It's always hard, being in queer spaces, seeing our friends struggle, seeing them die.

There are so many people that I know who are living in their cars while they attend college and work their minimum wage jobs. Scraping through to tomorrow each day.

In these situations, the collectives should practically build themselves, but we're often so propagandized, so ashamed of our struggle that we allow ourselves to be split apart like this. Living on our own, homeless, accepting no help, even if it means our suffering doubles. We often forget that it only makes our struggle worse.

I admire those with the courage to connect with those in the queer community that are also struggling, and lift their burdens together. In this culture of personal accountability, where failing to stand on your own feet feels like failure, moving in with four other queers to an apartment meant for one just so you can pay your bills feels like defeat, networking and broadcasting your struggle to others can fill you with shame; but this togetherness is what we must lean on when we're at our worst. We shouldn't have to suffer in silence because of the unrealistic standard of personal success enforced on us.

At the very least, we can be suffering together.

Starship Troopers is an excellent parody of the militant proto-fascism of the United States; Maybe something I will discuss another time.

Today, I want to point out a single line from it- "When you vote, you are exercising political authority, you are using force; and force, my friends is violence, the supreme authority from which all other authority is derived."

When one thinks of Violence, they think of bloodshed and bruises, broken bones and black eyes. That definition holds water if you believe violence only applies to your body.

But what of your rights?
Your right to a sound mind,
to the health of your person,
to your security and safety,
to your personal property,
to freedom of speech,
to the necessities of life...

It is my belief that the act of infringing upon one's rights, is, itself, Violence. It is my belief that the difference between any two systems is only which forms of violence are considered legitimate and acceptable, and which are not.

You have a right to disagree with others in which forms of violence are to be considered legitimate and acceptable. You have a right to determine for yourself what constitutes a violent act.

Most importantly, you have the right to defend yourself.