I'm convinced that many/most american urbanites live in a kind of constant state of apathetic stupor, when they're not actively enamored with living among their captors - like a city-wide kind of Stockholm syndrome. The lie is that cities are just awful, and you're very cool for being able to put up with how awful they are, and it's worth it because cities have culture or opportunity, or something.
The lie becomes reality when everyone seems to just accept that living in certain high density urban areas means you will be confronted with non-stop human misery, trash, violence and filth. But it's totally unnecessary. Cities don't have to be hell on earth, and you shouldn't inure yourself to misery, ever.
Excellent essay. You highlighted the main reason I very rarely watch or read legacy media. ‘Reframing’ the truth - especially something as horrific as this terrible murder - to further an agenda. I also am horrified at the passengers. What a sad commentary on the state of our culture. 💔
Crazy how long it took me to hit "publish"—I hate that. I guess the important part is that I did, that you read it and it resonated, and in turn gave me the encouragement to keep saying the obvious things out loud. Wild times for sure.
It’s not called losing followers — it’s called aligning with your true audience.
By the way, I don’t live in the U.S., but when I used the public transport system in L.A., not a single ride — whether bus or subway — felt “normal.” After 8 p.m., the city felt like something out of The Warriors movie. I honestly can’t understand how the government has allowed it to get to that point. Is it like that in every major city? I think we are livng in a post left-right reality. Hope more people could apply other more updated frameworks when talking about the public life.
Thank you. I did not know about the capitalized and lowercase race identification- this is so blatant. How is this murder even about race?? Well it is now.
I once heard a black minister. Say that, we will always have racism as long as we use the words, black and white. Even in our most basic terms we start with opposition.
Thank you for your clear words! This type of reporting is not an isolated case. In a comparable crime in Germany—in this case, the perpetrator pushed a teenager in front of a train—there is not only little reporting; the names of victims are often not mentioned; photos are rare, which leaves the victims faceless, and in this particular case, the investigation was even closed and covered up, which only came to light two weeks later.
This has only caused partial outrage, as there are already politicians who suspect “discrimination” against the perpetrator and warn against his “dehumanization.” There is a method to all this. Anyone who falls victim to this as a member of the wrong victim group can not only expect no help: their death itself is swept under the carpet so as not to challenge the narrative. It is appalling, brutal, and inhumane.
I remember a while back when you were first telling me about how wild Germany has become... sad to hear it's only gotten worse. Stay safe out there, friend.
that's what haunting me these days. the way she curled up on the seat, as if she was trying to be as small as possible, hiding her eyes, desperate and dying. heartbreaking.
While horrifying, what is the difference between this murder and every other that happened last month? Is it not the outrage? And I agree it’s pretty much the same with George Floyd
I'm convinced that many/most american urbanites live in a kind of constant state of apathetic stupor, when they're not actively enamored with living among their captors - like a city-wide kind of Stockholm syndrome. The lie is that cities are just awful, and you're very cool for being able to put up with how awful they are, and it's worth it because cities have culture or opportunity, or something.
The lie becomes reality when everyone seems to just accept that living in certain high density urban areas means you will be confronted with non-stop human misery, trash, violence and filth. But it's totally unnecessary. Cities don't have to be hell on earth, and you shouldn't inure yourself to misery, ever.
It really doesn't have to be like this.
Thank you for saying what so many of us are thinking. 🙏🏻💕🙏🏻💕
It's the least I can do.
Excellent essay. You highlighted the main reason I very rarely watch or read legacy media. ‘Reframing’ the truth - especially something as horrific as this terrible murder - to further an agenda. I also am horrified at the passengers. What a sad commentary on the state of our culture. 💔
There's always an agenda. Even on the "side" you think you're agreeing with. Sad indeed.
Thank you for writing about this.
Spot on! Thank you for putting it into words.
I was hoping you’d write about this after seeing so many posts from you on X yesterday. Thank you for using your platform to say the things out loud.
Thank you for this. What a world we live in to feel this much gratitude for someone brave enough to point out the incredibly obvious.
Crazy how long it took me to hit "publish"—I hate that. I guess the important part is that I did, that you read it and it resonated, and in turn gave me the encouragement to keep saying the obvious things out loud. Wild times for sure.
It’s not called losing followers — it’s called aligning with your true audience.
By the way, I don’t live in the U.S., but when I used the public transport system in L.A., not a single ride — whether bus or subway — felt “normal.” After 8 p.m., the city felt like something out of The Warriors movie. I honestly can’t understand how the government has allowed it to get to that point. Is it like that in every major city? I think we are livng in a post left-right reality. Hope more people could apply other more updated frameworks when talking about the public life.
USA needs to turn it off and turn it on again.
Thank you. I did not know about the capitalized and lowercase race identification- this is so blatant. How is this murder even about race?? Well it is now.
I once heard a black minister. Say that, we will always have racism as long as we use the words, black and white. Even in our most basic terms we start with opposition.
Thank you for your clear words! This type of reporting is not an isolated case. In a comparable crime in Germany—in this case, the perpetrator pushed a teenager in front of a train—there is not only little reporting; the names of victims are often not mentioned; photos are rare, which leaves the victims faceless, and in this particular case, the investigation was even closed and covered up, which only came to light two weeks later.
This has only caused partial outrage, as there are already politicians who suspect “discrimination” against the perpetrator and warn against his “dehumanization.” There is a method to all this. Anyone who falls victim to this as a member of the wrong victim group can not only expect no help: their death itself is swept under the carpet so as not to challenge the narrative. It is appalling, brutal, and inhumane.
I remember a while back when you were first telling me about how wild Germany has become... sad to hear it's only gotten worse. Stay safe out there, friend.
So the killer said that a material planted in his body by the government did the killing, not him:
https://youtu.be/-FU_E1XXqSA?si=pAUPeEJ-JlTK6f94
This is my point, we shouldn’t assume that we understand the mind or know the motives of people, much less people who are psychotic.
Thank you for writing this. It all must be said.
that's what haunting me these days. the way she curled up on the seat, as if she was trying to be as small as possible, hiding her eyes, desperate and dying. heartbreaking.
While horrifying, what is the difference between this murder and every other that happened last month? Is it not the outrage? And I agree it’s pretty much the same with George Floyd
Thank you Stepf for boldly voicing this, thank you for illuminating this unfathomable tragedy. RIP Iryna 💔