I don't know what side you fall into when it comes to the societal unrest that's been showing this past month but I think most of us here can see where movements like Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ protests are coming from.
The GF and I did not make it to the protests in Brussels and Ghent but I'm glad a lot of folks did. Luckily, there are other ways to help. If you live in Belgium,
there's a document making the rounds that lists some organisations and people that can use your support. We picked a couple to donate to in June and others in Juli. We're making this a recurring, monthly thing.
Other that that, I think educating ourselves and being aware that things are not always what they seem on the surface, are the best ways to move forward. For example, think of how baffling it is that Belgians are not taught in school what Leopold II did, how unsettling it is to realise it wasn't that long ago, how cruel it is to people who's history was so awfully twisted, that we put up statues of the bastard.
There's a lot of work to be done (some would argue, more important work) but presenting symbols like this, reflects very poorly what we want to be as a society. And symbols and representation are a powerful thing.
Along with this, I've also been reminded this week of how little progress the comics industry has made when it comes to treating women. A week or 2 ago, a new wave of accusations against comic book creators and editors abusing their power to various degrees. Going from blacklisting and blocking someone's career advancements to outright sexual assault.
Most disappointing one of all, for me and many others personally, was the outing of
Warren Ellis as a genuine creep and Bluebeard. While not physically assaulting anyone, more than 50 cases came to light where he abused his power and damaged those women's lives.
One thing that makes it perplexing, is that he has also genuinely helped and supported many people and always showed himself on the side of feminists, cultivating many friendships and professional relationships that way.
And then there are many accounts,
such as this one, proclaiming it didn't come as a surprise. As with other such outings, I am maybe most baffled and angry that none of the men who knew this went "Hang out a minute, this is not okay" in public. Especially since we've already had multiple waves of comic creators being ousted in the past 5 years.