefs actually become your MORALS in my opinion. i was really inspired by pro-palestinian activists who physically put their bodies in the way of american ships that were bringing supplies to israel, and the classmates who got arrested and professors who lost their jobs. it’s only actually solidarity if it’s difficult. if you face no consequences, if you don’t even face an inconvenience? then you’re not doing anything.
I wish people would also realize that solidarity having a cost is most often absolutely a GOOD thing in all ends. I love how since the boycott started, people have begun to realize that we do not NEED to live with things like McDonald's and Starbucks despite what desperate advertising might tell us (also i know some people are poor and cannot afford high-quality food, but there are still other options and you can still live without them). It really was a kickstart for a lot of us to use our money as responsibly and ethically as we can, and it feels so freeing to deny that pressure to consume non-essential garbage that is so often put onto us. These companies can get as desperate as they want, but I've learned to know my worth as well as the cost that goes into it. Self-improvement all around the board IS tough, it DOES have a cost, but the point is that it's worth it for the benefit of you and others.
Firstly, I really liked the video. It's well researched and thought out, and it's an asset to the community. That said, I want to push back rhetorically on the framing here. Solidarity *can* be hard. Solidarity is even *likely* to be hard. But even if it's easy, you should still do it. And I am going to send love out to everyone who will stand in solidarity, no matter how hard.
While I agree that solidarity doesn't have to be hard in one way, I also have to say that there is a restaurant in my city that I've always refused to go to since I was 20 years old, maybe even younger, because of their treatment of their staff. And since it's always been extremely easy to me, it actually does not feel like solidarity to me to do so. I am not saying "I want to but I shouldn't" but instead "nope, bad employer".
There is something to be said about not becoming monsters in the pursuit of fighting monsters. I share the opinion of conflict of ideals being necessary, however I also believe that there is a massive issue with people effectively worshipping individual humans (namely celebrities and social media influencers) as nigh-deified beings whose words and actions - or lack of - are sacrosanct, and as a result the conflict is no longer about the ideals but rather one side arguing on behalf of ideals while the other side is running defense for their chosen deity in hopes that they one day miraculously heal the world with their abundance.
Solidarity has cost a lot for so many incredible anti-zionist jews who have been fighting for Palestinian lives. It has cost many of us relationships with family members, community and culture. But we know that our comfort is never more important than fighting for what’s right. Free Palestine 🇵🇸
HOLY FUCK THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ABOUT PINOCHET. He's still praised in our country by the right as if another dictatorship would solve our economy. My people don't know their history, and they call me crazy for blaming the USA and the CIA for those hellish 17 years, so it brings me so much peace and hope that other people outside of Chile actually know what went down
There was true solidarity from the socialists at the time. Friends of my parents at the uni hosted some Chilean refugees and threw a welcoming party in their honor. I'm not from the US, and wasn't born yet, but my parents have told how they met the Chileans, and I think they have a photo from the party. Years ago there was even a documentary in the tv about these events - it was an anniversary thing, but I can't remember how many years anniversary. It was big in my country because we didn't really have refugees (or foreigners) prior to the Chileans. Socialism was also popular amongst young people in the 70's. I only really learned about the coup as an adult though. Meaning the CIA stuff and such details.
Don't you guys learn about it in school? I'm Brazilian, and like most Latin American countries, we went through a long period of dictatorship, and when we learn about that period, it's always highlighting the US's fault in the events
Yeah our history books do not mention america's meddling of our affairs in the slightest. I didn't know the junta was in large part backed and sponsored by cia until after adulthood. It wasn't after i realized america has reinforced dictators in power all over the world to realize that's what happened in my country too
@@hazelsweenz we do, but most people in Chile decide to ignore it or not pay attention to it. Since most old people in Chile are still brainwashed by the thought that the coup d'état was a good thing, because technically the country got richer, these old people then run the country and promote the rethoric, causing people from the worker class to believe it and spread it to their children.
thank you for mentioning pegasus! Cybersecurity has been one of my two lifelong interests and to see someone who isn’t necessarily involved in cybersecurity/infosec/digital privacy activism bring it up is so exciting.
Just so everyone knows- there are many reasons to boycott a company like Starbucks. Union busting practices, environmental harm, etc. not just ties to Israeli settlements. I generally subscribe to "Do not let perfect be the enemy of good". Do your research and try to make good choices. Always work towards better. All these actions add up. Get to know your actual neighbors, like the ones that live next door, and find out what their needs are. You can do a hell of a lot of good in the world by volunteering at your local senior center or food bank too
I NEVER subscribe to channels or even comment. But the quality of your video with the deep analysis using academic sources and arguments with the topics you speak about is AMAZING. I watch many analysis deep dive videos but your level of quality is something I haven’t seen before. I definitely will be watching your other videos. Would be really interested on the process of reasearch and effort you put into creating a video.
This video triggered a paradigm shift for me. I've been sympathetic to the Palestinians, but also fatalistic about what protests can do to make a difference, and even, at times, critical of praxis that, as you explain, "alienates" people who claim to want the same outcome. Because of my fatalism, in the past, I've dismissed actions like the boycott as ineffective or "virtue signaling." But the truth is I'm afraid of organizing; I won't give specific details about my circumstance, but I have reason to believe my livelihood will be crippled if I participate in protest deemed obtrusive. I don't seek an excuse or absolution for my decision, but now I have no more cognitive dissonance to hide behind. I can admit to this conflict of interest while taking part in actionable parts of solidarity, like the boycott and my rhetoric. This video already hits me in the gut; I already regret what I can't do, and I strive to live by genuine solidarity in the ways I currently can, such as by sticking to the boycott and unabashedly spreading the word. One day, soon, I will join these marches and rallies. Thank you for opening my eyes and exposing the complexity and scope of the moral problem of solidarity.
12:14 Chilean here, had to pause because I wasn’t expecting my country’s history to be mentioned, thank you so much Edit as I keep watching the video: 15:10 And made to dissapear, some of their families are still looking for them to this day, because they don’t know what happened to them. No one does, except of course the US government. The people who were captured and tried were also tortured for information about their political associates. My family’s history links a lot to the effects of the dictatorship (being detained, tortured snd exiled happened to more than one of my family members), and people don’t talk about it enough, so I take any chance I get to talk about it and it’s brutality, specially since new generations en Chile are starting to forget and even deny history.
Brazilian here, same thing. We didn’t even get confirmation that the US funded the 1964 coup in Brazil until the first Biden administration, when Lula made a deal with Biden to get the documents that confirmed the Operation Brother Sam and the US involvement.
This is the most valuable piece of media I've watched this year, hands down. I already know that this is going to be something I come back to often when I find myself drifting toward the easiness of complacency. You (and the sources you've chosen) have worded points in a succinct, memorable way. I love the range of examples you've used to illustrate your points. This was a dialogue worth waiting for, and I'm grateful you published it, and that my friend shared it with me when I asked what they were up to yesterday. I've already shared this video to a handful of people in my life. I cannot stress enough how important this perspective check is. You've inspired me to reevaluate how my own actions are/aren't aligning with the goals of movements I consider myself to be in solidarity with. THANK YOU!
23:05 💯% very glad you mentioned how our neoliberal environment puts us in a position which incentivizes these attitudes. I think one thing that’s missing in solidarity in the current era is that we don’t have the corresponding community aspect that support us and make up for risks and sacrifices we would have to undergo. We live in this sort of neoliberal techno dystopian environment where we’re all hyperfragmented so it’s almost like we get this image of connection but it’s very superficial because we’re still very disconnected… like we’re not really a community… sort of a quasi community
I talked about this with a friend recently about how far removed we are from the neoliberal individualistic society. We're currently living/working within a community laying out mutual aid infrastructure within the city we live in. Pretty dystopic to be cooking food in a squatted home and then handing it out to people in a neglected neighbourhood while commuting people pass by in their fancy cars. Wild world we live in.
For the Civil Rights Movement, solidarity meant forgoing the bus and getting attacked for sit-ins. If you haven't suffered *any consequences at all, nor made any sacrifices for taking a stand,* you're either very fortunate, or maybe not making as much of an impact as you may think.
So much of this discourse around activist movements is cyclical which is why i am so glad you included Ella Baker’s legacy to this video. I’m going to get her biography from the library to learn more of her story, and I am incredibly frustrated that she has been largely overlooked in the civil rights movement and US history!! Excellent work as always Elliot :))
I really appreciate the core message of this video. All in all, I think this is an extremely important, tragically evergreen message for people with good intentions who lack political experience. Meaningful solidarity has a cost or a risk. One thing I'm still sort of torn about is when/how it is appropriate to put pressure on individuals (and in particular individual influencers) to act in solidarity in the first place. I'm somewhat sympathetic to influencers not wanting to be involved in particular movements for better and worse reasons, and I tend to prefer to put pressure on people actively opposing my goals while simply leaving behind people who don't have the courage or knowledge or whatever the problem is to get on board. But, I don't always think it's good enough to just let people opt out of acting in solidarity. Like, in the context of forming a labor union and/or taking action as a union, it's absolutely necessary to get even reluctant workers on side and actively involved. I think maybe with influencers I'm not as convinced what people are doing is strategic, or that the success of the movement requires the involvement of these people in a way that warrants the level of pressure they are put under.
Really enjoyed your video. Its interesting to apply the whole thing of solidarity to social issues here in Hawaii. In efforts to mend a lot of problems here like raising rent/living expenses, foreign developers and tourism, indigenous oppression, etc., there is a lot of different avenues and takes that a lot of us Hawaiians and local people have. Honestly, a lot of your points on solidarity struck me in many ways regarding my sense of cultural identity and solidarity. There is a lot of different kinds of perspective on Hawaiians on many of these issues especially on who should stay and live here and what being local means. As well as a lot of avenues to help Hawaii as a whole. Like an example is works like Dr. Keanu Sai who focus on the international legalities of Hawaii's illegal occupation and sovereignty. Another is people who focus on more material things like Daniel Anthony who focus on sustainable farming with Hawaiian crops. I also feel like there's a lot of conflict as well with intersectionality and discrimination. Like it is a little disheartening to some people who support the liberation of Hawaii from illegal US presence spit hate against the lgbtq community and uphold very western views of patriarchy. Hell, there is even a lot of discourse and conflict on the perpetuation and preservation of the Hawaiian language. Even as a multi racial/ethnic person, I have many deep seeded doubts about my own identity that I need to de tangle in my journey/process of solidarity. It really shows that solidarity is not a thing that you turn on or off but, an ongoing struggle with conflicts within yourself, others and even time and work/school. I think that having an identity as a Hawaiian and a mixed person too has showed me that Hawaiian is not a perfect consensus that you strive for or stand in solidarity with no effort. It too is an ongoing process in which you have to contend with a violent history, your own generational trauma, and conflicts with your own thinking and solutions. Sorry for the rant but, your video does hit on a lot of the conflicts that are front and center with Hawaiian issues. Really enjoy your work!
I know this is a hot take: Unless you’re an elected official, no one is entitled to know your opinion about any topic. I don’t care how famous or influential you think someone is. Just because you watch their videos doesn’t mean you’re owed to know their every thought and feeling about every topic.
Thank you for putting this into words, it's hard to explain. I'm sick to death of people complaining about parasocial relationships when they're held to the standard they themselves set. They gained these followers because they displayed themselves as someone who cares and are shocked when their fans leave after finding out that they don't actually care. Some of these people talk about fans feeling entitled to their personal lives but some of these people feel entitled to their fanbase. (Not Chappell Roan, she's completely reasonable.)
Yeah I don't think all celebrities should be on top of politics but if you're someone who told your own fans about how you should be on top of politics and then don't do it... seems fair to get backlash to me cause why you lyin 🤚🏾
I also wish that people would have more solidarity with trans people. We are seen as disposable. We are the ones who are supposed to compromise our own safety and rights to stop “distracting” from “real” issues.
Conflict and solidarity do go together a lot, especially if you consider the Black Panthers' contribution to Civil Rights, despite their differences with MLK. And other movements from the time too, like the Gay Liberation Movement that came after Stonewall, which was the result of disparate organizations like the GLF and GAA filled with people who had many conflicting views.
This video is so interesting and helped me thinking a lot about my own way of acting in solidarity. Thank you so much ! I might add, though, that maybe public people (influencers, artists etc) aren't only scared of conflict, but also of harassment maybe? I went through that on twitter years ago, when I had an account that was a bit popular. I used to talk about feminism, politics and other stuff. But at some point, I received so much hate when I made mistakes, even if I apologized for it, that I just deleted my account. And I it's quite normal to fear receiving so much hate, in my opinion. It's different from fearing conflict. Because anonymous people seems to think that because you're famous, they're allowed to treat you the way they want in the name of their ideal, as they perceive you as someone more privileged than them (contrapoint made a very interesting video on that subject). And if it might be true to some extent (being popular on internet grants you power indeed), to me, it also pushes the most vulnerable people outside of online political communities, which seems unfair to me. I feel like the problem is more rooted to what you pointed out while talking about Baker's activism, like personality cult. Social medias push us a lot in this direction. Instead of an horizontal socializing on internet, we have to create communities around people to think together and exchange. It's a battle for likes, follows, visibility and aknowledgment. But I think few people have the shoulders and the cold head to bear such a heavy responsability (I personally clearly didn't, which is why I deleted my account). It's too much power for a person alone, and that kind of power is highly corruptive. Not to mention it's isolating as well (people putting you on a pedestal can be seen as something envyable but I think it's pretty much objectifying). Anyway that's my two cents aha. Thank you again for the quality of your content.
The part about queer solidairity reminded me of some leftists i used to know who thought that "identity politics diverted our attention from class struggles" like my brother is cthulhu how do you want to fight capitalism without fighting for minorities (i would also like to add that the context was them being called out for saying racial and queerphobic slurs)
i personally would take my frustrations and grievances out on people who spread zionist propaganda and continually dehumanize/vilify the Palestinian people. I completely understand being exasperated by influencers and celebrities not “walking the walk” of true solidarity on every act of injustice but at the same time you cant have the expectation that a person has the emotional [and intellectual] bandwidth to speak on every injustice in this world, especially when that person has repeatedly shown their support for certain groups and ideologies… i WOULD be disappointed and angry with those who consistently hide behind a facade of allyship and repeat left leaning talking points to appeal to a certain audience.. the people who claim to understand the plight of palestinians while simultaneously spewing zionist talking points and equating judaism to the israel identity/zionism(*cough cough* ethan klein)) we have this need for the people that we follow and look up to reflect our beliefs and validate that we are a good person, as if another persons beliefs or [lack of] action has any bearing on our individual core values…(they don’t)
Real change does generally always require sticking ones neck out for. Beyond that, if one examines the time, resources, energy and effort spent by the people resisting change or trying to create political time machines, to resist that momentum will take even more effort and sticking ones neck out for. It's described as a struggle, fight, battle, etc for a reason. I think it's interesting how many people forget that change actually means things really concretely changing so it's felt even on a day to day basis. And that means the conditions around them will alter. Ergo, hardship is a part of the puzzle. Gotta put in the effort and walk the walk instead of just talking the talk for some good person browny points. Actions (choices thus) are more important than words, even if just talking can at times be an action. And it requires teamwork to make the dream work, which is where solidarity comes in.
I waited to get HRT over half a year because I refused to cross the picket line or the clinic I go to. Solidarity cost me a lot. However I’m an IWW organizer and someone who has fucking principles
@@muckschmuck1853 Yeah!!❤️ Fast fashion is terrible,isn't it? My grandma is teaching me how to sew,it's quite fun ahaha❤️ Haven't bought new clothes in like 4 years,fortunately i'm not a big fashion person
@@muckschmuck1853 Yeah!!❤️ Fast fashion is bad,isn't it? My grandma is teaching me how to sew,it's quite fun ahaha❤️ Haven't bought new clothes in like 4 years,fortunately i'm not a big fashion person
I just wanna say thanks for this video. I've discovered your channel about a year ago and really enjoyed learning from you, but this hit different. I'm a film director, at the start of my career. It's fucking hard, it takes everything I have to keep going, to make enough to pay rent, to support myself and to be present with my loved ones. So I often fall into the trap of "Well I gotta look after me first, and one day I'll give back". But you're right, this shitty individualism that has been ingrained in me since I was born is toxic and actively contributes to the erosion of the social bonds I value so much in my life. Keeping my head down and getting on isn't helping anybody, least of all me. So thank you, I'm working on changing that in my life now
There was a Canadian Loblaws boycott in August, and I work at a Loblaws store. I feel bad for working for Loblaws, but can't find a job anywhere else. For me it becomes a difficult area of compromising a job to my own personal values. I have discussed unionizing with my co-workers but no one feels as strongly about it as I do, and saying it in front of my boss would get me fired. Change is indeed difficult.
1:00:43 in Poland we have a saying „dobrymi chęciami piekło jest wybrukowane” which roughly translates to "hell is cobbled with good intentions" and it could not be truer tbh
I agree with many of the points made in this video but I am left bothered by its framing through the actions of influencers. It seems to me that the sacrifices that come with solidarity that are described as necessary (or important, or morally right?) for influencers to take in this video are all related to personal decisions that work unquestioningly within the frameworks of the dominant systems through which we live our lives. That is, the decision to take a stand on an issue through social media as an influencer sacrifices potential financial gains and internet criticism, but does so through platforms that operate on wringing profit out of celebrity worship and unproductive conflict by making these the source of engagement and therefore, advertisements (thus, profit). In this case, an insistence on the actions of an influencer only perpetuates the contradictory idea that change must occur through channels that discourage or are outright opposed to change (social media companies that run on the profit motive in this case). Similarly, the decision to refuse a job opportunity or to purchase only certain products (green capitalism as the best example), while it is likely morally commendable, does not connect to a larger disruptive framework. The economy of social media influencers and their interactions with their fans or critics is not special, it is neoliberal in its foundation (in that it is the act of deciding through a market or through market logics that I describe in the paragraph below). This does not mean that actions within a neoliberal system cannot have any impact at all (ex: turning down a sponsorship for a sketchy mental health company prevents its reach to more people, buying and using "green" products helps the environment to a certain extent by "voting with your dollar" ), but if part of the argument of the video is that we ought to escape this framework (and I agree, we should), framing the video with the topic of the solidarity of influencers that exists precisely within a neoliberal framework seems to distort the solutions for productive solidarity. All the actions described above can be seen as morally commendable actions that ought to be done by well-meaning political actors, but their connection to movements for counter-hegemonic change seems loose at best and are ultimately trapped within a neoliberal logic of change. Just like I do not buy from companies that support genocidal military campaigns, I may not buy (view) content from influencers who are opposed (or tepid, hesitant, ignorant, etc.) to my political positions and organizational memberships or affiliations. However, how is asking a social media influencer to go say something about a given issue I support any different than asking a clothing brand I like, or the computer brand I use, etc. to go say something? It would be nice if they did, and it might make a material difference but to view their sacrifices or lack thereof as a framing for how solidarity is hard is misguided. Sure, there can be sacrifices that show solidarity here in an impactful way but how is this not just a different version of the neoliberal logic that insists that one shows their support for a cause through individual decisions? If we are truly interested in "building sociality in a world that insists on atomization and individuality", why the insistence on the individuality of influencers? I make an individual decision to support or critique an influencer who then makes their own individual decision to position themselves politically so as to seem morally upright as towards their audience. Under this logic, my individual decisions that are made within markets are what determine both change and my morality in connection to that change. Thus, although it is stated towards the end of the video that this is not about these influencers as moral people, how can it be anything else? Escaping the neoliberal framing of solidarity does not mean distinguishing between it being easy or hard - it may be the case that solidarity is always hard - but involves its direction toward counter-hegemonic collective action. It is there where the struggle (solidarity becoming hard) takes place in the most meaningful ways. There are examples of this in this video that are not exemplified by influencers, and it is no coincidence. Sacrifices taken by labour union organizers, climate justice protestors, civil rights activists, etc. are sacrifices taken collectively and with organized and usually democratic direction. The conflict within these movements is productive because the movements are situated within a site of change. That Hope Woodard is compared in the video to a white woman in 1964 who is uncomfortable with civil rights protests is evidence of the fact that she stands outside the bounds of a counter-hegemonic expression of solidarity, the conflict she is dealing with is unlike the inter-movement conflict Ella Baker dealt with because she is not in any way collectively oriented towards counter-hegemony. The sort of conflict she encounters may be productive and her denial of it may be in a sense authoritarian, but it is not counter-hegemonic. There is conflict within movements that is generative towards collective struggle and then there is conflict with actors outside of movements who are located outside of the bounds of that struggle. Protestors conflicting with each other while determining group objectives is different from protestors critiquing someone who has not joined them. It is not because the outside actor has not sacrificed that they are not a part of the struggle, the outside actor has yet to have taken up a position through which their sacrifices would be counter-hegemonic. I have no interest in defending influencers, I just largely do not understand them as any significant source of change. A discussion on the difficulty of solidarity in various social movements without the influencer framing seems to me to be a more productive way to think through the topic of the difficulty of solidarity. If neoliberal solidarity is something to be avoided or contextualized for having its limits for progress, shouldn't we focus efforts of solidarity away from influencers (and thus neoliberal logic) almost entirely? Sorry for the essay lol, the video was thought-provoking.
i guess rather than the influencer as a moral actor its more about the utility of their platform as a tool for spreading information and resources? somebody with ten million followers is going to reach more people than someone with one hundred followers, after all. as a current example on tumblr some popular users have taken it upon themselves to drum up support for specific palestinian families trying to fundraise online, and their status has allowed the campaigns to reach more people willing to help while theyre also drawing the ire of pro-israel users away from those families and towards themselves. but i get your point here. i think having been surrounded by individualist culture for all our lives its very difficult to fully break from the mindset of individualism even as we actively try to disrupt it.
@@triangleman2627 Absolutely, my intention is not to distract from the utility of activist practices that help people, just to point out that they have not departed from neoliberalism like this video might suggest. However I think that according to the video, the morality of the influencer and the utility of their platform are conflated: if the influencer does not use their platform as a tool for spreading information and resources it reflects upon them morally and thus implies that this rule applies generally to everyone. I don't even fully disagree with this, I think that people ought to be considerate of the impact their decisions can make for social causes for moral reasons. However, as the video suggests (and does not remedy imo), this slips into a sort of individual utilitarianism with little to no considerations of the material conditions of the actors involved. For me, the emphasis ought to be on social movements and the solidarity of organzations. If I am right about this conflation and parts of the video in general, this is just a neoliberal argument that could be rephrased as: "I want the commodities I consume to reflect my values in the world, and I create change by engaging in this commodity/market based relationship". Again, my intention with my comment was not to deny the (at times) great utility of the platforms of influencers that is exemplified in your comment, just to point out that insistence upon it as a moral imperative of influencers is misguided since it does not place influencers within their own role in the neoliberal economy, and slips from there into a reassertion of neoliberal individualism as the dominant change-making force. I think we can see evidence of the slipperiness of this argument (back into neoliberal assertions) in this comment section. A comment about ethical consumption under capitalism has in its replies turned into a debate over the individual consumption of meat products as a moral imperative. Another comment laments that under neoliberalism, sacrifice for entrepreneurial gain is celebrated but sacrifice for left-wing causes is disregarded - while this is true in some ways it needs to be specific since neoliberalism does not mind the idea that one should sacrifice in their individual decisions for a left-wing cause, since this just reinforces its power as a dominant social structure and narrative (think of how people act like socialism or left-wing sentiment in general must involve its adherents being poor and struggling), what neoliberalism fears are collective actions that subvert its modes of operation, that work against market logics, that involves multiplicities coordinated as self-organizing structures against various forms of oppression. Finally, another comment discusses making their mother angry by pointing out she is drinking anti-union starbucks coffee. To me, these comments (or their replies) echo the slip back into neoliberalism that the video displays. There are of course gains to be made with this logic as I tried to point out in my original comment and as you point out as well, but the gains are not systemically subversive, that's all. As you said, our attempted disruptions of individualism often fall back into its grasp. I think there is value in pointing out when this happens, especially when it is accidentally put forth as though it is an escape.
That story about the plane ticket and "what if we got sick," it reminded me of something that happened to me recently. I ended up catching covid while on a cruise with my sister, she didn't get it and didn't develop an infection even after we got off the ship. I reported my symptoms to the med bay and got quarantined, but my sister was still free to roam the ship so long as she wore a mask. I asked her to attend and record a small event on my behalf, and she agreed to do it for me. She spent her time outside of the cabin, without wearing the mask as she was supposed to. Later when it was time for her to go to the event she promised she would record for me, she suddenly changed her mind about going. And she told me, "Why not just... sneak out, maybe wear a mask, and just go do it yourself?" I ended up yelling at her for going back on her word, and I was just... really disturbed honestly that she'd suggest I sneak out and go to a crowded event when I had just tested positive for covid and was having really bad symptoms. She's not a bad person, it turned out that she had gotten a bit high without me knowing so she wasn't thinking clearly, but it was shocking to hear her suggest something like that when she herself is a nurse and has complained about people's lack of care before. She did eventually record the show for me, but she still didn't wear a mask. I just can't wrap my brain around ignoring the potential consequences of something like that, when if I were on the other end surely I'd be extremely upset to know someone had flagrantly gone into a crowd with an infectious disease. And I WAS very upset, because that was most likely what actually caused me to get sick in the first place! Just because someone I might infect would probably never know it was me that infected them, thinking of all the people I saw and heard openly coughing and sneezing on the ship and ruminating on it while I was suffering in bed wondering if it might kill me was just horrifying. The callous disregard for the lives of anyone they won't see again having to suffer the consequences of their actions, that kind of thing haunts me. Just because THEY thought their symptoms were fine and easily survivable doesn't mean it's going to be fine and easily survivable for everyone they cross paths with.
This video encapsulates a lot of the thoughts which have come up in the last few years. Thank you for sharing various perspectives and bringing in a political philosophy expert to dig deeper into this discussion. As a current political science and philosophy major we have these discussions a lot in a classroom setting I’m thankful that you’re creating access to these conversations for everyone through this platform . !!! Great vid
great video! I was pausing every 5 seconds to translate and discuss with my mom. you covered a lot and even though it took a long time to make it and post it was so worth it. thank you for explaining it all so well!
1:01:15 Yeah. I can tell you 100% that's what it is for me, when I've said and acted like that in the past. I've seen some of the worst of the internet, I've always really focused on trying to "treat others how you want to be treated", always felt like i had no idea what i was doing or how to do anything, struggling with caring so much about some things while feeling like i dont know right from wrong half the time, cant defend my beliefs in a kind and articulate way. I'm extremely isolated, mentally not...okay, and without a very solid support system. All that to say, yes. I'm terrified. And I know I'm not the only one that feels like this. This is a really excellent video, thank you.
In 2013-2017 used to work for a very red chicken restaurant(not naming for obvious reasons), got as far as marketing and got official with a certificate and everything. As someone who didn’t go to high school and made decent money, learning the deeper more integral issues with the company in all facets, plus being discriminated firsthand, I made the difficult decision to leave. That place was all I knew, family-like, and my only source of income. I lost everything, including my church family. It took many years but I made it out and am doing okay without it, a much clearer conscience. Even more wild that almost 10 years ago I was the complete opposite to now, breathing is easier even if it risked it all. Went from hardcore Z-ist evangelical christian to whatever socialist lasagna I am now haha.
I think how we have conflict is really important too; the goal of many often seems to be winning, bc of our capitalist upbringing. But if we have conflict and the goal is to come to an understanding as opposed to winning, i feel we get a lot further
Regarding the point laid out around 1:05:10 of this video analyzing the tweet about the guy who may only have a Starbucks available to them, I think it's unfair to boil it down to Thatcher's point about individual choice rather than giving it the more charitable reading of: how is anyone supposed to extricate themselves from the wider system? For example, you don't want to support fossil fuels? Good luck buddy. You now gave to produce 100% of your own food using zero products of the Haber-Bosch process. Good luck with that loser. Boycott one thing and find yourself ensnared another tentacle of the Leviathan.
Some people use 'solidarity' the same way others use 'thoughts and prayers'
I'd even say that's how most people use it now
Exactly. And I think there is also an important distinction between those who are fully in solidarity but cannot act or act always due to personal finance, disability, internet access, etc. vs those who say they care and actively don’t do things when able.
Well said
@@ErutaniaRose True!
@@ErutaniaRosethank you I said this in another comment. People in privileged positions should do more because they CAN do more. Let’s not demonize people who clearly care but are forced into a corner by society. We must recognize that is by design to have the people too focused on survival to fight back. Ik it’s a work of fiction but think about the hunger games. They were always in a state of survival and in the case of katniss resistance was unthinkable as that would result in the death of herself and her family.
You know the video took a while to finish when the commentator has 3 different hair lengths throughout the video.
This comment makes me feel the need to say RIP hbomberguy's hairline 😔 gone too soon but never forgotten 🥹
@@más72zI fucking wheezed 😭
@@más72z😂😂😂
@@más72z He pulls off the look pretty well, imo. I've got a weird ass head, so I'm lucky I still have all my hair at 38.
People went and took ‘no ethical consumption under capitalism’ to mean ‘I don’t need to examine my actions no more’
Literally hate what this has devolved into (especially true for fast fashion haul apologists lol)
it's like a self fulfilling prophecy, people say I can't help individually so I'll just do nothing at all
I only get pasture raised eggs and milk, it costs over double but I just drink less milk and eat less eggs, more veggies for me
@charlieistryinghisbest what a banger
appreciate you fighting for these voiceless beings here. watch dominion everyone, thanks
what was it that james baldwin said?
"The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality."
i reject the notion that individualism and apathy is the way forward. the only way to make meaningful change IS solidarity with ALL marginalized communities.
@@charlieistryinghisbest Absolutely. But you aren't not supporting Palestinians because they may not be or may not want to be vegan right? The majority of the working class in the US isn't vegan either. So how do you deal with that and encourage solidarity at the same time?
@@loadishstone Of course not,Palestinians that are actively being killed and bombed should not be held responsible to be vegan :/
I just wish we talked about veganism more in these spaces,220 million land animals are being slaughtered every day and nobody bats an eye,it really scares me
@@loadishstone Both. Both is good
@@charlieistryinghisbest least obvious rage bait
@@methoyu I'm not ragebaiting,i'm genuinely worried that so many progressive people don't consider veganism to be a moral necessity :/
The fact that talking about the rights of animals is considered ragebait is really,really worrisome to me.
Thank you, Elliot, for saying NO to BetterHelp. Seriously.
Best comment including the word "betterhelp" I've ever seen. I get so disappointed when people accept sponsorships from them given everything we know about them these days. It shouldn't be hard to know better than take betterhelp money and I'm glad Elliot does 🫶
Waiiiiit what’s wrong with better help? ( I haven’t finished the video)
@@brandonmyers3319 many things, generally they don't use properly trained psychologists and psychiatrists, way over charge for their service, and have several scandals and examples of abuse committed by their therapists towards their clients. The video goes into more details as well as pointing out a few other RUclips advertisement scams
ruclips.net/video/7NiJNmTZc3E/видео.htmlsi=30UEypnJdaCOGGzn
@@brandonmyers3319 they partnered w the state of israel, but the main thing that most ppl have a problem w is that they’ve sold customers’ private info/data even though they originally said they wouldn’t. i think the FTC sued them for that? i can’t remember exactly. just shitty company all around
@@brandonmyers3319
I am not exaggerating - this video actually tangibly explained neoliberalism and socialist praxis in a way I have never been able to comprehend until this video. I will be moving differently with my life, and I will forever be grateful to this video in helping me become more congruent in my lifestyle with my morals and therefore increasing my solidarity practice. Thank you.
seconded. I've echoed a lot of the sentiments in this video without actually applying them and this video really helped connect the gap between that
Typing like a bot
Incredible endorsement of the video I’m about to watch. Incredibly excited to have my feelings and my praxes validated
Happy anarchist noises
@@cadesmandela1935you can literally just say “I don’t agree with you- I refuse to comprehend your points; or I comprehend them just fine but would literally rather be a ghoul- and it makes me scared” we’ve had the language for that feeling for ages.
Third. I never really understood the definition of neoliberalism until this video. I found it very helpful in also connecting it to something I am familiar with. I remember hearing about brittany's IG video and just getting whiplash from it. She has continued to disappoint by subtly siding with cody ko when he was exposed.
If solidarity costs ya nothing, hate to be the one to ruin your day... But ya ain't in solidarity with anything/one, just paying lip service so long as it does not create waves. But the folks ya wanna be in solidarity with can't avoid the waves, and true support demands ya get in the rough waters with us. Standing dry on shore does nothing to help the drowning.
I dont even think, it has to cost you more than looks probably in many cxases, but it should be a nobrainer that you at least put thatr over your own comforbility. Also yeah it can cost you to stick wit hprinciples naturally there and it can cost you, but thats included in that.
Dunno solidarity at least is uncomfortable often which is a cost i guess?
I agree. What we get from solidarity between dominated classes and the results of cooperation are just too good to say 'no'. Just to use a Proudhon quote:
"A man could never do what 200 men did to erect the obelisk of Paris in one day while trying alone in 200 days".
The usufruct of collaboration is just too valuable to not favor solidarity and organized labor.
@@ChickadeeBoi we can't avoid the waves 🫰🫰
@@marocat4749 exactly. At the low end of expense it will cost ya comfort and even your reputation in the eyes of some (every hero is a villain in their opponent’s eyes). At the high end it can cost ya materially in cash or resources. But if you can’t even risk the low end of expense ya don’t get to claim the highest of moral value. Periodt. Walk the talk or get off the toes of those who are trying to march forward ✊🏼👏🏼
@@ChickadeeBoi this is why true support requires mutual aid, too. Because it is the most marginalized who will be most at risk, so solidarity means lifting those out of the water most likely to drown.
“If Starbucks in the only thing open do you want me to starve” the way people have forgotten to do even the slightest amount of planning due to the commodification of our lives… dawg idk how to tell yall this but grandma and grandpa just packed food with them if they knew they were traveling somewhere
Right. Like, in which world aren't there extremely cheaper alternatives to f*ing Starbucks? Lol
Giving "what if I'm extremely hungry in the desert and the only thing available to me is filet mignon? 😢😔"
honestly it just comes off as a purposeful way to start shit. Like they're the arguing for the sake of arguing because what could you be doing that by the time you're hungry the ONLY place you can get food is Starbucks. You have no food in your home but feel like you can afford Starbucks? If there's a Starbucks there's almost certainly a lot of places open 🙄
Why even make this argument unless you just want to front reasons why you are exempt from doing the "right" thing.
Right! Also who would eat the slop Starbucks is pushing. So gross. Make a damn sandwich and carry on yo.
Not to mention... What kind of situation is that? Maybe I'm just European but you're telling me that you're 'starving' and there isn't one convenience store open to get.. actual food that isn't just an expensive cup of sugar
Edit: I stand corrected. Food deserts are a thing so a situation like that can happen in some cases
i got banned from a subreddit for saving free palestine on a post where someone had starbucks and the mods said it’s a privilege to be able to boycott 😂
I think people need to learn the definition of words.
Words like "starve". Which is not the same as "being hungry".
Remember when thesauruses were on everyone's school supply lists? Yeah... That's one way of figuring out what synonym is best in your work. For instance, "famished" is a better choice to describe how someone is starving when "hungry" is closer to "feeling peckish" in the spectrum since some words not only hold a certain meaning but also in terms of intensity.
So many mellowdramatic people out there. That person sounds incredibly priviledged if they are regularly going to Starbucks getting coffee and food in this economy. You won't starve by not getting your $10 worth of food and coffee from Starbucks when you could get the same items at any grocery store for $3-5.
Shit, I have significant malnourishment due to my limited diet and sporadic access to food, and I still would never say I starved. I've gone hungry multiple times and over years it's lead to physical issues. But like... I was never going to get sick or die due to not having food.
@@shibibi1 May I ask what you mean by "limited diet and sporadic access to food" and why you have these things?
@@camelopardalis84 I have a digestive disorder and live well below the poverty line, meaning I frequently can't afford food.
Under neoliberalism, sacrificing food, sleep, wellbeing etc for the sake of your individualistic dream, your business/entrepreneurship, your athletic/artistic career is celebrated and cherished. You're supposed to go through tough times before you make it. (In particular, I remember Jennifer Lopez claiming she ate one slice of pizza a day as an up and coming dancer before her big break)
But let any left ideology (socialism/anarchism/anti-capitalism) even remotely suggest a smidge of discomfort should be experienced for the struggle and everyone has to chime in with a "Well, actually..."
oh my god, that is such a good point. i've never seen someone put it that way before. to suffer for the sake of yourself is met with praise but even minor suffering for the sake of others is met with disagreement or ridicule ☹
@@c1nnamodoll That's how veganism is treated as well. As if making sacrifices for the sake of others was a bad thing :/
@@charlieistryinghisbestbro enough, make a video if you want to talk about this so badly.
@@icelored1 Videos are already being made,the issue is making people aware. The people who are looking away.
@@icelored1 Be vegan,animals don't deserve to suffer.
It’s funny because your prolonged hunger by not being able to go to the nearest starbucks is nothing compared to the hunger the people you’re “trying” to fight for are going through
You dont have to resort to grass, or anything humans arent even supposed to consume, you just deal with hunger pangs until you can get home or to another restaurant. Now im not saying starve yourself to death if you are genuinely on the brink of starvation but 99% of the people holding this sentiment are not that
Does that apply to animals too? For example:" not being able to eat meat is nothing compared to the suffering and death the animals you eat are going through"
What do you think?
@@charlieistryinghisbesthmm, I dont know, maybe? My conflict is that for animals this is a way of life, the smaller get eaten by the bigger, however humans possess a higher degree of intellect and we don’t need to do such things. An animal isnt trying to commit g word it’s just feeding itself, and even if we bring it back to the animal being the person who cant eat starbucks to boycott. You have plenty of options that an animal may not have, especially when that animal may not see another meal. As we know in the wild no meal is ever promised. I just think animals and humans play on different rules
@@junyaiwase That's what i mean,humans should be more moral,so we shouldn't eat animal products,right?
@@charlieistryinghisbestthis comparison is apples to oranges. a food chain exists and always has, it’s all part of a cycle. human beings are not meant to be bombed, held captive, molested, and watch their loved ones be slaughtered in front of them. nevermind this becoming their daily lives.
An influencer sharing their venmo for rent support if they struggle after turning down a sponsor is a great example of mutual aid. This touched on two really important parts of solidarity - sacrifice and discomfort in action and confrontation with others, and conflict within movements. I learned right off the bat as part of my uni's encampment that there will always be disagreement and a bit of chaos within these movements - because they are organic entities and they are built on passion. I have thought about "infighting" within leftist spaces a lot recently, and this video goes a long way in showing how that's essential to democratic processes that take visibile action .
🎯
And on the flipside actually, your comment has made me think about how much unwavering support is expected towards political candidates to be considered as "part of the group"
Yup. That’s why the conservative assertion that unity and lack of any public conflict is a sign of a “good” movement is bullshit, it just means everyone uncritically accepted an existing viewpoint, which is bad, actually.
Real growth, not the capitalist definition of it, but real, tangible personal and collective growth cannot occur without some level of discomfort within that process. If an individual or a society's views are not constantly challenged and assessed with time, how can progress ever be achieved? Unflinching adherence to established norms, the importance of which has waned or has grown outdated, is how we preserve harmful policies and laws that continually worsen the quality of life for everyone except for those who benefit from the status quo. Change is never easy, but is necessary and it requires confrontation and discomfort to overcome.
That section of the video and this comment made me realize that people genuinely consider that to be "e-begging". Then again, considering the general public's perception of homeless people as "unfortunate poor souls" but also "human rats that steal your money and don't choose to lift themselves up by the bootstraps with the $2 you gave them"...I wouldn't expect them to be any more empathetic. Because clearly empathy is "earned", and apathy is default.
Literally. US policies are exported into other countries (and visceversa) all the time. Drag has just been banned in Nuevo León, México "to protect the children". Guess where that came from.
And Israeli intelligence was used in the disappearance of 43 students in Mexico, some years ago, as well.
In general, thank you for the video. I'm going to overshare lol, but I kind of needed to remind myself that there are people who believe in community (in contrast to being pushed/'crushed' into hyper-individuality, which I don't necessarily blame them for, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't feel extra-isolating anyway). I kind of got to a point this year in which I forgot that, if I exist, other people like me do too; even if we haven't found each other yet (in case that phrase could help anyone else, as well) 🤓🌞. So parasocially-consciously thanks again. 🎉
You're so right, I'm not from México but from Panamá, and the influence here from the U.S is so horrible, they literally made us their dream fascist evangelical regime, and now they're all moving here. I'm literally losing my mind, there's no church separation with politics at all, and they also use the same bs excuse of 'protecting children' when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues in general, like the hatred here is soo horrible, especially to trans people and drag queens. And the fact yankees are received so well and they are more welcomed than our own citizens. In fact they are so worshipped here than even the invasion they caused is EXCUSED?? BY MAJORITY??? Is just so frustrating, so frustrating. I feel like I'm losing it. (I had to vent too, I needed this out of my system)
i tell people this all the time when they want to "laugh at american decline". if america fails, the world fails. period. whether we like it or not.
though to be ever so slightly charitable to my homeland, a big reason for a lot of our most dogshit politics have been precisely due to foreign influence. namely russia, but also china to a certain extent, and also? canada. all of the biggest right wing talking heads involved in our politics aren't even from here.
UK and US’s transphobia is being exported everywhere as well. It’s disgusting
As a half Palestinian/half Amazigh, I'm tired of trying to convince Americans that I'm not a human animal. I'm tired of getting calls from my parents telling me not to say my race, speak Arabic or be pro palestinian in public in case I get murdered (I live in a very racist area, Trump flags, isreali flags, ect.). I'm tired of people acting like they are in solidarity cause they don't eat at Starbucks, but when I ask people to donate or come to a peace vigil they don't do anything. I'm tired. I cant even go to the Arab community cause some consider me a "half breed" for being half african.
hi there fellow half amazigh friend ❤❤❤ you are so strong for this you have no idea! be proud and be loud, never let anyone silence you
@@immkk1125 Shoukrun Sahbi, it always good to see another Amazigh brother/sister. It's crazy being half cause alot of Amazigh are so Arabized, but we get shit on for being backwards heretics by Arabs all the time. It's the reason I don't consider myself Arab at all, I am a proud native African and a Pround Levanti. We need to leave Arabization throughout MENA behind, they have done nothing but spit on our faces for decades. Even my palestinian side, they lived in Saudi after fleeing from palestine and then from Jordan decades ago, were treated like 3rd class citizens with no rights, where Arabs used "Palestinian" as a literal slur. The Muslim community pretends that it is a united and loving front, but that couldn't be further from the truth. These last couple years have made it harder and harder to justify being Muslim but humdulilleh I try.
We do not care babes.
@@selfproclaimedesper778 ☝️🤓 "No OnE CAreS baBE" fucking dork
@selfproclaimedesper778 you are a loser
As a Bangladeshi still freshly free from dictatorship, a lot of the points are so relatable.
Protests being about the cause and not all about winning hearts and mind. At a point there was no way of winning hearts and mind as our "Govt" just killed people left and right for exercising their right. It was unity and brute force that helped and also the sacrifice of hundreds.
I know what you mean. In fact during that revolution, I was living in Bangladesh. And Bangladesh is one of the worst conservative countries where almost all social system is based on pure discrimination. So much hatred, prejudice is going on here. Poor children & people still are being treated worst than stray animals.
That you lived through successfull revolution means you (and the others in the movement) have valuable life lessons about how to be a society, that you have learned vividly.
Share them with the world, and never stop using y'allses newfound power to reshape your society into something better.
For many countries in the West, much of this revolutionary stuff is history. The lessons about freedom may be dusty in places.
Your people now have something extra to contribute to the world.
Cheers!
Someone from The Netherlands.
AYYY BENGALIS!!!!
Not to be contrarian, but was that revolution truly left wing? Hasina seemed oppressive to be sure, and at the same time the movement lifted up a neoliberal capitalist as their leader and it seemed like a major demand was just “we want market meritocracy” (e.g. get rid of the employment quotas-but not just the revolution-family preference, but also trying to get rid of marginalized people getting preference for public jobs (affirmative action)).
@@ReggieMeisler while i agree a neocapitalist isnt the best, its what the country had to pick. they genuinely had no options
My grandma was a kidnapping and torture victim after the coup d’état. I’m grateful this story is being told and is still relevant in discussions today, it left a giant traumatic wound in Chile that’s most of us are still trying to heal.
Remember to Boycott Captain America 4. No to Israeli superheroes trying to whitewash reality of Palestine
wait this is a thing coming out??
@@KeviciYeah, Brave New World, I guess? Didn't know there was an Israeli superhero in it, though.
@P0rk_Sinigang Sabra. She was a Mossad agent superhero.
Mossad is Israel's intelligence agency. Think Israel or KGB. They were responsible for the recent pager bombings.
She's been changed to a "high ranking government official". I'm guessing the decision was made at least two years ago, before October 7th.
@@P0rk_Sinigang
The actual superhero in the comics is just as bad, she is a mossad agent that gains superpowers and the moral of the story is the same liberal two sideing the genocide in Palestine, nothing about colonialism at all they paint it as a religious conflict. I don’t know if the creation of the character is linked to actual Israeli officials telling marvel comics to do so, but it seems more like a classic liberal take of the “conflict” so there is no need for influencing, when liberals do it themselves.
@@annabellahicks4576she represents zionism.
Honestly when Broski said "Solidarity costs you nothing" I heard "Solidarity will be displayed by me only if it costs me nothing"
YUP
too cynical imo. this has been the broad narrative for a while now and i don’t think it reflects any conscious decision on anyones part. that being said, yeah if you have a big platform maybe be a little more thoughtful.
@@josiek7589its cynical, doesnt make it any less true
I have to admit it's been a real real real struggle, I'm black and trans and it's very unfriendly out there off the internet - where ppl are nicer and upstanding compassionate etc..
So while I believe in yall. I have to support from a distance, from a safe space. Bc ppl are wild , ppl are rude, ppl are violent. Ppl say they're for solidarity but their solidarity is only for the groups of ppl they favor and it's palpable in real life.
I'm here. I see you. Even if it's just digitally.
I'm sorry people are the way they are. Just take care of yourself and be safe out there. One day we'll build a world where we'll all walk together united.
Support in your private life by boycotting and speaking about this with people that will listen in your own community. It’s simple, paying lip service online is nothing compared to actions irl.
I genuinely can't venture outside of explicitly gatekept spaces sometimes. Like I hang around other black people for so long that I'm almost surprised by the vitriol and hatred I get when I put a toe out anywhere else. Like "damn... Y'all *hate* us hate us. Like ten toes down, on your mama papa and granny hate us". Don't even get me started as a non-binary person. It's gotten to the point where yeah I do just stay in an echo chamber to protect my peace and mental health.
* shaky wave from a queer person living in r*ssia 🥲 *
@@bye1551 Less of us should be surprised. Start expecting it, and caring about others only insofar as it helps the black struggle. Have the same energy toward others that they do toward us.
I normally dont comment b4 the video is over but I'm screaming @ the thumbnail tweet .. that Starbucks shit is giving that classic tumblr ask 'so if a dying kid's last wish was to say the n word would you get mad?' 😭💀
like what a stupid argument brooo
Also the "what about x" argument is so stupid because if you truly are unable to find alternatives to walmart for example obviously boycotting won't apply to you, you bringing up that what aboutism shows that you are in position where you can boycott but you just don't want to but also you don't want to feel bad about not boycotting
NO JOKE I LITERSLLY HAD THIS EXACT THOUGHT LMFAOOO high-fiving u across the world rn u understand me
Worst case of treat addiction I’ve seen this week
@@awhimsyreader9015 This is how people justify not being vegan as well.
"What about indigenous people and food deserts" Well,we're clearly not talking to them,are we? :/
Every time you mention Chile and Salvador Allende's dream I feel devastated, he wanted so much good for us :(
He's a matyr
i did a project on allende vs. pinochet in high school and while at the time i made it so that i criticized both of them for whatever reasons, i honestly felt pretty bad for it because he was such an amazing and prolific figure for south america, and the earth as a whole. i am also devastated and i don’t even live anywhere near chile
EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMAS SERA VENCIDO
At least we got that :)
My parents were at a house party that their student friends threw to welcome some Chilean refugees who were also there. I've understood the friends offered these Chileans a place to stay when they first arrived in this country.
My mom has fond memories of that time. Solidarity was a key word in the socialist movement, so to me it has always had these connotations.
(I wasn't yet born when these events took place, and yes, my parents were socialists.)
by good you mean the exact same shitty ass socialism that has impoverished latin america and still is?
As a fatso who used to like Harry Potter and plays tabletop war games, it is unpleasant to not be able to eat Chick-Fil-A or buy things at Hobby Lobby or engage in the Wizarding World
But it’s tolerable, there are other places to go to get what they’re selling
ursula k le guin is a good alternative to rowling, or so ive heard
@@isthiscereallife Yesss, her earthsea series are classic! A little outdated, but otherwise more clear messages over time. Love her growth as an author!
@@isthiscereallife Terry Motherf**king Pratchett. If he had the fame in life that Rowling has now the world would be a damned utopia
There's also an anime about earthsea called something like "The chronicles of earthsea". I know that it is on Netflix
@@vivi-ws9yltales from Earthsea? I loved that film as a kid. Also, despite reading the HP books also as a kid i thought they were nowhere near as good as the Edge Chronicles by Paul Stewart and Chris Ridell. Four trilogies and a large novel spanning multiple centuries, watching the rise, fall and rise again of civilisations, following the same bloodline. Its wild.
Would also recommend the Deltora quest books by Emily Rodda if you want a similar group dynamic and escalation of peril as the HP books, they’re very much for kids but that makes them nostalgic. They also have small elements of horror, and the later books are slightly more mature.
I’m so proud of younger people standing up for Palestine
I'm also proud of younger people standing up for veganism. Down with all exploitation!!!! ❤
@@charlieistryinghisbest you know some people can't be vegan right?
@@Vinnybin Yep! Most people in privileged countries can tho,and it would help poor people that are affected by climate change :)
@@charlieistryinghisbest Not the place or the time
@@cam4636 Is there a place or time that would be more convenient to you,your majesty?
Billions of animals are chocking on their own blood right now.
There is no wrong place or time for this.
The way neoliberal individualism sneaks into even those who ARE acting in solidarity is so poisonous. Maybe this is just a me thing, but I put so much pressure on myself to do absolutely EVERYTHING, and if I don't, I see myself as a moral failure - if I don't go to every protest then I feel like I'm somehow singlehandedly bringing the entire movement down. (And I typically am not able to go to every single one bc of disability reasons, so you can see the cycle I get into...) This mindset is because I was trained by life in the US to see things in matters of individual heroes, good and bad individuals, and it's hard for me to trust that I'm still contributing to a community if I'm not this perfect, self-sacrificing hero.... And if I'm not perfect, I must be bad. (It doesn't make logical sense but, well, neither does neoliberalism!) This is something I'm trying to unlearn because it produces so much anxiety in me sometimes that it leads to detachment and disengagement, rather than involvement. This is exactly what the neoliberal regime wants, this is how they divide us. Basically - everyone having solidarity imperfectly is more effective than a small group having solidarity perfectly! Let's do our best ❤
the moral failing part sounds so much like my moral scrupulosity ocd. its a very hard thing to live with especially when you want to help.
Yes, exactly. Same goes for interactions between people within the movement. All of the finger-pointing and callouts between folks on the left stokes the flame of perfectionism, and makes it EVEN HARDER to take imperfect action. When living in late stage capitalism already leaves you drained and exploited, of COURSE folks would rather do nothing in order to avoid criticism, than be brave, take imperfect action, and potentially mess up & be criticized by people who are supposed to be on the same side.
I wish this video had gone into more depth of what counts as real, substantive conflict, vs. finger-pointing, performative "activism", and lazy moral posturing. I suppose that topic is a separate video in itself lol
haven’t watched the video yet but this is exactly how I feel as well-it really HINDERS solidarity and people’s growth into more radical movements. it becomes less about liberation and then the focus turns to individual’s morality. a politics born out of a desire to look good is meaningless. I haven’t been able to do anything politically outside the house within the past few months because of extreme disabling burnout and I feel terrible for it, like I’ve fallen into complacency and let everybody down, but really I have gotten to a point where it is extremely difficult for me to focus on anything but survival. and of course, the reasons why I have come to this point don’t exist in a vacuum either, it is all a result of oppressive structures…also I very much relate to the other commenter about moral ocd. actually, before this period of burnout, I was putting so much pressure on myself to do way more than I am able to and that is what led to my burnout. so be gentle to yourself, take note of what your body is telling you because if you push yourself too hard, you will inevitably crash like I did. thank you for your comment ❤
@@sopha4089 tbh this is why I've disengaged from a lot of leftist spaces. I've had enough friends turn out to be sanctimonious hypocrites (and in a couple of cases rapists) that now I can't help but see a lot of peoples' calls to action as deeply performative.
A lot of us don’t have a community to lean to imact change. So don’t blame urself and I’m Glad ur now recognizing your limitations bc we are only individuals and America culture has really gotten most people so divided it’s better to find safety of those that support u then to worry about issues that we can’t control
If you’re late to work because people are blocking the road and that gets your fired then it’s not the protestor but your boss who’s a dick
Also tells me about how car centric is America that a simple protest will cause a huge jam, probably should fix that first buddy, bc you can just walk past the protestors
@@bibitta most bosses are. they’re the ones who have to change though-it’s a privilege to be able to hold a job wherein you maintain such flexibility as being able to be late.
@@RyuKyu.77You and I know damn well that wouldn’t be the case in a non-car centric society.
This kind of protest doesn't bring people to your cause if you inconvenience them.
@RaroHi a protest that inconveniences no one won’t even be seen by the people that could be “brought over” to the cause
Although I very much agree with your main thesis, I think the natural continuation would be to ask how much solidarity can be expected of others and ourselves? In a day and age where we are uniquely aware of most issues around the world (and if you're not, you're free to educate yourself through a quick Google search.) How permissible is it to not participate? It seems natural to stand up for every cause you believe in, while also kind of an impossible standard to set.
This is especially true in a mental health crisis. Not everyone can engage with war and activism while surviving. I don’t think it is psychologically “normal” to be aware of every global catastrophe on a daily basis. It’s really difficult to pick choose where you spend your attention and energy
This dichotomy has been lurking in abstract in the back of my brain for a while now, and you put it really eloquently, thank you.
You don't "need " to do anything just don't say you are an activist if you dont
I think step 1 is maybe accepting that right now, it is an impossible standard. Religion has the “born sinner” confession thing, Mark Fisher’s book, infamous leftwing purges, etc; those all cleared that up for me. To a maybe harmful degree, I don’t expect much from others life is hard people are stressed. But it doesn’t take much to stand out and make an impact, on an individual level progress and rebellion itself is probably more important than hard results
Are we really "uniquely aware of most issues around the world"? To me, it seems more like we're uniquely misinformed about the world.
My favorite author just refused an award because the center that was presenting it to her fired an employee who wore a keffiyeh and banned the wearing of one.
Jhumpa Lahiri is a great writer and I would totally recommend her if you want a good book.
Thank you for the recommendation 📚
I love Jhumpa Lahiri!
Genuinely, good for you for declining that sponsorship. It would have cost you a lot of trust with your audience.
I agree. I think long term it might even help him with audience retention/money because I think that kind of integrity is something a lot of his audience really values and respects.
I still would watch Elliot if he took it and not think much differently of him, because I would assume he needed the cash instead of it being from any personal investment in the company. But I would have been disappointed he had to make that decision
Yup. I literally just unsubbed from Celle for doing a better help sponsorship
I am ignorant on this - if you have the extra time, what is the issue with betterhelp now? It’s beside the point of Palestine I know but I missed this.
@@moxmox8058if I remember right it was unlicensed therapists and they were overworking them
@@moxmox8058besides all the other issues with better help, the CEO was in the IDF and gave out 6 months of free therapy to Israelis after Oct 7
1:03:31 this is why i hate when people say they’re “fiscally conservative but socially liberal” bc it’s like …. okay…. how do you expect us to achieve things socially without paying for it through taxes or other means?? it’s such a cop out answer that just placates whatever conversation they were in or question they were asked about
I think people say that because the implication of being fiscally liberal to them is overspending and over taxing for unnecessary and frivolous social programs and increased bureaucracy in the process. Just like you, they picture the extreme opposite with no room for nuance.
Every person in the internet who has ever said "i'm too left for the right, but too right for the left" always turned out to be either an islamophobe or pro-izzy
@@novinnovations4026Fiscal Conservativeism also means (or meant) support for tariffs and protectionist trade policies. It’s remarkably common within more rightist socialist spheres that emphasize labourism and the support of the workers over things like social justice or anti racism.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but if your politics are subtractive rather than additive then you are not creating solidarity, and you are not helping the cause you are fighting for. Solidarity REQUIRES compromise, discussion, and finding points of agreement. If you “cancel” someone, discussion ends, opinions harden, and people begin resisting change.
Look to what France just did to prevent the right wing from taking over: with less than a week to the election, they created a coalition between the left and the moderates, they determined the strongest candidate in every race in the country, and the weaker candidate between the two dropped. Do they agree on everything or even like one another? No. But in an emergency, they pulled together and changed the course.
It IS uncomfortable and hard. But consider that the oligarchy of this country seeks to keep us fighting and divided, and we are constantly being manipulated to that end. We ONLY win together.
i know you didnt watch the video bc it was posted 49 min ago and it's an hour long
@@jadziaschillzone LOL, I am 3/4 through the video and got too excited because I loved what he was saying - so you’re right. Sue me, I have ADHD and am impulsive. 😂
@@lynnxe hahahahahahahah I’m 3 min in anyway, I’m working on it
@@jadziaschillzonelol, at least I wasn’t the first comment! 😂
And what did french leftist get as a reward for their coordination? Right-wing conservative government, a president who's bound to collaborate with Le Pen's party and no representation in the minister cabinet.
Historically the truth is if a party unites its forces in solidarity with everyone (who's remotely aligned) you just end up defending the ruling class' interest.
do every rich person eats only in starbucks? they be so disconnected from society lol
the anti union coffee effect
yes i stole @jason_not_dead_todd's joke it was funny
I'm from a third world country and relatively doing ok compared to other working class people as my education is admittedly good, but the richer kids in my age range go to Starbucks,, a coffee there could buy groceries for a family down my street for the week, it's insulting, and they think "ooooh look at me I'm trendy 🤪" Like..... How just wasted 10$ on a mediocre product to seem closer to white people and yes they are missionary kids with American evangelical funding
they aren't even rich. they are the idolizing middle class/managerial class. i grew up with their daughters and have seen next to none of those girls post about Palestine. the most vocal pro-palestine friends I have are a black guy from Baltimore and a jewish guy from Brooklyn.
Genuinely who event eats in starbucks. Idk if its different where they are but most Starbucks i’ve seen barely have a food selection and its overpriced pre-prepped dogshit. The chain i go to is a local uk one called Caffe Nero (also lovingly called Caffe Nerd bc the O looks like a D) and they have some decent food, but i’d only eat there if i’m with friends who want to. Otherwise i’d just buy a sandwich from a supermarket if i havent got a packed lunch, or go to a dedicated food place.
I’ve never even really thought of corpo coffee shops as food places. Some cafe’s can be but the ones that do nice food are almost always local owned independents, in my experience. Starbucks aint a proper café.
my roommate eats at Starbucks at least once a week and it is genuinely baffling to me, like my man there is a real Mexican place down the street selling breakfast burritos three times that size at ten times the flavor.
activism is Not transactional & i fear many people do not fully comprehend and Believe that. support & Outspokenness for the plight of Palestinians in particular being conditional on what Palestinians have to say about [insert group] says to me that there is Little understanding of
the Subjacent systemic issues in play concerning the liberation of Palestinian peoples. a Bit incredulous at the comments of people who appear to believe this. solidarity amongst people of Colour is absolutely not a myth do not be swayed. inshallah We will see a liberated Palestine if not now In generations to come
you've articulated everything that's been going thru my head re:transactional activism 👏👏👏
People doing a "gotcha" to progressives who support Palestinians with "You're supporting them; how about you go live there as a blue haired gay trans woman and see how that works out for you". A people don't have to be perfect to "earn" the right to not be genocided
49:00 I saw this exact thing at a Palestine solidarity demonstration outside of Washington Square Park last winter. An ambulance was directed through where we were marching, and we all made way, but they stopped and wouldn't move because of the police.
it is consistent the way in which the police (or in some cases universities) enforce repressive violence and then use defamation and lies to try to make the activist look back. and i will never understand why it works on people.
they get off on using any excuse to cause harm, and know that protesters will be "blamed" for it
reading about criticism/self criticism gave me so much optimism. to criticize in good faith and hold someone to a higher standard is a gift.
of course online, large platforms, its unreasonable to consider ALL criticisms made of you.
which is why community with people irl is so vital. a trusted friends telling you to rethink your stance or position on a topic will be a lot easier to struggle with and discuss than 120 characters on a tiktok.
love this video, been thinking about this topic for a while
Why do influencers always draw the line at standing up for palestine :/
for about the same reason Abolitionism was considered an "extremist" position for 100+ years of american history: solidarity IS hard especially when the status quo is oppression
$
because "standing up for palestine" can mean literally anything because all kinds of actors across the political spectrum say this, so you have to bring nuance into this to make it leftist, which is hard and complicated, sth influencers and algorythms don't like
it costs money and time, something that influencers do not want to give up
also because there are a lot of liberal z10n1sts who conflate their beliefs with being inherent to jewish identity in order to call their detractors antisemitic (even though israel does NOT speak for all jewish people and thinking so is antisemitic in itself). sometimes having a backbone can cause you to alienate a large portion of your audience.
Bro conflating starving with just being hungry lmao
You're not gonna starve if you dont get your chocolate filled croissant for one day
“Do y’all want me to starve”
Make food like everyone else lmao
It’s the most pampered BS take, if it’s too much to ask that you cut out whatever garbage fast food you eat every day what use could you possibly be to any cause?
The people saying stuff like this aren’t the people in food deserts who can’t afford better, they’re very comfortable and cannot comprehend any inconvenience that doesn't satisfy their immediate desires. Nothing going on here but addiction to treats and convenience.
@@KickinRadTopHat Anyways there’s plenty of small businesses like taco stands etc. It’s a staple here in Cali!
@@KickinRadTopHat Does this relate to veganism as well? :)
Dude. I keep seeing you bring it up in various comments and i get that this is something you stand on but there’s nothing wrong with people eating meat. Yes there’s places that treat animals cruelly and thats messed up but you cant just equate this to ppl eating meat is bad. Meat is an important source of nutrients and energy for many. It is vital for many. And it’s a staple in many cultures. Not to mention that some people cant afford veganism because vegan foods are just expensive. And it just feels weird to watch you comment continuously on unrelated things to shove this in peoples faces. Pls. Chill. No hate. But chill.
Thank you for making this. We need more content like this. I am tired of being shamed, called naive, or told I'm stupid for taking a principled stand against genocide. I am 50 years old. I am neither naive, nor uneducated I happen to be a firm believer in Kantian philosophy, I get that following Kant's principles is "too much" for many people today but that does not make me the flawed person who needs to change.
i'm 53 and have been talking about 'solidarity', pro union, etc for decades...i'm glad the next gen gets it
I pointed to my mom's Starbucks and said "ah anti-union coffee" she got mad at me. This was yesterday.
So, she's ashamed of herself and projecting because she knows it's wrong but she cbf to care or inconvenience herself to not be a part of the problem.
@@kylezoor, she’s an adult and nobody responds to sarcasm and browbeating favorably. This is not going to get anyone to stop going to Starbucks, it’s going to create “us” vs “them” and everybody is just going to dig their heels in. It’s unproductive.
@@Funnylittlemansometimes humor can help, but it depends on the level of inconvenience that someone is capable of aproving. Like... The point of the video. Yeah
@@Funnylittleman This _has_ to be satire
@@luisapaza317 In the vast majority of these cases it's less about "capable" and more about "willing"
Excellent telling of Baker's story, the refusal by some to criticise consequential politics, figures, and issues out of a faulty understanding of solidarity must be challenged. Excellent video!
it's crazy to think about how many union organizers and activists across the world have been murdered for solidarity.
I've barely dipped my toes into labor history... Still, my toes are baffled by her definition of costless solidarity.
If you're standing between the powerless and their oppressors, resisting the status quo, and demanding redistribution of wealth... Does she think that position is a safe place?
She's aware of the police violence BLM activists were subjected to. She knows solidarity requires courage. Anybody who poses a risk to the status quo is literally placing their existence on the line for solidarity.
Does she think "solidarity" is a synonym for "tweets"?
Public rhetoric of resistance movements devolving into the “terrorist group” label doesn’t help either. Because how do you even explain to the professionally comfortable that the cost of sacrifice others must choose on a daily basis is an inevitable choice for most people?
It’s conveying another worldview to people who think the middle is the best place to belong, if you’re anything more than that, it’s a dangerous extremism that must be punished.
To be fair many people in The past that wanted radical changes got killed (Malcolm X comes to example) most humans aren’t brave enough to change alone so we as the people need to come together instead of having another figurehead that represents us to get killed once more
What a great video, Elliot. As someone who grew up surrounded by family and friends who gave everything for Allende's goverment and the dream, who had to pay the highest price and who are still living with the consequences, material or not, of those actions, it's always great to see it ackowledged.
I've been thinking about solidarity a lot lately, as I've been doing a lot of disability right advocacy in college lately, and we have had a lot of trouble garnering support from our university and able-bodied peers, who are often not willing to risk their job security or to get blacklisted by being openly critical and calling out the institution on the lies they tell about how inclusive the university is. And christ is it tiring. To try and be out here screaming about how we do, in fact, have the right to study and not experience abuse and discrimination.
Also, I'm interested to hear more about solidarity in neoliberalism. Specially everything that has happened in the last 5 years here in Chile, with the utter and crushing defeat of the new constitution to replace the one made under Pinochet, and how now still complaining about the same problems, after individualism made so they voted against the solution.
This has given me a lot of food for thought, so thank you
Solidarity has literally cost people their lives throughout history. I've never understood the "solidarity costs you nothing" argument.
i kind of understand not being able to boycott, but for a different reason..i work at starbucks, and in my area, it’s one of the most high paying jobs. unless you have a degree or want to work 12 hour shifts in a factory or do hard manual labour, you’re gonna end up in fast food or retail, and most of those places in my area pay literal minimum wage ($7.25) or ~$10/hour. i don’t go to starbucks besides to work, but i also just can’t like quit my job, y’know? i get it from this perspective. at the same time, it’s fairly easy to just…not go to a place to eat/get coffee.
My sister has to work there because it’s the only place around that has insurance that will cover any of her transition. It’s also the highest paying restaurant around.
I'm poor as shit and the nearest Starbucks is 90 minutes away. It's hard to vote with your wallet when there's nothing in it.@@FletcherDoesStuff
@@aliasfakename3159 Literally this. I’ve had to seriously consider working for my local Amazon but I don’t think I could take it physically or emotionally. I have chronic pain/CPTSD so finding and staying in a job can be ROUGH man. Let ALONE all the bs that goes on there. But like, it’s one of the highest paying places near me that seems to always be hiring (wonder why)
I’m queer so am part of the solidarity need, but what I NEED is stable housing, transportation, and food.
Poor people aren’t the ones who should be sacrificing and suffering here. I need to eat first and then I can scrape the money together to go to a rally for my own rights 😭😤
Consider unionizing! I judge the hell out of people who are still starbucks customers but the employees are cool. If its not starbucks its gonna have to be some other equally evil corporation bc we live in an economy
i really dont understand this lol nobody owes you to quit your job especially when its your only source of income, like surely that means ur making them give you money?? i truly dont understand why people consider having a job at something as a form of support
It being hard doesn't make it good (that rhetoric reeks of Puritanism, suffering is just and all that), but doing things to help people that are being marginalized in a real, tangible way will likely put you in opposition with systems designed to make it easy to act without solidarity. There are relatively painless things you can do to help in certain issues, but complete solidarity will require you to remove yourself from complicit systems, systems that became entrenched because they were more convenient, or easier, to go along with.
(and will typically put you at risk from the enforcers of those systems)
but yeah none of that "the suffering makes it good" b.s., especially since people deserve credit and grace for what they've endured.
i'm not sure i understand completely what you're saying...removing yourself from complicit systems is hard...because so many of these systems are entwined...
@@betmoI think they just mean to say that it’s not good BECAUSE it’s hard. It is, and it will be, but it is not difficulty that helps people, it’s is the tangible actions you take.
@@betmoright but starting to do good for ur communities is a good start. There are things like paying taxes as an example-we are obligated to do no matter what
My 'hot' take is solidarity isn't supposed to be hard, nor easy. Solidarity is standing together, in recognizing every single one of us as human. As such, it needs to be worthwhile and accessible, for people of any circumstances. It shouldn't be misery based or driven by shaming, degrading, coercion. The requirement for being part of solidarity shouldn't be self-harming, shouldn't be unreasonable self-sacrifice, shouldn't be demanding that of other people by coercion, harassment. On the flip side, solidarity is not a mechanism of convenience, not a means of individual profit, self-aggrandizement, or personal entitlement.
Should the individual come before the collective? No, but should the collective come before the individual? Also no. That's the lie of supremacy-hierarchy and exploitation. The lie that there must be suffering, that suffering is necessary and correct. Remember, if it's worth dying for, it's worth living for. Fatalism is not fighting for better. A culture of sacrifice can quickly become a culture of disposability. And there can be no true solidarity in a culture of disposability. Because solidarity only works by valuing every individual, and disposability only works by denying anyone individual value. Both might be collective mindsets, but still, an antithesis. Sacrifice can be necessary, yes, but it shouldn't be treated as always necessary. There is a path to devaluing sacrifice, an inflation of sacrifice, until it becomes expected, normalized suffering.
Sacrifice is significant, and should be understood to be significant. It is also not the only significant aspect of solidarity, nor the most important. That's reductionism. Solidarity, at its best, is valuing each other, mutually, strongly. It's taking the care to understand each other, struggle and strength, and to appreciate each other. By building each other up, creating infrastructure, society, a world in which no one is disposable, or at least dreaming of such a thing, having that as the truth in your own heart and soul. It isn't easy to practice solidarity, it does take an effort of thought to value everyone, but it is worthwhile, individually and collectively. Nothing worth having is effortless, but that doesn't mean it has to be achieved by misery either.
that's a lot of words to say "solidarity is supposed to be hard" dude
coming from decades in fundamentalist Christianity, (now escaped at last), I've been seeing things the same way lately. religions also push the idea of the sacrificial lamb and I'm tired of sacrifice, tired of community group think. Individualism is very important and collectivism is just as important.
@@rammym23 love these commenters who aren't ready to accept the premise of the video for themselves and really want us to listen to them rationalize it away. Like just say you're not ready to sacrifice much, it's alright girl noone is here to shame you
@@mikkelens except this comment is doing just that lol re: shaming
Your comment makes such good points and people replying to you are so dumb they think you wrote this much to say you wouldn't be willing to sacrifice at all for nothing worth it. That is not at all what you said. You put your point very well, and for all these people know, you could have very well sacrificed a lot already - just because we as individuals might be willing to sacrifice, that doesn't give us the right to demand that from everyone or shame them for it. I'm sorry that you have to deal with reductionists
Solidarity is hard because it involves stepping out of the comfort of your own life to help and support people who are currently in the rough of it (for any reason at all). I’m in a comms class and a major part of successful communication is empathy. It takes a lot of empathy to have solidarity with others, and for others to have solidarity with you. Unfortunately, we live in a world where a lot of the time all you’ll get is sympathy. They care, but it’s not the same as them choosing to stand with you despite how it might affect them. I think about that a lot.
The thing about actually being poor is that they can sue you all you want, but they can't make you have money you don't. By all means, sue me. You will pay a lawyer, sink a lot of time and effort into getting a judgment that cannot be enforced. Its civil, they can't send you to jail. They can only waste their valuable time and my valueless time.
Not entirely. Sometimes they can use wage garnishing to require that the debtee pays a portion of their wages to the debtor, or they can take your property. It's like any other debt.
@@jmvrcould you hypothetically declare bankruptcy and not pay the debt back?
@@cpro6508 well, bankruptcy always affects your credit score. However, there are two versions of Bankruptcy: sell all your assets (so any property you have), or pay all debts within some time period (so no change). Either way all your property is gone, so no house (if you have one), no phone, no car, no money whatsoever, etc.
@@cpro6508 typically judgements are immune to bankruptcy
@@cpro6508you could buy your credit history will be trashed and getting a place would be way harder.
I feel like until we abolish rent people will be forced to do what is unethical in order to remain housed. So many times you hear I had to do it to pay my rent and rent keeps going up and up.
i can not agree more
Great video! Always appreciate how well you organize your topic of discussion.
the 'neoliberal individualism' part was so incredibly good. as someone from a country that just elected a far right neoliberal (milei) one of the first things we started seeing was the need for community organizing, because individualism was trumping everything else. this wednesday we're about to have a protest defending our current free & public college system and it's been said that this is the only thing that scares milei, because he knows it'll be one of the biggest protests our country has seen thus far. the only appropriate response to neoliberal individualism is class solidarity & community organizing❤
Im a black man. I live in Seattle WA. Partly, because of the "CHAZ". Solidarity from a city like this seemed like a good start. I moved here right before Ukraine was invaded and aaw the support from this city for them against Russia. Then, oct 7th happened. I saw these same people give these weird mealy mouthed excuses for supporting a genocide. I always "jokes" if Ukrainians were brown, or Muslim, how much support would thwy really get. I got my answer fairly quickly.
As a German, I also think Ukrainians get more Solidarity bc theyre White and christian. But you should also Know that it's not selfless solidarity - countries like Poland or other neighbours of Russia may also be afraid that if Russia succeeds in Ukraine, it'll continue further west. So to a degree, it may be self-preservation.
@@garfieldkater5469 oh 100%, I'm strictly speaking from my small, American perspective. We, ultimately, have little to lose. It's mostly a virtue signal.
@@JesseHenderson-xc2kg Yes, of course. The US American stance on genocides has sadly always been neutral to alright if it benefits them & their allies :/ Here in Germany, many are pro palestine Gut its still hard to criticise Israel for many due to our history,
Thank you for this 💜 solidarity does cost you something.
It's like when people say kindness is free. People devalue the emotional labor behind compassion and kindness, essentially saying it's worthless. It's usually said as an "own" or dunk on someone and it upsets me every time. Being kind/compassionate when you're so tired and about to have a sensory meltdown? It's hard! And still withwhile!!!
Just me ranting about how we act like taking care of each other is the easiest thing possible it requires no thought or reflection when in reality it requires so much (and is of course worth it!)
Does this reflect on veganism as well?
Worth doing for the exploited workers,the animals and the environment even if it is inconvenient?❤
@@charlieistryinghisbest omg, I commented the Same thing before. I really hope people in these comments keep up this energy regarding veganism
@@garfieldkater5469 i hope so too❤️
We gotta spread the word,keep reaching out to people as much as you can ❤️❤️❤️
@@garfieldkater5469 When it comes to debating people's anti-vegan arguments,Earthling Ed's conversations on youtube help a lot❤️
@@charlieistryinghisbest I do, and thanks a lot for the video suggestion, I'll check it out
I think it's okay to feel disappointed if your favorite influencer or public figure doesn't use their platform to support certain causes, but I think your energy is much better spent nagging your elected officials to do something rather than influencers to say something. The impact will be better felt. (As well as protesting, of course.)
Also, boycotts are different from simply refusing to buy from a business. Boycotts are meant to push a business to make a certain change or take a certain action, while the latter is simply consumer preference. I've never patronized Starbucks - both because I think their coffee tastes bad and because they've ALWAYS been an unethical company that prices out small mom n'pop coffeeshops. But I can't call this a boycott.
100%, the fact that we view celebrities and content creators as sources people should look up to for political information is really really bad. A famous enough celebrity could literally change the opinions of a ton of people and mess up an election by announcing which side they support and all their fans with obsessive parasocial relationships basically following their king/queens orders rather than thinking for themselves and checking facts. Brittany Broski's situation is a bit different though.
The thing with Brittany is that on her podcast she literally said "you have people's ear, you have their attention, how dare you not? How dare you not sing about things that matter? How dare you not show things that are hard to watch for some people? It is a responsibility that you have" but when it's her turn.... It's very hypocritical and a very "rules for thee but not for me" moment.
@@jovianmelendez Right, and I think it’s valid to judge her for her actions (or lack thereof). I just think people are wasting their time and energy on things like the “digitine” when they are better off calling their elected officials and participating in political organizing.
@@jovianmelendez This!!
Honestly for me. It's hard when I have to miss out on a lot of fun stuff but then I just immediately think of the people getting m*rdered and then the answer is easy.
I'm torn with this one. Solidarity can mean making sacrifices, but I also don't think internet browbeating really stands for much either. I also think demanding celebrities/influencers take stances on everything IS ridiculous. Yes, if you've cultivated your platform to be one of solidarity then there's more expectation, but I don't really see the wrong in saying "I'm not educated enough on this topic to have input". I think Chapell Roan's recent hit back at people's expectation on 'celebrity' is a perfect encapsulation, like yes she makes music and is now famous, we don't know her, she's not our best friend, and you wouldn't demand the same off a total stranger on the street (at least in most cases I won't be screaming at the guy scanning my shopping to give me his stance on x issue). People with a large online platform can use that for support, but I think expecting them to come out with opinions and stances on every single thing isn't aiding anything, and sometimes we just sub to people to see them do silly little dances, not to hear their most recent political take.
However I do think there's an inherent laziness to some levels of solidarity. Such as people claiming to be trans allies but then like "but I have to play new Hogwarts game tho :(" and actively giving money towards a woman who's literally said outright she uses her money from HP to actively continue her ongoing anti-trans campaign. You do not NEED to buy or play that game/consume that media, that is a thing you can live without, if you can't even forgo an entertainment source for the sake of solidarity, there's no way in hell you can be relied on for further support.
I also don't think it's inherently individualistic to just admit solidarity is exhausting and sometimes you are going to do 'bad' things. I think the importance is your overall output should outweigh that, so go to protests, participate in unions, get out there and help your community, then at the end of it all buying a single starbucks because it's the closest thing around and you're exhausted and just want a second of chill time WILL lessen the impact.
on the first point I'm entirely on board. it's a similar case that's made for veganism, that in a world with food insecurity and food scarcity, one cannot solely relegate the suffering of animals to a problem of agential speciecism.
if life is to be valued, there is an imperative for one to fulfill one's physiological necessities, and it will sometimes entail acting within systems that one could be opposed to.
as you point out, not playing X videogame has no impact to physiology.
but one already having awareness of starbuck's anti-union history and funding of bombing campaigns in civilian zones, I reckon, cannot be weighed against one's purported acts of good.
it would be another case entirely if the effect was a collateral one has no awareness of. what comes to mind is a teacher buying nestle candy for a classroom party, without knowing nestle's history of... choices, to put it mildly.
where I try to get to, is that I find it hard to reconcile a good faith utilitarian calculus if one has ample awareness of one's direct and collateral effects.
it might come off as vitriolic, but there comes a point, I reckon, where this epistemological awareness overrides even one's intentions.
An example that comes to mind is the many videos of people buying Andrew Tate's course to "critique" it.
The thing here is, there's nothing in the scenario that would make one thrown amidst the conundrum of buying or not buying. It is a fully willful choice.
the tweet seems to make the notion of buying Starbucks fit into a double effect dilemma. Where the agent has, seemingly, no choice on the matter.
and it's more so made as an appeal to physiological needs.
"If no other place is open and I'm hungry"
might sound dumb, but I'd buy into that more than from someone purported to have a virtuous disposition and just happened to want some Starbucks to chill and relax.
I find it very ironic that you can't understand how Chapelle Roan is a hypocrite.
But can see it with the Harry potter fans who claim to care about trans rights.
Politics affect everyone and it is especially wild for a woman, who is queer, to not speak on her rights being stripped.
She is the type of person where if her oppression hasn't directly effected her, she doesn't care.
Which is insane.
In her own words, she feels empathy for her republican relatives....and obviously you can't control who your family is. But to feel empathy for people who are stripping your rights is insane.
It's like the say "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice,shame on me."
We'd be fools to support her.
It is a much different between a stranger on the streets and somebody who has already made political commentary and is directly affected by these laws. &in this time frame, all of us should be speaking up. Especially those with a platform. Our country's democracy is on the line.
She's the one who made a political and continues to bring up politics.
Regardless, it does matter what celebs or anyone you support thinks and does. You seem to understand this, with JK Rowling, so I don't get why you can't grasp it with her. When you give money and support somebody who believes in abhorrent views, you're supporting it.
That's why we have boycotts.
Also, It's interesting that you say you subscribe to people for silly dances and not to hear their political takes. Which means if you're following someone who isn't open about where they stand politically , that means you could actually be giving money through views/ buying products or someone who depending on who you are could want you to have no rights.
Why would you want to risk supporting someone like that?
I mean, you do know the saying that "there is no ethical consumption under capitalism" Doesn't mean that you shouldn't look into things at all right?
So, why can you understand this in regards to Harry Potter,but not with other content?
These are genuine questions btw, just trying to help you see the bigger picture since you seem to care about things / how what we do and consume does matter.
It might not stand for much, but it might still help create a chilling effect. If I was a struggling creator I don't know if I'd be able to turn down a bunch of Zionist money, but if the calculus included a possible shitstorm leading to decreased viewership it might actually help me justify not taking the money, at the very least raising the price tag of my sellout a bit.
@@xdani_thethinkingneko Mate Im not reading all that.
Or literally just pirate the game 😭 do ppl not pirate in there?? If they so want to play it I mean😭
the World is held together, really it is held together, by the love and the passion of a very few people - james Baldwin
@@conceptualizing Do you think that love should also go to animals?
@@charlieistryinghisbest Maybe that love should go to entire ecosystems.
@@chrysrizal4653 Agreed! And animal agriculture is a major cause of climate change!
@@chrysrizal4653 Well,animal agriculture is a major cause of climate change,and definitely the single largest cause of deforestation and loss of biodiversity,no?❤️
Topics like should be what the phrase "owning the libs" ACTUALLY means. Rather than trying to justify homophobia.
and this is why i continue to talk about covid! it’s NOT over, it’s a mass disabling event, it causes so much damage to your brain and immune system. it’s never too late to start masking again to show solidarity with disabled people. wearing is caring for those in your community ❤❤❤
I finally got Covid and I feel a lot of shame as a disabled person. Like I failed everyone
I got it twice so I get u my adhd got worst
you know what, i'm gonna start doing that. idc if people call me a "paranoid liberal"🙄
Sarah Schauer has been speaking about Palestine from the start!!!! They've also been sharing incredible book recommendations and resources on topics such as immigration, disability, trans rights, amazing topics all around. It hurt me DEEPLY to see their audience move away as soon as she stopped making content with Brittany. I'm not saying anything about Brittany because enough has been said, but it's so sad that somebody with such insightful content was pretty much abandoned by their followers like that.
such a shame i love sarah, Brittany's cool and all but sarah got that book smart, and comedic ability
as a 22 year old reaching the end of my time at college, sometimes it really crosses my mind that if i abandoned even a few of my morals, the options for making money would expand greatly (and the options for making A LOT of money would open up at all). it hit me around october/november of last year though that there is truly no point to having morals if you go back on them the second things could be easier for you if you did. my brother is in the military and sometimes i look at his benefits and wish i didn’t care about other human beings, or i remember my mom called me an idiot for turning down a government job my uncle offered to help me get, and i have to reckon with the fact that i am consciously choosing to turn down money and opportunities. but there’s truly no point in saying you believe something or saying you stand for something if you change your mind on it the moment money can be made or security can be guaranteed, in fact, that’s when your ACTUAL morals are revealed. that’s when your beliefs actually become your MORALS in my opinion. i was really inspired by pro-palestinian activists who physically put their bodies in the way of american ships that were bringing supplies to israel, and the classmates who got arrested and professors who lost their jobs. it’s only actually solidarity if it’s difficult. if you face no consequences, if you don’t even face an inconvenience? then you’re not doing anything.
I wish people would also realize that solidarity having a cost is most often absolutely a GOOD thing in all ends. I love how since the boycott started, people have begun to realize that we do not NEED to live with things like McDonald's and Starbucks despite what desperate advertising might tell us (also i know some people are poor and cannot afford high-quality food, but there are still other options and you can still live without them). It really was a kickstart for a lot of us to use our money as responsibly and ethically as we can, and it feels so freeing to deny that pressure to consume non-essential garbage that is so often put onto us. These companies can get as desperate as they want, but I've learned to know my worth as well as the cost that goes into it. Self-improvement all around the board IS tough, it DOES have a cost, but the point is that it's worth it for the benefit of you and others.
Firstly, I really liked the video. It's well researched and thought out, and it's an asset to the community.
That said, I want to push back rhetorically on the framing here. Solidarity *can* be hard. Solidarity is even *likely* to be hard. But even if it's easy, you should still do it. And I am going to send love out to everyone who will stand in solidarity, no matter how hard.
While I agree that solidarity doesn't have to be hard in one way, I also have to say that there is a restaurant in my city that I've always refused to go to since I was 20 years old, maybe even younger, because of their treatment of their staff. And since it's always been extremely easy to me, it actually does not feel like solidarity to me to do so. I am not saying "I want to but I shouldn't" but instead "nope, bad employer".
There is something to be said about not becoming monsters in the pursuit of fighting monsters.
I share the opinion of conflict of ideals being necessary, however I also believe that there is a massive issue with people effectively worshipping individual humans (namely celebrities and social media influencers) as nigh-deified beings whose words and actions - or lack of - are sacrosanct, and as a result the conflict is no longer about the ideals but rather one side arguing on behalf of ideals while the other side is running defense for their chosen deity in hopes that they one day miraculously heal the world with their abundance.
Solidarity has cost a lot for so many incredible anti-zionist jews who have been fighting for Palestinian lives. It has cost many of us relationships with family members, community and culture. But we know that our comfort is never more important than fighting for what’s right. Free Palestine 🇵🇸
HOLY FUCK THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ABOUT PINOCHET. He's still praised in our country by the right as if another dictatorship would solve our economy. My people don't know their history, and they call me crazy for blaming the USA and the CIA for those hellish 17 years, so it brings me so much peace and hope that other people outside of Chile actually know what went down
There was true solidarity from the socialists at the time. Friends of my parents at the uni hosted some Chilean refugees and threw a welcoming party in their honor.
I'm not from the US, and wasn't born yet, but my parents have told how they met the Chileans, and I think they have a photo from the party.
Years ago there was even a documentary in the tv about these events - it was an anniversary thing, but I can't remember how many years anniversary. It was big in my country because we didn't really have refugees (or foreigners) prior to the Chileans. Socialism was also popular amongst young people in the 70's.
I only really learned about the coup as an adult though. Meaning the CIA stuff and such details.
Don't you guys learn about it in school? I'm Brazilian, and like most Latin American countries, we went through a long period of dictatorship, and when we learn about that period, it's always highlighting the US's fault in the events
Yeah our history books do not mention america's meddling of our affairs in the slightest. I didn't know the junta was in large part backed and sponsored by cia until after adulthood. It wasn't after i realized america has reinforced dictators in power all over the world to realize that's what happened in my country too
@@hazelsweenz we do, but most people in Chile decide to ignore it or not pay attention to it. Since most old people in Chile are still brainwashed by the thought that the coup d'état was a good thing, because technically the country got richer, these old people then run the country and promote the rethoric, causing people from the worker class to believe it and spread it to their children.
@@hazelsweenzhow is it the U.S. fault that Brazil had shitty ass leaders? That’s on you people
thank you for mentioning pegasus! Cybersecurity has been one of my two lifelong interests and to see someone who isn’t necessarily involved in cybersecurity/infosec/digital privacy activism bring it up is so exciting.
Just so everyone knows- there are many reasons to boycott a company like Starbucks. Union busting practices, environmental harm, etc. not just ties to Israeli settlements. I generally subscribe to "Do not let perfect be the enemy of good". Do your research and try to make good choices. Always work towards better. All these actions add up. Get to know your actual neighbors, like the ones that live next door, and find out what their needs are. You can do a hell of a lot of good in the world by volunteering at your local senior center or food bank too
I NEVER subscribe to channels or even comment. But the quality of your video with the deep analysis using academic sources and arguments with the topics you speak about is AMAZING. I watch many analysis deep dive videos but your level of quality is something I haven’t seen before. I definitely will be watching your other videos. Would be really interested on the process of reasearch and effort you put into creating a video.
This video triggered a paradigm shift for me. I've been sympathetic to the Palestinians, but also fatalistic about what protests can do to make a difference, and even, at times, critical of praxis that, as you explain, "alienates" people who claim to want the same outcome. Because of my fatalism, in the past, I've dismissed actions like the boycott as ineffective or "virtue signaling." But the truth is I'm afraid of organizing; I won't give specific details about my circumstance, but I have reason to believe my livelihood will be crippled if I participate in protest deemed obtrusive. I don't seek an excuse or absolution for my decision, but now I have no more cognitive dissonance to hide behind. I can admit to this conflict of interest while taking part in actionable parts of solidarity, like the boycott and my rhetoric. This video already hits me in the gut; I already regret what I can't do, and I strive to live by genuine solidarity in the ways I currently can, such as by sticking to the boycott and unabashedly spreading the word. One day, soon, I will join these marches and rallies. Thank you for opening my eyes and exposing the complexity and scope of the moral problem of solidarity.
12:14 Chilean here, had to pause because I wasn’t expecting my country’s history to be mentioned, thank you so much
Edit as I keep watching the video:
15:10 And made to dissapear, some of their families are still looking for them to this day, because they don’t know what happened to them. No one does, except of course the US government.
The people who were captured and tried were also tortured for information about their political associates.
My family’s history links a lot to the effects of the dictatorship (being detained, tortured snd exiled happened to more than one of my family members), and people don’t talk about it enough, so I take any chance I get to talk about it and it’s brutality, specially since new generations en Chile are starting to forget and even deny history.
Brazilian here, same thing. We didn’t even get confirmation that the US funded the 1964 coup in Brazil until the first Biden administration, when Lula made a deal with Biden to get the documents that confirmed the Operation Brother Sam and the US involvement.
This is the most valuable piece of media I've watched this year, hands down. I already know that this is going to be something I come back to often when I find myself drifting toward the easiness of complacency. You (and the sources you've chosen) have worded points in a succinct, memorable way. I love the range of examples you've used to illustrate your points. This was a dialogue worth waiting for, and I'm grateful you published it, and that my friend shared it with me when I asked what they were up to yesterday. I've already shared this video to a handful of people in my life. I cannot stress enough how important this perspective check is. You've inspired me to reevaluate how my own actions are/aren't aligning with the goals of movements I consider myself to be in solidarity with. THANK YOU!
23:05 💯% very glad you mentioned how our neoliberal environment puts us in a position which incentivizes these attitudes. I think one thing that’s missing in solidarity in the current era is that we don’t have the corresponding community aspect that support us and make up for risks and sacrifices we would have to undergo. We live in this sort of neoliberal techno dystopian environment where we’re all hyperfragmented so it’s almost like we get this image of connection but it’s very superficial because we’re still very disconnected… like we’re not really a community… sort of a quasi community
I talked about this with a friend recently about how far removed we are from the neoliberal individualistic society. We're currently living/working within a community laying out mutual aid infrastructure within the city we live in. Pretty dystopic to be cooking food in a squatted home and then handing it out to people in a neglected neighbourhood while commuting people pass by in their fancy cars. Wild world we live in.
For the Civil Rights Movement, solidarity meant forgoing the bus and getting attacked for sit-ins. If you haven't suffered *any consequences at all, nor made any sacrifices for taking a stand,* you're either very fortunate, or maybe not making as much of an impact as you may think.
So much of this discourse around activist movements is cyclical which is why i am so glad you included Ella Baker’s legacy to this video. I’m going to get her biography from the library to learn more of her story, and I am incredibly frustrated that she has been largely overlooked in the civil rights movement and US history!! Excellent work as always Elliot :))
I really appreciate the core message of this video. All in all, I think this is an extremely important, tragically evergreen message for people with good intentions who lack political experience. Meaningful solidarity has a cost or a risk.
One thing I'm still sort of torn about is when/how it is appropriate to put pressure on individuals (and in particular individual influencers) to act in solidarity in the first place. I'm somewhat sympathetic to influencers not wanting to be involved in particular movements for better and worse reasons, and I tend to prefer to put pressure on people actively opposing my goals while simply leaving behind people who don't have the courage or knowledge or whatever the problem is to get on board.
But, I don't always think it's good enough to just let people opt out of acting in solidarity. Like, in the context of forming a labor union and/or taking action as a union, it's absolutely necessary to get even reluctant workers on side and actively involved. I think maybe with influencers I'm not as convinced what people are doing is strategic, or that the success of the movement requires the involvement of these people in a way that warrants the level of pressure they are put under.
Really enjoyed your video. Its interesting to apply the whole thing of solidarity to social issues here in Hawaii. In efforts to mend a lot of problems here like raising rent/living expenses, foreign developers and tourism, indigenous oppression, etc., there is a lot of different avenues and takes that a lot of us Hawaiians and local people have. Honestly, a lot of your points on solidarity struck me in many ways regarding my sense of cultural identity and solidarity. There is a lot of different kinds of perspective on Hawaiians on many of these issues especially on who should stay and live here and what being local means. As well as a lot of avenues to help Hawaii as a whole. Like an example is works like Dr. Keanu Sai who focus on the international legalities of Hawaii's illegal occupation and sovereignty. Another is people who focus on more material things like Daniel Anthony who focus on sustainable farming with Hawaiian crops. I also feel like there's a lot of conflict as well with intersectionality and discrimination. Like it is a little disheartening to some people who support the liberation of Hawaii from illegal US presence spit hate against the lgbtq community and uphold very western views of patriarchy. Hell, there is even a lot of discourse and conflict on the perpetuation and preservation of the Hawaiian language. Even as a multi racial/ethnic person, I have many deep seeded doubts about my own identity that I need to de tangle in my journey/process of solidarity. It really shows that solidarity is not a thing that you turn on or off but, an ongoing struggle with conflicts within yourself, others and even time and work/school. I think that having an identity as a Hawaiian and a mixed person too has showed me that Hawaiian is not a perfect consensus that you strive for or stand in solidarity with no effort. It too is an ongoing process in which you have to contend with a violent history, your own generational trauma, and conflicts with your own thinking and solutions.
Sorry for the rant but, your video does hit on a lot of the conflicts that are front and center with Hawaiian issues. Really enjoy your work!
I know this is a hot take: Unless you’re an elected official, no one is entitled to know your opinion about any topic. I don’t care how famous or influential you think someone is. Just because you watch their videos doesn’t mean you’re owed to know their every thought and feeling about every topic.
Agreed, if I followed a musician, a comedian or an actor, that’s what I’m expecting them to be, nothing more
Thank you for putting this into words, it's hard to explain.
I'm sick to death of people complaining about parasocial relationships when they're held to the standard they themselves set.
They gained these followers because they displayed themselves as someone who cares and are shocked when their fans leave after finding out that they don't actually care.
Some of these people talk about fans feeling entitled to their personal lives but some of these people feel entitled to their fanbase.
(Not Chappell Roan, she's completely reasonable.)
Yeah I don't think all celebrities should be on top of politics but if you're someone who told your own fans about how you should be on top of politics and then don't do it... seems fair to get backlash to me cause why you lyin 🤚🏾
I also wish that people would have more solidarity with trans people. We are seen as disposable. We are the ones who are supposed to compromise our own safety and rights to stop “distracting” from “real” issues.
Conflict and solidarity do go together a lot, especially if you consider the Black Panthers' contribution to Civil Rights, despite their differences with MLK. And other movements from the time too, like the Gay Liberation Movement that came after Stonewall, which was the result of disparate organizations like the GLF and GAA filled with people who had many conflicting views.
damn it's so clear how much work went into this video and it's fantastic. bravo and thank you king
Whew, this video was way more cathartic than I was prepared for. Thanks for making it.
This video is so interesting and helped me thinking a lot about my own way of acting in solidarity. Thank you so much ! I might add, though, that maybe public people (influencers, artists etc) aren't only scared of conflict, but also of harassment maybe? I went through that on twitter years ago, when I had an account that was a bit popular. I used to talk about feminism, politics and other stuff. But at some point, I received so much hate when I made mistakes, even if I apologized for it, that I just deleted my account. And I it's quite normal to fear receiving so much hate, in my opinion. It's different from fearing conflict. Because anonymous people seems to think that because you're famous, they're allowed to treat you the way they want in the name of their ideal, as they perceive you as someone more privileged than them (contrapoint made a very interesting video on that subject). And if it might be true to some extent (being popular on internet grants you power indeed), to me, it also pushes the most vulnerable people outside of online political communities, which seems unfair to me.
I feel like the problem is more rooted to what you pointed out while talking about Baker's activism, like personality cult. Social medias push us a lot in this direction. Instead of an horizontal socializing on internet, we have to create communities around people to think together and exchange. It's a battle for likes, follows, visibility and aknowledgment. But I think few people have the shoulders and the cold head to bear such a heavy responsability (I personally clearly didn't, which is why I deleted my account). It's too much power for a person alone, and that kind of power is highly corruptive. Not to mention it's isolating as well (people putting you on a pedestal can be seen as something envyable but I think it's pretty much objectifying).
Anyway that's my two cents aha. Thank you again for the quality of your content.
The part about queer solidairity reminded me of some leftists i used to know who thought that "identity politics diverted our attention from class struggles"
like my brother is cthulhu how do you want to fight capitalism without fighting for minorities
(i would also like to add that the context was them being called out for saying racial and queerphobic slurs)
i personally would take my frustrations and grievances out on people who spread zionist propaganda and continually dehumanize/vilify the Palestinian people. I completely understand being exasperated by influencers and celebrities not “walking the walk” of true solidarity on every act of injustice but at the same time you cant have the expectation that a person has the emotional [and intellectual] bandwidth to speak on every injustice in this world, especially when that person has repeatedly shown their support for certain groups and ideologies…
i WOULD be disappointed and angry with those who consistently hide behind a facade of allyship and repeat left leaning talking points to appeal to a certain audience.. the people who claim to understand the plight of palestinians while simultaneously spewing zionist talking points and equating judaism to the israel identity/zionism(*cough cough* ethan klein))
we have this need for the people that we follow and look up to reflect our beliefs and validate that we are a good person, as if another persons beliefs or [lack of] action has any bearing on our individual core values…(they don’t)
Real change does generally always require sticking ones neck out for. Beyond that, if one examines the time, resources, energy and effort spent by the people resisting change or trying to create political time machines, to resist that momentum will take even more effort and sticking ones neck out for. It's described as a struggle, fight, battle, etc for a reason. I think it's interesting how many people forget that change actually means things really concretely changing so it's felt even on a day to day basis. And that means the conditions around them will alter. Ergo, hardship is a part of the puzzle. Gotta put in the effort and walk the walk instead of just talking the talk for some good person browny points. Actions (choices thus) are more important than words, even if just talking can at times be an action. And it requires teamwork to make the dream work, which is where solidarity comes in.
I waited to get HRT over half a year because I refused to cross the picket line or the clinic I go to. Solidarity cost me a lot. However I’m an IWW organizer and someone who has fucking principles
Would you be vegan? :)
@@charlieistryinghisbestWould you consider sewing your own clothes? 🥺
@@muckschmuck1853 Yes! Fast fashion is horrible,isn't it? i've been looking into making my own clothes,my grandma is teaching me ahaha❤
@@muckschmuck1853 Yeah!!❤️
Fast fashion is terrible,isn't it?
My grandma is teaching me how to sew,it's quite fun ahaha❤️
Haven't bought new clothes in like 4 years,fortunately i'm not a big fashion person
@@muckschmuck1853 Yeah!!❤️
Fast fashion is bad,isn't it?
My grandma is teaching me how to sew,it's quite fun ahaha❤️
Haven't bought new clothes in like 4 years,fortunately i'm not a big fashion person
I just wanna say thanks for this video. I've discovered your channel about a year ago and really enjoyed learning from you, but this hit different.
I'm a film director, at the start of my career. It's fucking hard, it takes everything I have to keep going, to make enough to pay rent, to support myself and to be present with my loved ones. So I often fall into the trap of "Well I gotta look after me first, and one day I'll give back". But you're right, this shitty individualism that has been ingrained in me since I was born is toxic and actively contributes to the erosion of the social bonds I value so much in my life. Keeping my head down and getting on isn't helping anybody, least of all me.
So thank you, I'm working on changing that in my life now
WE ARE SO BACK! BASED COMMUNITY POST KING HAS RETURNED. Also, I can understand why some videos take longer than others.
There was a Canadian Loblaws boycott in August, and I work at a Loblaws store. I feel bad for working for Loblaws, but can't find a job anywhere else.
For me it becomes a difficult area of compromising a job to my own personal values. I have discussed unionizing with my co-workers but no one feels as strongly about it as I do, and saying it in front of my boss would get me fired. Change is indeed difficult.
1:00:43 in Poland we have a saying „dobrymi chęciami piekło jest wybrukowane” which roughly translates to "hell is cobbled with good intentions" and it could not be truer tbh
We have pretty much the exact same saying English. It is exactly “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. Potato potato
I agree with many of the points made in this video but I am left bothered by its framing through the actions of influencers. It seems to me that the sacrifices that come with solidarity that are described as necessary (or important, or morally right?) for influencers to take in this video are all related to personal decisions that work unquestioningly within the frameworks of the dominant systems through which we live our lives. That is, the decision to take a stand on an issue through social media as an influencer sacrifices potential financial gains and internet criticism, but does so through platforms that operate on wringing profit out of celebrity worship and unproductive conflict by making these the source of engagement and therefore, advertisements (thus, profit). In this case, an insistence on the actions of an influencer only perpetuates the contradictory idea that change must occur through channels that discourage or are outright opposed to change (social media companies that run on the profit motive in this case). Similarly, the decision to refuse a job opportunity or to purchase only certain products (green capitalism as the best example), while it is likely morally commendable, does not connect to a larger disruptive framework. The economy of social media influencers and their interactions with their fans or critics is not special, it is neoliberal in its foundation (in that it is the act of deciding through a market or through market logics that I describe in the paragraph below). This does not mean that actions within a neoliberal system cannot have any impact at all (ex: turning down a sponsorship for a sketchy mental health company prevents its reach to more people, buying and using "green" products helps the environment to a certain extent by "voting with your dollar" ), but if part of the argument of the video is that we ought to escape this framework (and I agree, we should), framing the video with the topic of the solidarity of influencers that exists precisely within a neoliberal framework seems to distort the solutions for productive solidarity.
All the actions described above can be seen as morally commendable actions that ought to be done by well-meaning political actors, but their connection to movements for counter-hegemonic change seems loose at best and are ultimately trapped within a neoliberal logic of change. Just like I do not buy from companies that support genocidal military campaigns, I may not buy (view) content from influencers who are opposed (or tepid, hesitant, ignorant, etc.) to my political positions and organizational memberships or affiliations. However, how is asking a social media influencer to go say something about a given issue I support any different than asking a clothing brand I like, or the computer brand I use, etc. to go say something? It would be nice if they did, and it might make a material difference but to view their sacrifices or lack thereof as a framing for how solidarity is hard is misguided. Sure, there can be sacrifices that show solidarity here in an impactful way but how is this not just a different version of the neoliberal logic that insists that one shows their support for a cause through individual decisions? If we are truly interested in "building sociality in a world that insists on atomization and individuality", why the insistence on the individuality of influencers? I make an individual decision to support or critique an influencer who then makes their own individual decision to position themselves politically so as to seem morally upright as towards their audience. Under this logic, my individual decisions that are made within markets are what determine both change and my morality in connection to that change. Thus, although it is stated towards the end of the video that this is not about these influencers as moral people, how can it be anything else?
Escaping the neoliberal framing of solidarity does not mean distinguishing between it being easy or hard - it may be the case that solidarity is always hard - but involves its direction toward counter-hegemonic collective action. It is there where the struggle (solidarity becoming hard) takes place in the most meaningful ways. There are examples of this in this video that are not exemplified by influencers, and it is no coincidence. Sacrifices taken by labour union organizers, climate justice protestors, civil rights activists, etc. are sacrifices taken collectively and with organized and usually democratic direction. The conflict within these movements is productive because the movements are situated within a site of change. That Hope Woodard is compared in the video to a white woman in 1964 who is uncomfortable with civil rights protests is evidence of the fact that she stands outside the bounds of a counter-hegemonic expression of solidarity, the conflict she is dealing with is unlike the inter-movement conflict Ella Baker dealt with because she is not in any way collectively oriented towards counter-hegemony. The sort of conflict she encounters may be productive and her denial of it may be in a sense authoritarian, but it is not counter-hegemonic.
There is conflict within movements that is generative towards collective struggle and then there is conflict with actors outside of movements who are located outside of the bounds of that struggle. Protestors conflicting with each other while determining group objectives is different from protestors critiquing someone who has not joined them. It is not because the outside actor has not sacrificed that they are not a part of the struggle, the outside actor has yet to have taken up a position through which their sacrifices would be counter-hegemonic. I have no interest in defending influencers, I just largely do not understand them as any significant source of change. A discussion on the difficulty of solidarity in various social movements without the influencer framing seems to me to be a more productive way to think through the topic of the difficulty of solidarity. If neoliberal solidarity is something to be avoided or contextualized for having its limits for progress, shouldn't we focus efforts of solidarity away from influencers (and thus neoliberal logic) almost entirely?
Sorry for the essay lol, the video was thought-provoking.
i guess rather than the influencer as a moral actor its more about the utility of their platform as a tool for spreading information and resources? somebody with ten million followers is going to reach more people than someone with one hundred followers, after all. as a current example on tumblr some popular users have taken it upon themselves to drum up support for specific palestinian families trying to fundraise online, and their status has allowed the campaigns to reach more people willing to help while theyre also drawing the ire of pro-israel users away from those families and towards themselves. but i get your point here. i think having been surrounded by individualist culture for all our lives its very difficult to fully break from the mindset of individualism even as we actively try to disrupt it.
@@triangleman2627 Absolutely, my intention is not to distract from the utility of activist practices that help people, just to point out that they have not departed from neoliberalism like this video might suggest. However I think that according to the video, the morality of the influencer and the utility of their platform are conflated: if the influencer does not use their platform as a tool for spreading information and resources it reflects upon them morally and thus implies that this rule applies generally to everyone. I don't even fully disagree with this, I think that people ought to be considerate of the impact their decisions can make for social causes for moral reasons. However, as the video suggests (and does not remedy imo), this slips into a sort of individual utilitarianism with little to no considerations of the material conditions of the actors involved. For me, the emphasis ought to be on social movements and the solidarity of organzations. If I am right about this conflation and parts of the video in general, this is just a neoliberal argument that could be rephrased as: "I want the commodities I consume to reflect my values in the world, and I create change by engaging in this commodity/market based relationship". Again, my intention with my comment was not to deny the (at times) great utility of the platforms of influencers that is exemplified in your comment, just to point out that insistence upon it as a moral imperative of influencers is misguided since it does not place influencers within their own role in the neoliberal economy, and slips from there into a reassertion of neoliberal individualism as the dominant change-making force.
I think we can see evidence of the slipperiness of this argument (back into neoliberal assertions) in this comment section. A comment about ethical consumption under capitalism has in its replies turned into a debate over the individual consumption of meat products as a moral imperative. Another comment laments that under neoliberalism, sacrifice for entrepreneurial gain is celebrated but sacrifice for left-wing causes is disregarded - while this is true in some ways it needs to be specific since neoliberalism does not mind the idea that one should sacrifice in their individual decisions for a left-wing cause, since this just reinforces its power as a dominant social structure and narrative (think of how people act like socialism or left-wing sentiment in general must involve its adherents being poor and struggling), what neoliberalism fears are collective actions that subvert its modes of operation, that work against market logics, that involves multiplicities coordinated as self-organizing structures against various forms of oppression. Finally, another comment discusses making their mother angry by pointing out she is drinking anti-union starbucks coffee. To me, these comments (or their replies) echo the slip back into neoliberalism that the video displays. There are of course gains to be made with this logic as I tried to point out in my original comment and as you point out as well, but the gains are not systemically subversive, that's all. As you said, our attempted disruptions of individualism often fall back into its grasp. I think there is value in pointing out when this happens, especially when it is accidentally put forth as though it is an escape.
That story about the plane ticket and "what if we got sick," it reminded me of something that happened to me recently. I ended up catching covid while on a cruise with my sister, she didn't get it and didn't develop an infection even after we got off the ship. I reported my symptoms to the med bay and got quarantined, but my sister was still free to roam the ship so long as she wore a mask. I asked her to attend and record a small event on my behalf, and she agreed to do it for me.
She spent her time outside of the cabin, without wearing the mask as she was supposed to. Later when it was time for her to go to the event she promised she would record for me, she suddenly changed her mind about going. And she told me, "Why not just... sneak out, maybe wear a mask, and just go do it yourself?"
I ended up yelling at her for going back on her word, and I was just... really disturbed honestly that she'd suggest I sneak out and go to a crowded event when I had just tested positive for covid and was having really bad symptoms. She's not a bad person, it turned out that she had gotten a bit high without me knowing so she wasn't thinking clearly, but it was shocking to hear her suggest something like that when she herself is a nurse and has complained about people's lack of care before. She did eventually record the show for me, but she still didn't wear a mask.
I just can't wrap my brain around ignoring the potential consequences of something like that, when if I were on the other end surely I'd be extremely upset to know someone had flagrantly gone into a crowd with an infectious disease. And I WAS very upset, because that was most likely what actually caused me to get sick in the first place! Just because someone I might infect would probably never know it was me that infected them, thinking of all the people I saw and heard openly coughing and sneezing on the ship and ruminating on it while I was suffering in bed wondering if it might kill me was just horrifying. The callous disregard for the lives of anyone they won't see again having to suffer the consequences of their actions, that kind of thing haunts me. Just because THEY thought their symptoms were fine and easily survivable doesn't mean it's going to be fine and easily survivable for everyone they cross paths with.
This video encapsulates a lot of the thoughts which have come up in the last few years. Thank you for sharing various perspectives and bringing in a political philosophy expert to dig deeper into this discussion. As a current political science and philosophy major we have these discussions a lot in a classroom setting I’m thankful that you’re creating access to these conversations for everyone through this platform . !!! Great vid
great video! I was pausing every 5 seconds to translate and discuss with my mom. you covered a lot and even though it took a long time to make it and post it was so worth it. thank you for explaining it all so well!
I hadnt hear of Ella Baker before but I just downloaded that book on Libby! Thanks for another banger, Ethan!
…Elliot?
1:01:15 Yeah. I can tell you 100% that's what it is for me, when I've said and acted like that in the past. I've seen some of the worst of the internet, I've always really focused on trying to "treat others how you want to be treated", always felt like i had no idea what i was doing or how to do anything, struggling with caring so much about some things while feeling like i dont know right from wrong half the time, cant defend my beliefs in a kind and articulate way. I'm extremely isolated, mentally not...okay, and without a very solid support system. All that to say, yes. I'm terrified. And I know I'm not the only one that feels like this.
This is a really excellent video, thank you.
In 2013-2017 used to work for a very red chicken restaurant(not naming for obvious reasons), got as far as marketing and got official with a certificate and everything. As someone who didn’t go to high school and made decent money, learning the deeper more integral issues with the company in all facets, plus being discriminated firsthand, I made the difficult decision to leave. That place was all I knew, family-like, and my only source of income. I lost everything, including my church family. It took many years but I made it out and am doing okay without it, a much clearer conscience. Even more wild that almost 10 years ago I was the complete opposite to now, breathing is easier even if it risked it all.
Went from hardcore Z-ist evangelical christian to whatever socialist lasagna I am now haha.
@@KittieBob I respect that so much. Good job❤️
I'm glad you were able to change :)
I think how we have conflict is really important too; the goal of many often seems to be winning, bc of our capitalist upbringing. But if we have conflict and the goal is to come to an understanding as opposed to winning, i feel we get a lot further
Regarding the point laid out around 1:05:10 of this video analyzing the tweet about the guy who may only have a Starbucks available to them, I think it's unfair to boil it down to Thatcher's point about individual choice rather than giving it the more charitable reading of: how is anyone supposed to extricate themselves from the wider system? For example, you don't want to support fossil fuels? Good luck buddy. You now gave to produce 100% of your own food using zero products of the Haber-Bosch process. Good luck with that loser. Boycott one thing and find yourself ensnared another tentacle of the Leviathan.