As a (adult and thankfully NC with one of them) child of GenXers, I think it’s the lead, combined with seeing the height of US/western triumphalism and the “end of history” bullshit, and not having the constant devastation of 2008 onwards define their formative years (childhood all the way up to early adulthood).

Boomers are cursed, but at least then, I feel the lines were drawn, across the map, across class interests, maybe. Granted, I’m coming from an immigrant family (parents came over when I was 2), but my parents grew up seeing this triumphalism and perhaps the high-point of western whitewashing and erasure of history, and not the worst of the ongoing atrocities of just how the western order was made and sustained. On the other hand, even my paternal grandparents who are deeply religiously colonized know what it is like to have been a colonial subject. They know what it was like to face US-destabilization and massacres and abuses of their community and broader ethnic kin, and colonial “containment” wars with the US slaughtering millions of their neighbors. In these senses (I suspect also racially, etc) there was a understanding that was- not lost, but diminished, intentionally paved over with feel-good nonsense like as if all the horrors of the west never existed, or were in some distant past, as the west portrayed itself as the gatekeepers and origin of all social progress and development. And genX was raised seeing the worst of it.

This is a good thing, and the inevitable result of the west’s constant provocations and salami-slicing, encroaching tactics, IMO. At some point humanity has to fight back, even if it draws us closer to the brink of MAD- the ones responsible are the western imperialists, after all. And when and if they do manage to fully and properly “pivot to Asia” I hope China ups the ante like this as well.

My honest belief here is this- the world will never know peace, until the collective west understands fully and thoroughly the full extent of MAD (not necessarily by invoking it, but by facing and being limited by the same threats they continue to hold over the rest of humanity). If the west had suffered even 1/1000000th of what they have done- even in just the past decade, nevermind the past 500+ years- to the global south, or even just to those powers that can and should defend themselves like Russia, China, India, etc… we would already have triggered MAD 1000 times over. At some point it has to be enough, and those nations with the means of making it so should ensure it. Each Russian life is as valuable, if not moreso, than that of those who support the west- same goes with the lives of Palestinians, Chinese, Indians, all Asians and Africans and Latin Americans and all those even in the west who stand against imperialism, being as valuable if not moreso than that of those who stand for the empire. And the only way the west will ever learn that is by the cold hard reality that they cannot make the same favorable and deeply inequitable exchange, that they have for hundreds of years, any more.

Can it even be called a “pre-emptive strike,” when the western imperialist regimes have been striking Russia (and indeed, all of the rest of humanity as well as the working masses and all non-white and indigenous peoples including in the west) constantly with impunity for centuries? I don’t think so.

Worse, he’s an Anglo. His people- English South Africans- were the only ones who did anything that could be considered “white genocide” (concentration camps with 30% death rates) against the Boers.

While knowing the motive behind the series erases any interest I might have in it, honestly I’m fine if they want to promote a narrative of “revenge is okay no matter what” or “pre-emptive self defense.” It won’t work out the way the director, or the west in general, think it does though. The majority of the world has seen who is real offender, the one who has brutally massacred the other from the start and constantly rejected and betrayed peace. The majority of humanity understands on some level what imperialism and colonialism feels like and has been and remains victim to it. Even across the west many are thoroughly disgusted. People know which side actually starves and slaughters babies and the vulnerable, which side actually acts like imperialist barbarians.

Settlers can play these games all they want- and they inevitably will- but it won’t end well for them. And I can’t claim I’d shed a tear when it happens, I’d have compassion and work towards minimizing or preventing harm to (actual) innocents always, sure, but this is what they will have brought on themselves if and when the tables turn.

If they had sense they’d stick to the dehumanization and denial narratives, IMO… though even then the hypocrisy and blood libel is blatant, anything else is simply teaching the rest of the world just how incompatible their mentality is with coexistence and how far humanity at large will have to go to wholly disarm and de-fang the imperialists in turn.

I dunno about you, but I’m resting pretty comfy with the knowledge China has these; as I see it the only downside is that chances are, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Yemen, and even the Palestinians and whoever else in the global south might desire them, does not also have them.

By all means, if the west truly cannot accept coexistence even with the promise of MAD hanging over their heads, and if they truly push things to WW3, then their slate (of “civilization,” if unparalleled brutality and greed can be called that) should be wiped clean if you ask me. Such is deterrence, but frankly as someone living in the west it may as well also be considered a mercy, over leaving the survivors at the mercy (or complete lack thereof) of an unchecked western capitalist hegemony.

IDK, if you ask me, anyone who has the means ($ and/or skillset) could easily live affordably and with a higher standard of living in Russia (including in regards to safety) compared to much of the US. When you measure by actual purchasing power parity (PPP) Russia is 4th largest in the world, in terms of actual wealth (infrastructure, production, resources) rather than capital and in particular rather than hyperfinancialized speculation like is rampant across the west, the fact is that Russia is actually pretty decent as far as things go, and hilariously they’ve started further re-industrializing and investing in their country (and not just for the “war economy”) thanks to the sanctions and blatant theft of their assets. I suppose if someone wants specifically “McDonalds” brand McDonalds and all the other western treats™, it might be unavailable, cost a little more, and/or require jumping through a few hoops (though domestic Russian industry, Chinese, and other BRICS brands are happily taking their place).

Honestly, it’s pretty interesting, and the western dismissal of Russia and assumptions that things are dismal like as if it’s back in the days of shock therapy is pretty similar to the dismissal of China and some other global south countries IMO (particularly in regards to the actual wealth/quality of life clearly experienced).

Elon is the gift that just keeps giving… he makes my similarly narcissistic/shithead dad almost seem cool in comparison and that’s a stunning achievement. Warms my heart seeing the whole world tear apart his fragile ego…

Honestly, it’s the other way around, Nazi Germany was trying to do a Manifest Destiny v2.0. Burgerland is just returning back to its roots (that it never really left in the first place).

Thankfully this time around it was being used in a humane and absolutely necessary manner…

This was already the reality on paper, the only difference is Trump is saying it out loud.

Blackrock and other US corporate giants basically own Ukraine at this point. Zelensky himself has talked about how Ukraine “takes credit” and the Banderite state literally runs its own official site to auction off state assets to western vultures.

That said, this is as good as it gets (IMO). The leader of the ““free world”” is going mask-off as a naked imperialist, but the mineral wealth lies safely in the hands of Russia and the global majority (as it is concentrated in eastern former Ukraine) and therefore will not enrich the west.

1. (no preference)
2. Totodile (bias from picking them while my sis picked Chikorita)
3. Torchic
4. Piplup
5. (no preference- maybe Tepig)
6. (no preference- Fennekin has bonus points for fem-ish evolution)
7. Popplio
8. Sobble, literally my favorite Pokemon ever since they released
9. Weed Cat

Someone float that idea to him quick

we’ve seen what lengths americans would go through to enable a clueless entitled white man to win over an intelligent and accomplished minority woman

TBF, this is exactly how most Democrats/libs in the west constantly describe Kamala (and Trump). Meanwhile Trump hasn’t even faced off with Sheinbaum yet AFAIK

Fingers crossed, hopefully Activision can actually be done for. That they managed to piss off the bottom-of-the-barrel slop crowd (COD gamers) in such a way is nice, anyways

Fair enough, admittedly your comment wasn’t assumed to be referring to Sheinbaum by anyone FWIW (the wording made it sound more like Trump v. Kamala)

No offense (offense) but lmao

Also, for all his infinite issues (and the fact both are undeniably terrible, bigoted, and genocidal people no decent person should ever support) Trump is if nothing else more ““intelligent”” and even- ergh- ““accomplished”” than Kopmala (the bar is in hell for both of them). What exactly has Kopmala done to her name other than terrorize poor people and minorities? And don’t tell me that she got her role for her accomplishments or whatever (POC and a woman myself and let’s not kid ourselves here lol) or that she did anything in her role (not that Biden did either, probably).

Perhaps also culturally within its identity- and the fact half of the US is essentially just stolen Mexico, and their proximity to and close interactions with the YanKKKee devil. These combined with the direct proximity (border) and sheer size means what problems the US stirs up in Mexico will find their way back home (IMO).

If anything, at this point I’m wondering when Russia will do the not only justified, but quite probably necessary thing. It’s only a matter of time, and I imagine their stalling is only because they will be in a better position, the longer they wait (in the eyes of the world, in their own domestic production/support/etc).

Western imperialism always was unjustifiable and endlessly monstrous, but at this point I believe it will have to unilaterally die sooner than later- because it will kill us- the entire human species- off and is racing to do so otherwise. The western system is not only a dead end, it only offers death and worse. If you ask me it’s 100% either death to America and the west (the regimes and socioeconomic system) or the west will ensure the death of all of humanity.

I’m fine with a tiny 15,000 of those “possible fellow travellers” getting a good dose of reality to leave the Wehrmacht- and ideally in the process, the contradictions and lies or the empire also being pushed forward a bit moreso into the minds of any such others with the same potential (human decency/empathy).

Also, IMO- it does not do our community (the trans community) globally or even within the US/west any favors IMO, to have token Uncle Toms joining in the empire’s war machine, whatever their motivations. Just like Isntreal flying the trans or rainbow flags is no benefit- or like how Obama’s election did no favors to the black and African communities within the US or outside it (as an Asian seeing what he did to Africa’s most developed country and black wealth/homeownership in the US I have said I hope I don’t see some Asian POTUS), etc.