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Action of Limitless, Intelligent, and Evolving Nerds in Solidarity
And Damn Proud of it.
Action
On July 4th 2007, four women vowed to do something about our lack of activity and dissatisfaction with the state of the world. We decided that we would not allow apathy to ruin our lives, and never to become desensitized or complacent. A.L.I.E.N.S is created in response to the feelings we felt that day.
Limitless
A.L.I.E.N.S firmly believes that no subject should/will be taboo. We refuse to, either mentally or politically discourage ideas or agenda's out of conformity and/or status quo preservation. We are limitless because we are original. We realize that fear drives 95% of our behavior, and therefore things become impossible to change. We will not be afraid to explore, discuss, analyze, or act upon any detail of our existence.
Intelligent
We are looking forward to becoming a group filled with intelligent individuals. We do ALIENate individuals who will not be good for our group dynamic. The only criteria is that we seek people who are in a constant state of learning for participation in group discussion. School, textbooks, and the media did not make us this way. We made the conscious effort. We seek out other individuals who have taken it upon themselves to learn about the world we live in, out of selflessness and the desire to make it better.
Evolving
We believe in order to support the unpopular notion that change is necessary to humanity, we must all change. Some people are change resistant and this filters to every aspect of their lives; including their personality and beliefs. A.L.I.E.N.S does not want to be that way. We always want to grow, change, develop and adapt. How else will we learn as people and groups if we do not dare to challenge our existing ideas? A.L.I.E.N.S wants to be in a constant state of mental/political evolution.
Nerds
From Science Fiction to Socialism, from every subject to every barrier, we are nerds. We are nerds and in being so, we are already isolated from the status quo. Many of our members self identify as nerds in addition to our proclaimed self-identities. The personal is political.
Solidarity
We stand firmly and united on the issues that Sexism, Racism, Classism, Homophobia, etc., are to be challenged. They are not just wrong. Because the statement that things are wrong is nothing more than an acknowledgement. It does not change things, people, events or circumstances. We believe that unlearning is as important as learning. You cannot do these things without unity.In addition, we want to offer solidarity in action to those who need it. A group cannot function if the members are not looking out for each other. People may not agree on issues but that does not make us any less united. One of the most important aspects of this Organization is to give other politically minded people a place to grow and build. We like to refer to this solidarity as ALIENation: Separate from others, but united in ourselves.We are the Action of Limitless Intelligent and Evolving Nerds in Solidarity. Please join us.
Please email us with further suggestions at cause4effect@gmail.com
These are the voyages of "Alienated Conclusions". Its indefinite mission: to explore the subjects liberals are too uncomfortable to address; to seek out new insights and new ideas; and to boldly go where no radical has gone before.
We are The "A.L.I.E.N.S".
Action of Limitless, Intelligent, and Evolving Nerds in Solidarity
Nerds in Constant Evolution.
Radical Beyond Human Comprehension.
And Damn Proud of it.
Sites we dig
- Advertisment Analysis
- Angry Asian Man
- Angry Brown Butch
- Be sure to tune into Hugh Hamilton at 3pm!
- Below the Belt
- Black Women Vote!
- Contexts
- Cynthia McKinney Documentary
- Daily Kos
- Ebony Intuition
- Excellent Documentary on hip-hop
- Feministe
- Feministing
- JWA
- Progressive events space, Brecht Forum
- Progressive Jewish Blog
- Progressive radio WBAI
- Queerty
- Racialicous
- Shalom Veg
- Sociology of Women
- Sociology of Women
- The Angry Black Woman
- Truth Dig (alternative news source)
- Vegans of Color
- What About our Daughters?
- Womanist Musings
Blog Archive
Who We Are
Action
On July 4th 2007, four women vowed to do something about our lack of activity and dissatisfaction with the state of the world. We decided that we would not allow apathy to ruin our lives, and never to become desensitized or complacent. A.L.I.E.N.S is created in response to the feelings we felt that day.
Limitless
A.L.I.E.N.S firmly believes that no subject should/will be taboo. We refuse to, either mentally or politically discourage ideas or agenda's out of conformity and/or status quo preservation. We are limitless because we are original. We realize that fear drives 95% of our behavior, and therefore things become impossible to change. We will not be afraid to explore, discuss, analyze, or act upon any detail of our existence.
Intelligent
We are looking forward to becoming a group filled with intelligent individuals. We do ALIENate individuals who will not be good for our group dynamic. The only criteria is that we seek people who are in a constant state of learning for participation in group discussion. School, textbooks, and the media did not make us this way. We made the conscious effort. We seek out other individuals who have taken it upon themselves to learn about the world we live in, out of selflessness and the desire to make it better.
Evolving
We believe in order to support the unpopular notion that change is necessary to humanity, we must all change. Some people are change resistant and this filters to every aspect of their lives; including their personality and beliefs. A.L.I.E.N.S does not want to be that way. We always want to grow, change, develop and adapt. How else will we learn as people and groups if we do not dare to challenge our existing ideas? A.L.I.E.N.S wants to be in a constant state of mental/political evolution.
Nerds
From Science Fiction to Socialism, from every subject to every barrier, we are nerds. We are nerds and in being so, we are already isolated from the status quo. Many of our members self identify as nerds in addition to our proclaimed self-identities. The personal is political.
Solidarity
We stand firmly and united on the issues that Sexism, Racism, Classism, Homophobia, etc., are to be challenged. They are not just wrong. Because the statement that things are wrong is nothing more than an acknowledgement. It does not change things, people, events or circumstances. We believe that unlearning is as important as learning. You cannot do these things without unity.In addition, we want to offer solidarity in action to those who need it. A group cannot function if the members are not looking out for each other. People may not agree on issues but that does not make us any less united. One of the most important aspects of this Organization is to give other politically minded people a place to grow and build. We like to refer to this solidarity as ALIENation: Separate from others, but united in ourselves.We are the Action of Limitless Intelligent and Evolving Nerds in Solidarity. Please join us.
Please email us with further suggestions at cause4effect@gmail.com
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17 comments:
I think i've seen this picture before
AJ:
Wow, I never saw this particular one. Funny tho how the classifications have changed to suit the motives of those in power. The only class that does not change now are the "black and white" categories, etc., because the perminent under class and overclass are "black" or "white".
How come haitians aren't considered latino? Latino is a linguial group based on those from countries that speak a language of latin origins. Haitians speak french, which is a latin language that shares the island with d.r. but they are two groups?
At least this picture acknowledges the diversity of the black race to some degree ::shrugs::
aj, do u remember that convo we had about the question "what are you"? And how its perceived very differently based on racial categories? It can be offensive if one is in the groups who is on the verge of assimilating, or a reminder that one is not white. But to a black person, it is a neutral comment because one is acknowledging that we allll look different, and if one isn't hung up on the category of "black" you can tell the difference between an african american, an african, a west indian, a black East indian, etc., so "what are you" becomes a breath of fresh air (thank you for acknowledging my ethnicity over my permanent underclass "black"). RACE IS ONLY WHAT YOU ARE PERCIEVED AS BY THE WHITE POWER STRUCTURE. Which is why Bob Marley is permanetly black, and Mariah Carey is not even though they are both half white.
I think about how it is not P.C to call someone who is japanese chinese, however black people can fit one group category because of our permanent underclass status. And despite the fact that an Ethiopian, an African American, and sometimes a west indian can look substiantly different it's totally P.C to label us all black or african american, or some varying degree of insanity.
Am i makin any sense at all?
Tiffany E:
Our convo about is it positive to reclaim "blackness" when it clearly puts our "racial class" over our culture is a good convo. But if one does not embrace blackness, are we disassociating (aka self hatred)? I remember having a convo or something with someone about how feminists do this too and using the book I haven't read (lol) as a reference. The Whipping Girl which AJ is supposed to be lending me. Feminists, should we reclaim our "femininity" and what it means to be "feminine" or reject it? Which is self hatred/ conforming and which is not? Etc., etc.,
A lot of my political life (10 yrs starting monday haha) I thought to reclaim my "black" identity is positive. But that comes with dehumanization and the invalidation of what constitutes my blackness. If I am Bajan (West African, East Indian, Ethiopian, etc.,) and I am African American: (West African and native American) How can I limit this into one category? Is it positive? Why or why not? I used to refuse to mention my ethnicity and identify as black because so many people use it as a scapegoat to dissassociate from blackness out of self hatred. But isn't their something wrong with claiming the identity whites labeled us as the default which is NEGATIVE? But how come people NOT in the permanent category of blackness CAN mention their cultural background and no one listens if we do? Makes no sense. But race makes no sense :-P
I think I am starting to repeat myself. haha sorry.
But isn't their something wrong with claiming the identity whites labeled us as the default which is NEGATIVE?
See this is a great question, by claiming the identities that whites labeled us is only causing confusion. For example I was born in Canada and my mom is from Barbados, my father is also from Barbados so my heritage is West Indian ( even though my parents aren't Indian) so thats an incorrect label.
2nd example Alicia Keys her mom is of Irish and Italian Descent and her father is is Jamaican but yet both Alicia Keys and I would be labeled Black. If Alicia keys is Black then what am I, because I am darker than her my hair is tightly curled African hair, Alicia has loose curls and her skin is white..Ain't that confusing..
Nationality is a relationship between a person and their state of origin, culture, association, affiliation and/or loyalty. Nationality affords the state jurisdiction over the person, and affords the person the protection of the state.
Generally, nationality is established at birth by a child's place of birth (jus soli) and/or bloodline (jus sanguinis).
To me you are what your mother is, why do I say this because a women gives birth and DNA is carried through the mother (mitochondrial DNA)
I was justing talking with a friend on myspace about this african ancestry dna test and she made a good point also about the dna which i mentioned in my prior post..
"your mitichondrial dna does not change from female to female."
Now this quote is true, the only time it changes is when a female from another clan now has a child with a male from a different clan.. i.e the Alicia keys example therefore Alicia keys is Irish/Italian not Afro- Carribean because you are what your mother is not what your father is...Hell i know what I just wrote is damn confusing but true lol
"but still hurtful because if it were a dark skinned woman would people have been as empathetic?"
True, I'm very sure that many darker skin women refused to give up there seat back in those days, but as you said no one would have cared. Even many of the leaders back in those times 1900's-1965's where preaching for blacks to stick together but at home teaching their children to not bring a ni%%er home.
"Dark skin is threatening to whites, and people are classified differently on a mass scale by how close they resemble whiteness. So to call a light-skinned black person, a biracial person, and a Sudanese dark skinned person by the same racial classification when they are clearly treated differently STILL doesn't make any sense."
Exactly this is why I get so pissed off when I have conversations with white women who have children for black men. A white women in (north america) will fight to death to argue that her mulatto child is "Black". But then will makes statements saying that their child has a better life because they have the best of both worlds. BS They really want to say that because the child now looks white which means the child will be given more privilege and status that the child has a better life..And white women are well aware that everyone gets treated different but they still push everyone even their own mixed children into the same classification.
I get so angry too because white women will indirectly make statements trying to say that they would be a better mother to a black child and what makes the situation worse is that black men fall for it. I remember having a discussion on myspace where a female asked are white women capable of raising black children and this mulatto female said yes white women can raise black children and she had the nerve to say that the question should be can black women raise black children. Then she went on to say that all black people are jobless, have no education , and are always committing crime..I responded to this mulatto female saying is THIS WHAT YOUR WHITE MOTHER TAUGHT YOU ABOUT YOUR FATHERS SIDE OF THE FAMILY..She didn't even realize that she just insulted half of her identity...Trying to show off that because she is white that she is better than her fathers side of the family..Lord help these people lol!!!
"Why'd I become a feminist it is so fuckin hard! haha."
Trust me it is, read Stuck in Middle over at www.womanist-musings.blogspot.com
"Notice how stereotypes about black women being mammy's and yet, incapable of raising their own children are inherently contradictory. "
Thanks for making this connection, I never even realized this myself. Black women are forced to take care and serve everyone but at the end of the day we're told that we can't take care of our own, which makes no sense...
"But I also know that when black women are beaten by their spouses many members of the community will tell them not to discuss it in public because black men are unfairly treated by cops. So public knowledge of this 1. Puts black women in a position of "keeping quiet" and 2. More of an excuse for police presence, which, trust me is not created to help black women in any situation. SO WHAT THE FUCK DO WE DO?! "
This is true, I've witnessed this situation more than once in my life and i've experience it (not in terms of physical violence).
I had did a favor for a (now ex boyfriend) that involved a car, everything was going fine then tickets started to come and he would make up the most excuses to not give me the money to pay the tickets . It got to the point where I told him its either you take the plates off the car (which by law the car was mine cause it was in my name) or I'll go to the police station and report the car missing and explain to them the whole story. And of course I had to end up going to the fed station and explaining the whole story which the police officer said I did the right thing. And they put a warrant out for his arrest. And im happy I did go to the police and I don't regret it at all. Not allowing a black man to take advantage of me because im a black women.
P.S The ex boyfriend still hasN'T been able to put a car back on the road its been over 2 years now, he drove his licence and car and profile with the police down the drain all on his behalf because he wanted to use and abuse people to do things for him and it and ended up backfiring on HIM!!!!!!! SELFISHNESS, POWER AND GREED ONLY ENDED UP HURTING HIM MORE THAN IT DID OTHERS AHHH TO BAD LMAO
Your story is so fucked up. I am glad you made the right decision!
When I was a freshman in school i had a similar thing happen w/ questioning calling the police but with a stalker. My best friend and I were hanging out with this other girl who we used to hang out with. It was when classes let out and we stayed over the summer and the campus is pretty empty. So my best friend (male ) leaves to go home and he notices that this guy is watching me through the window and is attempting to come in and had already barged into the house while we were all there. So to make a long story short, the guy was looking through the window and my best friend came back and we went back through the woods to another apartment.
So the girl we were hanging out with said we should file a report with UPD and we got into this massive fight because me and my best friend (he's semi-conservative ) about the purpose of cops etc. They ended up calling the cops despite my disagreeing.
When the cops showed up and I described him (like a lil taller than myself, athletic and darker) they called for backup WE ALL SAW THEM DO IT. So they took us down to the basement where the office was and we filled out a report. They also found his friend and showed him who reported his friend (fucked up, right?).
We even went to our black female professor who was a womanist, then and I didn't really know anything about womanism or feminism at all. And the girl we were hanging out with was an upperclassman and said that I didn't want to file a report and the professor was like "WHY are you putting some guy who clearly didn't have your best interest above your own? Black women deserve our humanity too, it has nothing to do with pro-blackness to put your safety in jeapordy", etc., and sat me down and talked to me even tho it was my first time really meeting her and I never did that again.
But in the meantime me and my best friend got into a huge fight over them pressing charges and my choice not to even though I was stalked. It seems moronic that I was thinking like that, but then again I was 18yrs old. lol. we talked about that the other day, and he makes fun of me for being wrong the ONE TIME he was right!! ha
Also last Wednesday I was followed home by a group of guys who were saying things, etc., on my block. I love my neighborhood because wtf roti, mango lassi, sweetbread, sugarcane, etc., are literally a block from me and I think my block is like, beautiful with tons of trees. lol But I also know that I am not safe there at night, this was like 930. They literally followed me screaming and I don't carry weapons but was nervous about telling my friends. Even AJ who's understanding and political, and lives a few blocks from me. And i know it's because I'm brainwashed to not rat out black men and give whites an excuse to be racist against them, and I've told my friends that because we are really really honest with each other about race, that I'm uncomfortable with that. How come because I'm a black female people assume I am safer in "unsafe" neighborhoods? Lemme guess, black women are "strong" will give them "attitude" and its the end. But come the fuck on, there were 6 guys following me and I have never been in a fight except when i was little with my brothers. lol. But how many liberals will say all cops should be moved from inner city neighborhoods to protect black men? Obviously, this is done partially so that black women are even more vulnerable than we are now. I've literally looked at women who get harrassed, sometimes as young as 14 and they look scared and try to make an "angry face", but you can tell they are scared shitless. And this is Brooklyn where everyone has a reputation for being "tough", especially black women. But I've seen many girls do the "pretend to be tough" even tho they are scared to death for their safety. Wtf, this is long but you get my point. I HATE COPS, I've had bad experiences with cops and them harassing my perfect A++ student brother who has never fought or done a bad thing in his life because he's 6'6 and black, and I am uncomfortable with the fact that cops are friendlier to me than they would be to him if he were in trouble. i know allll about what cops do to black men. But where does it leave us if cops were never around??? It's a difficult question.
"I love my neighborhood because wtf roti, mango lassi, sweetbread, sugarcane, etc., are literally a block from me and I think my block is like, beautiful with tons of trees. lol "
Your making me want to go to the west indian store right now..lol
"How come because I'm a black female people assume I am safer in "unsafe" neighborhoods? Lemme guess, black women are "strong" will give them "attitude" and its the end."
Good point, I really hate this strong black women crap too, even non black women use this statement "oh well black women are strong so deal with the fact that no one wants to proctect you or date you" BS...
Its true it leaves us in a difficult situation because we are brainwashed to keep quite and not tell on our own men, but then have to deal with actually being scared for our safety...but everyone assumes that beause we are strong that we don't have to deal with anything
"I am blonde. Would it be safe for me there"? It's the most hurtful to hear. Which says 1. I'm blonde, everyone desires me so they will harass me. 2. Who cares what happens to women of color, I'm blonde I don't deserve to die or be raped. 3. Black women are "strong" they can handle rape. Which is so disgusting I don't know where to begin. or 4. Black women can fight off attackers with their invisible muscles?"
OMG...You have to be kidding me..
"WHERE IS THIS ALLEGED STRENGTH BECAUSE I DON'T SEE IT. "
Exactly I don't see it nor feel it at all..
"I've literally heard women say "I'm strong" just so that they can convince themselves as though they are not allowed to be upset when fucked up things happen to them, you don't have to "suck it up", even white women are allowed to cry and be emotional if something bad happens to them."
I've witness this also, black women putting all the blame on themselves just so they won't be called a bitch, or so they won't upset a man. Its very very sad because black women continue to do it all the time and this is why there is so much depression , its just not noticable because we hide are true feelings..
"OMG...You have to be kidding me.."
Nope. These "I'm a white girl everyone wants to rape me despite rape of me being statistically lower" sites come a dime a dozen. Actually someone else mentioned what i was thinking here.
http://www.brooklynian.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=354511
Pretty much, a black woman brought up the point that black women get harassed a ridiculous amount and raped and robbed...here come the white people to say that she's imagining it, DESPITE statistics and common sense.
Rochester, Brooklyn, Canada, whatev. The basic thing is that most black neighborhoods are filled with 90% families who are working class and trying to pay bills on time, raising children etc., and are trying to make ends meet making them relatively safe. THE PROBLEM is that because of hoodlums everyone locks themselves indoors at night and the hoodlums therefore get allowance to run the streets. The hoodlums own the night in the black community. At home, it was white yuppies at the local pub at night, in Egypt it seemed to be little kids lol they were everywhere at night (maybe to hot to play during day?) lol idunno whatev my point is that the "Night" belongs to certain groups in different communities. Whether that be Greasers, or Bikers, or "the boys". But a different set of people always seem to run/occupy the streets at nights in communities.Black neighborhoods are no different.
But the difference is that it is LESS safe at night, ONLY because everyone else is indoors. BECAUSE they are afraid of hoodlum nonsense too, they just lock themselves in. (dont tell white people this. they are convinced that the average black person has seen someone get shot, loves crack needles, and don't believe in rape as opposed to the LOGICAL explanation that black people are just as afraid). But I guess if white people didn't lie to themselves about their imagined fear there wouldn't be segregation in the first place.
Only 20somethigns stay out way late at night, anyway regardless of color. Hoodlums don't care as much about black people seeing them do dirt, because like i said black folks are afraid to go to the police. But it also depends. Is it a shopping district? If so more people are out late. Or just houses, residential houses, or a place that requires police presence? etc. It all depends. No place is really safe for black women...very different with whites... which is why I'm planning to get some mase and spray the FUCK out of the next group of guys that follows me home. lol, nah. that wouldnt be smart but i should have it i guess. X to the O.
I want to be very honest here. Before I moved to my new (black) neighborhood, i thought that i would get more unwanted attention from black men because i would stick out- this has not proven true.
Unfortunately, these men and boys make rude comments to any young womon who passes by- ive seen it numerous times and ive seen numerous ways that these womyn respond but NOTHING gets them to back off :(.
It is not the beauty of a womon that elicits this unwelcome attention, but it is simply a perceived need by men to assert themselves as superior. simple. It is also the encouragement from their peers that perpetuates this behavior- therefore, in some communities, males don't harass in this same way. I don't feel comfortable trying to break down why more black than white men harass or if this is even true although it is true in my experience.
Please do not spare my feelings when responding to my comment.
"in Egypt it seemed to be little kids lol they were everywhere at night (maybe to hot to play during day?) lol idunno whatev my point is that the "Night" belongs to certain groups in different communities."
Lol to the lil kids in Egypt, but yes I get what your saying its true, same thing up here in Toronto, I know that if im in a certain area, i'll try to get home before its to late. In general a lot of men are out at night because a lot of men work over night shits etc..or just hanging on the street corner.
"they are convinced that the average black person has seen someone get shot,"
This part gets to me because I have seen it happen, and have had to flee 1 to many times in my life from shots..
"which is why I'm planning to get some mase and spray the FUCK out of the next group of guys that follows me home. lol, nah."
I don't blame you, when I was going to school for fashion design, i was always coming home late like 2-3 am and i worked at a club on the weekends so i would come home like 4-5 , i use to walk with this tool we use in fashion to trace the patterns, image a circle on a stick with multiple sharp points sticking out of it..(yea if that caught your face , your a gonner) i carried it with me and i carried my scissors i used for cutting clothes because on a weekly bases it got sharpend on those metal things..
WOC are forced to put black men first to save them from the effects of racism over their own health and saftey and their childrens safety...This crap needs to end NOW...!!!
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