Notes on August
Provincetown, playlists, political repression...
I’ve been trying to taking it easy this August, goddess bless. No partying, no late nights. Lots of swimming and sewing projects and nectarines and low-key hangouts with friends. Multiple trips to New England. It’s been great. I am a fun-obsessed person and also fairly Type A and productivity-oriented. I ultimately see these as positive qualities, but I can sometimes get swept up in fun-/ plan-/ accomplishment-maxxing. I’ve spent this month reminding myself to ease up, and it’s felt sooo good. For better or for worse, things are now shifting into gear, between moves with the bar, the start of job market season in academia, and various personal goals I am working toward. We’ll see what the fall holds. Now for some notes!
-This Jewish Currents article on the increase in hate crime charges being wielded against pro-Palestine activism had my blood boiling. The article details the messy history of hate crime legislation and the logical incoherence of the use of these charges against pro-Palestine activism. The prosecutors in these cases often seem not to know (or care) whether they are accusing the defendants of hate crimes against Jews, Israeli nationals, or Zionists (the last of which is not a protected class). The most absurd example the article documents is the pending hate crime charges against a group of activists who spray-painted the homes of Brooklyn Museum board members as part of a divestment campaign. Two of the three of the defendants are Jewish, while only one of the four targeted board members is Jewish, yet the defendants are being charged with an anti-semitic hate crime. Yes: Jewish people are being charged with anti-semitic hate crimes against non-Jewish victims. INSANE. This is a good article to share with someone who you’re trying to influence to think more critically about the power dynamics of pro-Israel vs pro-Palestine activism in the US.
As the genocide and imposed starvation in Gaza continue, I am once again offering a free month of access to the paid tier of this newsletter to anyone who sends a screenshot of a new donation of any size to a fundraiser for people in/escaping Gaza. Just respond to this email with a screenshot and I’ll comp you. <3
-Hard pivot. This randomly feels like a good moment to share with you one of my secret passions, which is crafting elaborate themed playlists. This started with a playlist that Clover and I made together over the course of a long driving day two years ago on a cross-country road trip, titled “Post-9/11 Processing Anthems.” More recently, I made a playlist in collaboration with Clover and other various friends called “PSA Songs.”