Knowledge runs down.

Edward Said (إدوارد سعيد) said, “ The intellectual ought neither to be so uncontroversial and safe as to be just a friendly technician, nor should they try to be a full-time Cassandra, who isn’t only righteously unpleasant but also unheard.” (Source: recollection of speech given at Oxford, Andy Merrifield, “The Amateur,” p. 14.)

I think an old, dead postcolonial studies prof just solved my mommy issues.

My parents want me to be a friendly technician when I discuss ideas, but I keep tryna go full-tilt prophetess of doom.

Because there is doom!

But I can accept that there is a space in the middle I could inhabit.

It’s the hypocrisy, for me. When I use hyperbole, they get outraged and act like I’m accusing them of being fascists; yet when they oversimplify and cut short a legitimate discussion point, I am being obnoxious to point that out.

Their inconsistencies trigger some “injustice” emergency button and I have a hard time regulating down to non-Cassandra levels.

I may attempt to be moderate this holiday season. We will see.

Love and freedom for Palestine, Jordie