Funnily enough, I was thinking about this very thing today. I wonder if the fact that we didn't speak up is what brought us to this point. I am no longer keeping my mouth shut for politeness sake.
I think it definitely helps to foster an environment where people feel emboldened because they know they are unlikely to face challenge. Hopefully with a less inflammatory political landscape there will be less of the rhetoric and more moderate common sense will prevail.
It is so refreshing to read this. I agree with every word. Challenges such as the one you describe do not always make you popular but as long as they get people thinking I don't mind.
I even read that a usually quite right wing commentator gave a smart answer when some shallow thinking sneering bandwagon type said "So what happens if Putin invades at five past six on a Friday then?" Her answer? He'll go back to work, you dummy.
My MIL doesn’t ‘do’ politics and yet complains. I’ve now started shutting her down, telling her she can’t complain because ‘that’s politics’, I think she is slowly getting the message. I’m very political, sense of justice and fairness and all that. Keir seems to saying the right things and getting on with it, though sadly still says we won’t be rejoing the single market. I sincerely hope he means it (country first, party second). I have yet to find an aspect of life where politics doesn’t have any effect.
Brilliantly written, Louise. I recently stood up to a casually belittling remark about democracy from a relative and the reaction was surprising. Not speaking up for politeness sake had clearly been my problem. Thank you for such a great inspiring post.
Very, very well said, Louise. Shutting down meaningful conversations has been all that the last few years has been about. (And freedom to be abusive online is not a meaningful conversation). Politics is everything in life from the (polluted) air we breathe; the disgusting water we drink or whether we choose bottled; the food we (may or may not be able to) buy; where our fibres come from and how they are produced and shipped; their price; where we get our information, patterns, tips and tricks - who controls the media, the platforms, that enable this. There can be no politics free areas because every time we engage we acknowledge political reality.
Once upon a time I used to have BBC Parliament on during the day while I knitted. I enjoyed listening to the debates. Unfortunately, over the past few years the HoC became a venue for slanging matches and such ridiculousness I had to switch off. Not only for my own sanity but for the sake of my ever tightening stitches!
So happy to read this today. Thank you for speaking your mind, Louise. "No politics" is just another way of telling people to "shut up," which, last time I checked, is rude. We not only have a right to express opinions but a duty. Silence=complicity.
Love this SO much! If "they" can joke & leave snide comment, the least "we" can do is to keep asking questions, challenge how "fun" those comments are & stand up for humanity.
Saying "I don't do politics" is like saying I'm not interested in the world we all live in and share, in a way.
You make really important points here, Louise. I think for a long time that the more conciliatory of us have let things pass that we really shouldn't. I'm thinking for instance of the casual racism of some people in my own family that I now call out politely rather than ignoring in embarrassment, and the sort of 'humorous' criticism that comes with an expectation that it's what everyone thinks. Not any more.
Here in the United States, well, we aren't doing so hot. A great many of us no longer believe newspapers, or TV. We know stories are being suppressed, lied about, not covered, and the ever imaginative "Its all in your head." I am in a small group of knitters who gather around, talk current events, spouses, various states of stress levels, how our little town is doing, and our state. Being out in the boonies means we sometimes get things a week or so after the announcement. A favorite pub is closing, a store got bought by someone else. So when we knit you can have multiple conversations going on at once. Our group has also changed, some want no politics, others want their brand of politics and yet others want a hybrid. We move to different places the couch area, the other tables and carry on our conversation. (We meet at the local Coffee shop so our space is kind of big.)
Some of the members have left and were knitting at a different place, time and by invitation only. It hurt a lot of people feelings because they were not honest about their leaving. It was a nice lie until someone saw them knitting and then the gig was up. A person asked me today did I think they would return? I replied no, and it was a sad moment. But life goes on and the knitters that stayed are supportive, genuine, and when you say something we ask questions to learn, enrich, and grow as people. We all specifically say when we meet up, "I needed this today" "I love you all", "we are here let us know what you need."
We talk about who needs volunteers, which place has a hard time with "know it alls", which is respectful of various people and which places are just limping along. There is A LOT of politics going on in the community and our library is in the middle of a court case. It is a long story and it covers religion, sex, trans, gay, education, age appropriate materials, who decides what is acceptable, and the changing landscape of our country. It is a mess. Its like someone turned on the faucet of illness, inflation, crazy politics, open borders, no accountability and no admission of wrongness, or guilt. We see with our eyes and ears and are adult enough to say I don't have the answers, but this is wrong.
I know there are other groups who strictly talk knitting. Various fiber festivals, new techniques, books, patterns, what trouble they are having with a pattern or technique. That is great and I wish I were close enough to participate, but I have a variety of interest, and it is ultimately a balancing act of needs, wants, reality and the world I live in.
I barely understand my own country's politics, (they are simply batshit crazy)we have our election in November and it will be a doozy.
Funnily enough, I was thinking about this very thing today. I wonder if the fact that we didn't speak up is what brought us to this point. I am no longer keeping my mouth shut for politeness sake.
Love your writing as always.
karen
I think it definitely helps to foster an environment where people feel emboldened because they know they are unlikely to face challenge. Hopefully with a less inflammatory political landscape there will be less of the rhetoric and more moderate common sense will prevail.
So well said Louise. It’s important that we can have these discussions without all the backlash.
It is so refreshing to read this. I agree with every word. Challenges such as the one you describe do not always make you popular but as long as they get people thinking I don't mind.
I even read that a usually quite right wing commentator gave a smart answer when some shallow thinking sneering bandwagon type said "So what happens if Putin invades at five past six on a Friday then?" Her answer? He'll go back to work, you dummy.
There's no life without knitting or politics!
“Do you really believe that?” Is a good line! I will use it in the future!
And then to hold the line and wait for a serious response from them, rather than bluster or jokes. We all need to be doing this.
Yes! Easy to say, difficult to carry out!
It takes practice, but it's so gratifying. And mature!
My MIL doesn’t ‘do’ politics and yet complains. I’ve now started shutting her down, telling her she can’t complain because ‘that’s politics’, I think she is slowly getting the message. I’m very political, sense of justice and fairness and all that. Keir seems to saying the right things and getting on with it, though sadly still says we won’t be rejoing the single market. I sincerely hope he means it (country first, party second). I have yet to find an aspect of life where politics doesn’t have any effect.
Be political, be alive.
Love your approach to your MIL. And good for you for recognizing that her complaints are "politics," too.
Thank you for this. We all do politics because it means of the city, of the citizen. If we’re a citizen then we do politics.
Brilliantly written, Louise. I recently stood up to a casually belittling remark about democracy from a relative and the reaction was surprising. Not speaking up for politeness sake had clearly been my problem. Thank you for such a great inspiring post.
Very, very well said, Louise. Shutting down meaningful conversations has been all that the last few years has been about. (And freedom to be abusive online is not a meaningful conversation). Politics is everything in life from the (polluted) air we breathe; the disgusting water we drink or whether we choose bottled; the food we (may or may not be able to) buy; where our fibres come from and how they are produced and shipped; their price; where we get our information, patterns, tips and tricks - who controls the media, the platforms, that enable this. There can be no politics free areas because every time we engage we acknowledge political reality.
Once upon a time I used to have BBC Parliament on during the day while I knitted. I enjoyed listening to the debates. Unfortunately, over the past few years the HoC became a venue for slanging matches and such ridiculousness I had to switch off. Not only for my own sanity but for the sake of my ever tightening stitches!
So happy to read this today. Thank you for speaking your mind, Louise. "No politics" is just another way of telling people to "shut up," which, last time I checked, is rude. We not only have a right to express opinions but a duty. Silence=complicity.
Love this SO much! If "they" can joke & leave snide comment, the least "we" can do is to keep asking questions, challenge how "fun" those comments are & stand up for humanity.
Saying "I don't do politics" is like saying I'm not interested in the world we all live in and share, in a way.
I completely agree. Despite whether or not we discuss politics, it’s always in the background.
You make really important points here, Louise. I think for a long time that the more conciliatory of us have let things pass that we really shouldn't. I'm thinking for instance of the casual racism of some people in my own family that I now call out politely rather than ignoring in embarrassment, and the sort of 'humorous' criticism that comes with an expectation that it's what everyone thinks. Not any more.
PS No relation!
Absolutely agree, Louise.
Here in the United States, well, we aren't doing so hot. A great many of us no longer believe newspapers, or TV. We know stories are being suppressed, lied about, not covered, and the ever imaginative "Its all in your head." I am in a small group of knitters who gather around, talk current events, spouses, various states of stress levels, how our little town is doing, and our state. Being out in the boonies means we sometimes get things a week or so after the announcement. A favorite pub is closing, a store got bought by someone else. So when we knit you can have multiple conversations going on at once. Our group has also changed, some want no politics, others want their brand of politics and yet others want a hybrid. We move to different places the couch area, the other tables and carry on our conversation. (We meet at the local Coffee shop so our space is kind of big.)
Some of the members have left and were knitting at a different place, time and by invitation only. It hurt a lot of people feelings because they were not honest about their leaving. It was a nice lie until someone saw them knitting and then the gig was up. A person asked me today did I think they would return? I replied no, and it was a sad moment. But life goes on and the knitters that stayed are supportive, genuine, and when you say something we ask questions to learn, enrich, and grow as people. We all specifically say when we meet up, "I needed this today" "I love you all", "we are here let us know what you need."
We talk about who needs volunteers, which place has a hard time with "know it alls", which is respectful of various people and which places are just limping along. There is A LOT of politics going on in the community and our library is in the middle of a court case. It is a long story and it covers religion, sex, trans, gay, education, age appropriate materials, who decides what is acceptable, and the changing landscape of our country. It is a mess. Its like someone turned on the faucet of illness, inflation, crazy politics, open borders, no accountability and no admission of wrongness, or guilt. We see with our eyes and ears and are adult enough to say I don't have the answers, but this is wrong.
I know there are other groups who strictly talk knitting. Various fiber festivals, new techniques, books, patterns, what trouble they are having with a pattern or technique. That is great and I wish I were close enough to participate, but I have a variety of interest, and it is ultimately a balancing act of needs, wants, reality and the world I live in.
I barely understand my own country's politics, (they are simply batshit crazy)we have our election in November and it will be a doozy.