This: “The empire, in turn, is rooted in hopelessness. It has no language of caring, just force. And so it has no response to the human being on fire except to point a gun at the flames.”
How can we be the opposite of the hopeless empire? I want to live that every single day.
"But our hearts. Oh, our hearts. When opened up. When directed fully and completely outward towards one another. When placed fully at the center of our lives and politics. Our hearts are indestructible. Our hearts will live forever."
I had to wait until the morning to read this. I didn't have the heart (and I mean that) to contemplate it, and I'm observing that in myself and trying to sit with it. But I do want to say thank you for this. It is both resolute and deeply tender. It's helping me find the heart necessary to continue to participate in the work to make Aaron Bushnell's sacrifice meaningful.
Reflecting on the officer who pulled their gun on Aaron, I wonder if a little grace is necessary. I’m sure they never saw anything like what happened in front of their eyes and the act of pulling their gun was possibly an unconscious act of helplessness. Different, say, from when an officer draws their weapon on unarmed Black people based on irrational, socialized fears and thus bias. I’m not sure we’ll ever know why, and this is not to say that the first unconscious thought to draw their weapon isn’t also something we should wonder about as far as the psychology of police work and carrying a gun in general. It just seems like a very bizarre thing to do when a man is on fire, and certainly not something that traveled through rational cognitive processes.
thank you for this-- i really appreciated how you put this part:
"There was, for instance, the crowd of thousands of supporters who encircled him, many of whom lay down in front of fire trucks in order to prevent them from extinguishing the flames, collectively saying that while the impetus to care was correct, their help was needed elsewhere."
thank you for these powerful and loving words. there are many words here I need to hold close to my heart these days as we witness so many atrocities and yet cling on to hope for a better world.
This: “The empire, in turn, is rooted in hopelessness. It has no language of caring, just force. And so it has no response to the human being on fire except to point a gun at the flames.”
How can we be the opposite of the hopeless empire? I want to live that every single day.
Oh my heart.
"But our hearts. Oh, our hearts. When opened up. When directed fully and completely outward towards one another. When placed fully at the center of our lives and politics. Our hearts are indestructible. Our hearts will live forever."
I had to wait until the morning to read this. I didn't have the heart (and I mean that) to contemplate it, and I'm observing that in myself and trying to sit with it. But I do want to say thank you for this. It is both resolute and deeply tender. It's helping me find the heart necessary to continue to participate in the work to make Aaron Bushnell's sacrifice meaningful.
Very moving piece, Garrett.
Reflecting on the officer who pulled their gun on Aaron, I wonder if a little grace is necessary. I’m sure they never saw anything like what happened in front of their eyes and the act of pulling their gun was possibly an unconscious act of helplessness. Different, say, from when an officer draws their weapon on unarmed Black people based on irrational, socialized fears and thus bias. I’m not sure we’ll ever know why, and this is not to say that the first unconscious thought to draw their weapon isn’t also something we should wonder about as far as the psychology of police work and carrying a gun in general. It just seems like a very bizarre thing to do when a man is on fire, and certainly not something that traveled through rational cognitive processes.
BEAUTIFUL! Now i have to go find a private place to cry.
thank you for this-- i really appreciated how you put this part:
"There was, for instance, the crowd of thousands of supporters who encircled him, many of whom lay down in front of fire trucks in order to prevent them from extinguishing the flames, collectively saying that while the impetus to care was correct, their help was needed elsewhere."
Oh! So sad. Thank you for writing this moving piece.
Garrett: a must read: https://open.substack.com/pub/frederickjoseph/p/the-unyielding-flame-of-aaron-bushnell?r=3b0tx&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post
Thank you for this Garrett 💔❤️🩹🙏
This is really beautiful. Thank you.
thank you for these powerful and loving words. there are many words here I need to hold close to my heart these days as we witness so many atrocities and yet cling on to hope for a better world.