1) Some explaining to the friends I made online and to whom I'm always available. I'm taking some time off from interacting on social media. The last few days I was struck by a tsunami of revelations about something
2) I either deal with head-on, which I think is impossible given the dark anti-intellectual atmosphere, or I protect myself from damage:
3) the emergence and growth, here in the US, of pseudo-left authoritarianism, ghosts of Stalin and Trotsky. A discourse in which the enemy is no longer fascism but rather anyone seen as an obstacle to power by these sects.
4) Misogynists, racists, bullies - the reason I know them better than themselves is that I've been part of this story, in Brazil, under the RW dictatorship.
5) In Brazil, thank god they can't outgrow the micro-cult format. Given the damage they cause to whoever they attract, that is really a blessing.
6) There, I believe there still is a loose consensus about what is "the Left" and it doesn't include these types. Here in the US, since with few exceptions, nobody knows what is the Left
7) there are folks that call centrist social democrats "the Left" while at the same time there is this sectarian, intollerant, totalitarian discourse that rejects alliances.
8) I see no space for what I call the "old, tired but wise Left".
9) The other side of this are the abundant, vocal and wide reaching victories of fascism.
10) What I do here with my long curated threads that include links even for free download of important books has zero impact on what is going on in the country.
11) I made good friends and I'll check my DMs often. We can exchange Signal or email contacts.
12) I'll resume interaction if and when I can. Right now I have a huge backlog. But that's not the main reason. I'm tired, numb and feeling that my future is already behind me. Hopelessness.
13) Social media is definitely not the space for one to recover Hope. When and if I resume interaction, the curated threads will be gone. Too much trouble and time for nothing.
14) Whoever wants to speak to me, there's DM, email, Signal, whatever.
Peace,
Marilia, that tired old Leftist
Peace,
Marilia, that tired old Leftist
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