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Safety pins distributed across the area
By adamg on Mon, 11/14/2016 - 10:27am
Angela Chen shows us the card and safety pin somebody handed her in Cleveland Circle today. They were also distributed at the Forest Hills and Central Square T stops.
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Comments
Park St, Too
Saw some folks handing them out at Park Street this morning as well.
Is this
Going to be the primary topic now on this site?
What better way is left to us
to attack the people we don't agree with?
Of course not
But it will be a topic that comes up regularly as long as necessary.
In before O-FISH-ILL
Harumph, harumph, when I was a cop, blah, blah, blah.
By "saying something" do they
By "saying something" do they mean call the police? Because in some cases if you say something to the person or persons committing the act of hate, it can get very combative, violent, dangerous, and deadly. I would just call the police.
Ways to do something
I'm not a very big person, so I do worry about escalating a harassment situation. I'm also not going to stand idly by if someone's in trouble. Here are two techniques that I’m keeping in mind: http://tinyurl.com/ju22vkj and http://tinyurl.com/7eb2ceu
Thank you for sharing these
Thank you for sharing these two links. I am also not a big person and have been looking for ways to help without making the situation worse.
Some Of Us Will Not Have Safety Pins
We will be in the camo of the everyday and will use yelling, fists and kicks to defend those being bullied by Trumpnation.
Sometimes saying and standing up for something isn't enough.
That may not be a popular response here and it may sound like armchair gesticulation, but this country is not being rolled backed by rednecks if I and many others can help it.
It's plenty popular with me
I'm glad to hear it. Truly.
And I agree with you 100% that more may be required than "saying something", and people should be aware of this if they're going to wear a pin.
(btw, it's pretty subtle - i don't think you really notice it unless you're looking for it)
Maybe go talk to them in NH before they voted
Maybe they would have voted your way, or maybe you wouldn't feel so internet about what happened.
get out and meet people who you want to ask for votes. Don't just tell them how to feel or shame them.
What the hell...
...are you talking about, and how does it in any way relate to my comment, which said nothing about "feeling so internet" whatever the hell that is, or voting, or telling anyone how to feel?
Sorry to break it to you
Nobody is trembling in their boots over the left creating armed militia.
That's Good Too — Don't Discount The Power Of Symbols
I commend your bravery to stand up and fight! It's wonderful to know people like you are willing to insert themselves physically to defend others! That's very important too when the situation calls for it, especially for people who have the ability to do so.
How do you defend and comfort someone who is attacked through symbols? For example, children who have to walk past hateful symbols or hear hateful speech on their way to the Ⓣ? Those attacks aren't physical, yet they're very hurtful and destructive.
With a safety pin, you can be pre-emptive. A child won't have to ride the Ⓣ in fear, wondering whether you'll stand up for them. Those little pins are a powerful symbol to let people know you care — their presence could even prevent someone else from starting a vicious attack.
I'd want to try, but I know I don't possess the skills necessary to succeed in physical combat. Throughout my life, I've always been more successful avoiding conflict rather than responding to it. That's my strength, but I'm very glad to know your strengths are there too!
United We Stand!
Without action, it's an empty gesture
And that's been my overall concern about the wide use of safety pins as of late. When you put on a pin, you are committing yourself to intervention. In many cases, that may just be acting as a friend... but in others, it puts you in situations where violence is inevitable. This also may very well mean doing so without the support of police, who might simply exacerbate the situation.
Which... hats off to you if you are willing to make yourself vulnerable, and I HOPE that all those who don these symbols have considered the risks involved.
Personally, I decided that I would be of very little help in such a scenario, and opted to look into volunteer options before I put myself and others at risk.
No, You're Completely Missing Two Of The Main Points
The mere presence of a pin lets strangers know you don't hate them and don't want to hurt them. Yes, you'll also try to help if you can, but it need not ever come to that to make a difference. Can't you see how a simple signal that you don't hate people can have a powerful effect amidst strangers in a subway car? It's not an empty gesture by any means!
It's about touching other people's hearts and bringing all Americans together against hate. Naysayers may attempt to use the pins as yet another way to divide us — it won't work. It won't work as long as we don't let them.
You can refuse to embrace the concept yourself, and it's fine if that's how you really feel. You can try to discourage others, but it's their choice, not yours. By the sheer luck of my own skin color and ethnic background, I'm automatically at much less risk for discrimination and other xenophobic attacks than some other American citizens are.
I'm not afraid to wear a safety pin.
That's the very definition of a meaningless gesture
And a self-serving one at that. And you know what, if you're unable to or unwilling to commit yourself to taking action in heated situations THATS FINE! These are scary, uncertain times. There are plenty of other more meaningful ways to help. You can donate to a bevy of causes that are now more important than ever. You can protest. You can volunteer.
There are a lot of useful things
There are a lot of useful things that can be done these days. Concern trolling is not one of them. Maybe do less of it? Your points have already been made by others; what is your agenda in continuing to berate people for what you believe their motives to be?
It's About Quelling Free Speech
They'd like to tell others not to express opinions they disagree with, but the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is still somewhat in place.
So instead, their tactic is to discourage others — ridiculing other people's opinions, suggesting it means something it doesn't mean, warning that expressing a simple anti-hate message in public could place them at risk, and calling it an empty gesture.
A core principal of our democracy is that we don't have to agree with someone else's speech to support their right to say it. These people apparently are opposed to that, and thus are a danger to the freedoms Americans have fought and died for.
To have any chance of protecting our rights, we must exercise them.
Who's "they?"
Take the tinfoil hat off. My only point here is that actions speak louder than words. While I'm being rather critical, im encouraging action.
"They" Are The People Would Like Hate To Flourish
Evil will prevail when good people do nothing. Wearing a safety pin is a way of taking action. The form of action taken is personal and varies for each individual.
It might merely be the action of openly displaying an anti-hate symbol as a comfort to others, letting them know that you don't hate them too. It might be actual physical intervention to stop a hate crime. It might be the action of constructive, healing dialog between people, as a result of interest in the pins.
There are many good things that can come of it, in ways we may not foresee — but the bottom line is, it's a way for anyone who is so inclined, to do something with positive and good intentions. You don't know that it won't make a difference.
Before you can criticize it, you need to have some better suggestion to help unite the nation and fight hate. Otherwise, by discouraging a positive action that feels right to individuals other than yourself, you too are helping hate to flourish.
My agenda
There's been a lot of finger pointing this past week. And honestly, I think virtually every American, from the regular voter (regardless of who they voted for), to the very highest members of our government played a role in these terrible events.
But if I were to single out a single element that I think had the greatest impact, it's complacency. That especially goes with these pins, because you and I well know that many people will slap them on, pat themselves on the back, and call it a day. It may (or may) not mean anyone here, but there's a good chance that you may know someone who fits that mold. You may even be aware of who this hypothetical person is. So, going forward, my policy that I will not discuss this matter with some form of discussion on action. My Intension is not to troll, but to urge people to take action.
You're Implying Because Some People Are Less Sincere, No One Is
Of course, human nature is such that some people will don safety pins, but not truly engage in the spirit it represents. That's their loss, but don't let it blind you to the sincerity of the many others who do see the power and potential for good that these pins represent.
Like I said above, what better suggestion do you have to offer?
My suggestions?
I believe I've already left quite a few, but the primary one suggestion is to consider the risks, and responsibilities of wearing a pin. You're absolutely right that symbols can be powerful... but by the same token, they mean very little (in my opinion) if they're not actionable. So, my primary "suggestion" is to consider the potential scenarios you may find yourself in if you step forward as a "defender" of hate victims.
The other suggestions I threw out where your standard donate/volunteer/protest/organize. Which, is vague at best, I'll admit to that.
Speaking for myself (and i'm TRYING to not make this about me. Not sure how successful I'll be, but here goes), I've been wrestling with the very question of how to contribute. My knee-jerk reaction was to head straight to the protests, but my better-half asked me not to, and in retrospect, I think that was the right call. Initially I quickly looked into the possibility of volunteering at a crisis center or hotline, but that's a time-consuming process, and I wanted to move with some urgency.
Back in the summer, I remembered that I had both of my dogs officially certified as therapy dogs. One of my dogs in particular is excellent with children (though I myself have 0 love for children). I think the one thing that strikes me about this past week is that children have been particularly vulnerable, as they're facing the exact same treatment as adults, but don't have the experience to process it. I've been reaching out to my local schools and libraries to see if perhaps we could volunteer... This is what I trained my dogs to do, and if they can provide comfort and security to children in these difficult times, then... well yeah.
Again, trying not to pat myself on the back here, so consider that an example. I'm guessing that you, yourself, have some experience, some skill, that is useful in today's cultural climate, and I encourage you to consider what you can contribute. Again, I know I was critical, but by the same token, I do feel that complacency is and will continue to be a major problem. We're in for a tough four-plus years, and I see no evidence that life will get better anytime soon. Putting a pin on sends a message, but if they go out of fashion a year from now, then what was the point in the first place?
Risks?!! — Americans Fought And Died To Protect Our Rights!
I'm certainly not afraid to wear a tiny safety pin to stand up for what they fought for!
Whether or not you wear a pin...
...if you're planning on helping out, it's a good idea to get some education in bystander intervention techniques. For example, I can be fairly imposing... but coming in aggressive and shout-y, as would be my first impulse, is not necessarily the best option for de-escalation and education. :-) So instead, I might assert "This is not the way we treat people" in a calm but firm voice to the harasser, and see where it goes from there.
I'm not particularly worried about violence -- most of these chumps are cowards who are looking to pick on someone they perceive as weaker to make a political point. (This is terrorism writ small -- using fear and violence to push political change.) They think they can get away with it now. Confront them and show them they're wrong.
Stop Street Harassment (a site mostly about harassment along gender and sexuality lines, but should be applicable to racial harassment as well) has some good stuff. I hear also that barcc (Boston Area Rape Crisis Center) is holding group classes on this, but I don't have specifics on that yet.
Can I get one?
I think it's the Trump voters who will need protection, given the rioting and tantrums of the losing "progressive" side. What a joke!
What you need...
...is a bandaid for your perpetual butthurt.
As you know perfectly well...
The overwhelming vast majority of protests are very peaceful and positive, with only a small fraction being infiltrated by violent elements.
You also know that protesting hate is not a tantrum. Being a beacon of hope to a world who is watching to see what we are doing is not a tantrum. Right wing nationalism is on the rise in Europe and it's important for Europeans who are worried about it to know that Americans reject hate, and reject a president who is set to do damage on many fronts, from global warming, to foreign policy, to basic human rights.
They're Not About Protecting The Wearer
I don't care who you are or who you voted for, but if I see someone trying to hurt you, I'll want to help. Do you mind that? Would you prefer I walk away and leave you alone?
If so, you'll need to wear something else that lets other people know, because many strangers will instinctively jump to your defense out of the goodness of their own hearts.
Trump Supporters can wear safety pins, too...
I think people who voted for and supported Trump are encouraged and allowed to wear safety pins if they're against the bigotry and misogyny his campaign seems to have inspired. I get that Trump has won and will our next President but that doesn't allow his supporters to claim the right to harass and attack anyone who doesn't fit their world view of America.
That's true - anything can be
That's true - anything can be co-opted. But if we let the fear of being co-opted decide what we do, there wouldn't be much anyone could ever do.
I do think the motivation of allies wearing these, by and large, is stronger than the motivation of people doing it to troll us. I think if people wear them, are engaged, and continue to educate themselves on how to improve as allies, we will outlast those who try to co-opt it. I might be wrong but for me it's not enough to keep myself from trying.
pin distribution
Was one of the organizers - happy to be contacted for information as we plan next steps.
Sites covered were:
Davis
Porter
Harvard
Central
Kendall/MIT
Park St
South Station
Forrest Hills
Cleveland Circle
Lechmere
My pin
I am wearing a pin. I am also in a few groups that are now threatened, and seeing other people wear pins is comforting. But I know the KKK & Nazis - as they always do - are trying to co-opt the symbol: they've said they want to wear pins to get a marginalized person separated from their friends so they can be harmed or even killed. So...I added a little heart to my pin. I am trying to subvert their efforts to twist meanings behind symbols and language. I am also fully aware that wearing this pin isn't just a symbol; it is a call to action.
Hate can manifest itself
Hate can manifest itself anywhere but whenever I see projects like this that are limited to Porter/Harvard etc to be kind of weird because those are the relative safe zones in these situations. If the goal is to really help the people being victimized rather than just making us all feel good then this project needs to spread out to other areas.
It's a juvenile gesture, to
It's a juvenile gesture, to be sure.
And you...
And you are, as ever, a couch-sitting, no-skin-in-the-game, judgmental armchair-quarterbacking jerk.
No, I am an adult. This
No, I am an adult. This juvenile gesture means nothing. It's an empty feel good "thing" that some people feel the need to do for some strange reason.
Before this idea, you mean to tell me you'd just stand around watching someone get harassed. But, now you're wearing a safety pin!!! Egads!! Watch out people; lbb's got their pin on!
LOL, this is funny.
Not exactly
Totally respect that it isn't meaningful to you. Many
people are taking it on as a visual reminder that they need to be better, that hate is getting empowered and needs to be opposed, and that what we're facing is not normal. Making things look not normal can help start conversations, trigger people to think actively when they see it (if they're head isn't buried in their phone), or maybe make someone who needs support feel supported. It's a tiny piece, even tinier if not supported by action, but for many people it's a start.
It doesn't need to be meaningful to you for it to be meaningful to others.
They Want You To Do Nothing
They're apparently happy with all the hateful things going on, so they'd rather you do nothing to speak up about it. That's why they're doing everything they can to discourage people from displaying a tiny symbol that sends a simple message against hate.
They can reject the message themselves, but trying to stop others from expressing it is a hateful thing to do. Don't give in to them!
Thanks Matt. I hear that
Thanks Matt. I hear that concern. I'd push back on it a little though because really, everyone needs to be engaged. Privileged people can become more engaged, can learn more about how to be an active ally, and there's real value to that. While there is tons of work to be done directly with poor and marginalized communities, it also might be just as odd to go up to someone who feels victimized and talk with them about how to be an ally.
We need everybody if we're gonna be better.
Good point, Matt! You can get
Good point, Matt! You can get in touch with the folks organizing this and spread their message of creating a safe space for everyone in one of the areas they're not currently covering - I bet Adi can let you know how to help!
Kidding, right?
Kidding, right? What on earth makes you think that the safety pin started in "Porter/Harvard etc", or that it ends there?
smh
I don't hate you either
But I'm not going to start wearing your pin.
"Why? Why can't you do it Roman? It doesn't cost you anything and it makes us all feel better about eachother?" you might ask, implore, beg.
Simple. The way these things go, if this takes off you'll be a racist or a homophobe or a xenophobe or an emacs-lover if you don't wear one. Just like you're a racist and a xenophobe and an emacs-lover for saying that all lives matter (which btw would have been a nice slogan for BLM that we all could have gotten onboard with, sans ethnic posturing).
So no. I won't play your game and I will not wear a safety pin on the grounds that the internet has decided that it's the newest and bestest mechanism of virtue signaling.
You'll just have to take my word for it that I'm not a foaming-at-the-mouth klansman with blood on my mind.
Or
Just take action when you see something that is wrong.
You're not being forced to wear a pin. This symbol was resurrected after Brexit. Before that (and there may have been a similar use in between) during WWII the Dutch wore them in a show of unity. Norwegians used paperclips.
Exactly my point
A guy you don't like being elected or a referendum not going your way is not the same as foreign troops on your soil.
Again
Don't wear one. Your defensiveness is showing.
If you don't think the
If you don't think the empowerment of white supremacists and rapists doesn't mean the same to those of us vulnerable to those sorts of attacks as "foreign troops" than you don't really get what our country is facing right now. Get an imagination.
Wear the pin!
See Roman , Mon, 11/14/2016 -
See Roman , Mon, 11/14/2016 - 5:04pm
So no. I won't play your game and I will not wear a safety pin on the grounds that the internet has decided that it's the newest and bestest mechanism of virtue signaling.
Then don't wear it
Then don't wear it. What is with you people all wanting first aid for your butthurt because other people are doing something you don't want to do?
It's
It's the "adult" version of "I don't wanna. You can't make me!"
So...
Despite what you think, here is what other people think:
https://mic.com/articles/159365/safety-pins-the-batsignal-of-white-guilt... - "Privilege at its finest."
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/11/come-on-white-people-we-... - "The solution for fastening a baby in his nappy or keeping a blessed-in-the-chest girl from busting open her button-down is the same solution you’ve applied to fighting racism, sexism, homophobia and religious intolerance."
So keep wearing them folks, but all some people are going to see is your white guilt and privilege.
Note: not sure if it is relevant, but I am not white.
I'm a non-white Hispanic
I'm a non-white Hispanic immigrant and I wear mine daily.
And I don't judge the whites who do. Whether or not they actually DO anything beyond it, I just smile at them and they smile back, and a little bit of understanding is accomplished.