So there was an article from Wired by journalist Taylor Lorenz about Democratic Influencers being funded by dark money on the 27th of August 20251 that has caused a mess online that doesn't seem to be going away. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then please skip this, you do not need to know, trust me.
Kpop Demon Hunters is a fluffy fun superhero story on Netflix. It's got beautiful colourful visuals, snappy writing, catchy songs and great action scenes telling the story of a three person Korean girl group Huntr/x defeating a horde of demons led by an evil Korean boy band The Saja Boys.
And if that's all it was I wouldn't be talking about it.
As seems to be tradition, I am writing this a day late. In less than a month my book comes out. I wish I could focus on just that amidst the devastation of the world.
But I kind of did yesterday!
I have always loved stories, and believe deeply in the power of narratives.
Which is why one of the most disheartening and repulsive things to me is the attempt to establish a dishonest and unjust narrative.
The argument in favour of Palestinian rights has been won in all but the most Zionist segments of American and American allied societies. The skyrocketing negative opinions of the State of Israel, and the fact that American politicians are starting to get called out in their town halls is proof of that. But as that happens...
The desire for justice is a core part of being human. I believe this fundamentally. It is why we feel it so deeply when we are treated unfairly & why we react so negatively when we see injustice done to another human being.
So to systematically inflict injustice on an entire people, first those people need to be removed from humanity, removed from the category of those who deserve justice.
You cannot suddenly and accidentally starve a people to death. It is a slow, premeditated and obvious evil.
There is no help coming for Palestine from the leaders of the American bloc of countries. And by the American bloc I mean their traditional allies like Canada, France, the UK. And the countries the US protects or props up like the Gulf countries, Egypt, and Jordan.
I never knew what 5th stage malnutrition was, in a reality where the world produces more than enough food for everyone on the planet1, I should never have to. But...
Yesterday, the book was two months away from launching in Canada. Today it is one day less than that.
I might be a day late again with this update, but that's not too bad and, even though I'll never be satisfied by how much work I have been able to put into marketing "Under The Full and Crescent Moon", I have to be kind to myself and realize I did quite a lot this week, and this month overall.
And of course, meanwhile, the people of Gaza are starving to death and I am helpless in the face of it because of the leaders of the 'free world'.