Tag: Grief

How have my political views changed over time?

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

How have your political views changed over time?

Over time, my political views have shifted in ways I didn’t expect. I’m more progressive than I used to be, especially when it comes to issues like health care. Before my brother’s death, I didn’t have a strong position on universal health care; now I see it as essential.

My views on drug policy have also changed. I used to support full legalization, but I’ve moved toward believing that regulation and strong ethical oversight matter more than blanket legalization.

I read Marxist‑Leninist texts because I’m interested in understanding different political frameworks, but that doesn’t mean I expect—or advocate for—any kind of revolution in my lifetime. My interest is more analytical than predictive.

Overall, my politics have become more grounded in lived experience, personal loss, and a desire for systems that prioritize people’s well‑being.

The Personal Trauma Behind “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” by Mark Ronson Ft. Miley Cyrus

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

🤦‍♀️

The Personal Trauma Behind “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” by Mark Ronson Ft. Miley Cyrus

Everybody Hurts

Ronson and Cyrus filmed the music video for “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart” in Kyiv, Ukraine. There’s a breaking news report on TV where the chyron reads “Miley’s Wild Ride” as Cyrus is chased in her car by law enforcement.

Key scenes in the video include shots on the New Darnytski Bridge, which crosses the Dnieper River. Cyrus’s car also drives through a strip club as well as a shooting range with children inside firing guns.

The video speaks to the casual violence that consumes the news and the continued tragedy of school shootings in America.

Cyrus told British TV host Graham Norton, “Mark was very trusting about my ideas. It’s all about what is heartbreaking to us in society every single day—waking up to the news of violence, judgment, and hypocrisy.” She continued, “It’s about a deeper heartbreak than losing love in a romance or relationship.”

She wanted to focus on the things that break “us apart every single day.”

Galactic Bonds: A Journey Through Movies, Games, and Memories

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

My brother was a Star Wars fan through and through—so much so that Yoda became his nickname. While I’ve only truly loved the original trilogy, we still shared a deep appreciation for the saga, making Star Wars a special part of our connection. It even became a tradition for us to go to the movies on Christmas when the newer films premiered. Beyond Star Wars, we also bonded over other franchises like Transformers (though we never got around to seeing Bumblebee) and Fast & Furious. The only Star Wars book I own is Star Wars Rogue One – Junior Novel by Matt Forbeck (from our hometown), which might have ended up in his collection by accident. I had wanted to get it autographed for him but never got the chance before he passed away.

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The Mouth is an Open Grave

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

IT’S TOO COMPLICATED, THEY SAY

II. The Mouth is an Open Grave

You—who called me militant over a glass of wine,
You—who said I was too loud, too political,
who said that academic associations should remain impartial,
as if to study anthropology is not to see its ghosts assembling.

You—who snarled at me after a boycott motion,

who spat my name like a bullet,

said you were sick of my pro-Palestine ‘shit’,
as if grief should wear clean clothes,
as if rage should come whispering
apologies at your door,
as if I could soften my sorrow
to spare you discomfort—
you, who mistake silence for peace,
politeness for justice.

You—who told her to shut up,
shut up, shut up,
while the bodies were still warm,
while the smoke still gathered in their throats.

What does it mean to shut up
when the silence is already swallowing a nation?