Woman, Life, Freedom

Maryam Namazie was a recent guest on the Freedom From Religion Foundation's television program (available both online and on television in many places). She is a British-Iranian human rights activist.

Namazie mentioned the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran. Amini was twenty-two when she was arrested for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. She died in  Iranian custody under suspicious circumstances. 

Her death sparked many protests. It also inspired a graphic account.

Marjane Satrapi is best known for her autobiographical novel Persepolis, which was later made into a film. She later became a director. She oversaw this project which involved many contributors with different styles. It is well done. 

"Woman, Life, Freedom" became a protest slogan. The graphic account here discusses Amini's life and death, the protests, and the Iranian government.  It ends with a discussion between Satarapi and some others. 

One thing not discussed in the book is Iranian's role in international terrorism. Since the book does talk about the government overall, this seems to be something of a lack. It need not dwell on it. It is part of the story. 

The book is hopeful that some tipping point will arise and the nation will move on from its current government. If so, their role in international terrorism would need to be addressed.   

The situation in the United States should not be looked upon in a vacuum. The author of a book on authoritarianism regularly reminds us that Trump fits into a wider story. Each nation has its own individual stories. They also fit into a pattern. 

Sarah McBride 

It seems appropriate to reference the House of Representatives, narrowly Republican with a Christian Nationalist speaker, has targeted incoming trans representative Sarah McBride. 

She will not be able to use women's bathrooms. The election of the first openly trans representative (from Delaware) has wider significance. The new policy will apply to trans people in general. Trans visitors and staff previously did not have to deal with such blatant bigotry. We shall see how it works in practice.

McBride said she will follow the rules, even if (obviously) she opposes them. She says that she was not elected to talk about bathrooms but the needs of her state. Delaware has a single member of Congress.

She has received some pushback from trans people, who argue that the policy will not just affect her. Understandably, she wants to be careful, especially given the need for broad support. 

We can also understand the disappointment. It isn't just about her. 

Erin Reed discusses the case in the previous link, noting the House of Representatives can decide to do more to discriminate against her. It is shameful that she is being treated this way. This is what Republican control is about these days. Congrats, America. 

Line in the Sand 

As with the Iranians, I hope we will have a better future. I expected more in the year 2024. 

We should not accept the legitimacy of such behavior. Raw power does not make something correct. Some things are not just reasonable policy disputes. 

We might have to live in the short term with some things. But, like Jim Crow, we can still declare them not just wrong, but a basic violation of our values. 

One person online didn't like my comment that Trump was "illegitimate," even noting the word originally applied to illegitimate parents. 

Let's avoid narrow word parsing. Also, certain things are not just "bad" but violate core values. 

Trump is constitutionally unfit and promises to do various things that violate norms and even basic constitutional requirements such as equality, free speech, and separation of powers. 

Some people allege that Trump critics use labels that they use for any Republican. Trump is not just any Republican. Trump and Trumpism are particularly bad. Granted, anti-trans behavior is more median bad, if still violating core principles of equality and grace.

Is it 2029, yet?