Thank you for sharing that piece by Chris Hedges. It really highlighted the conditions and harms of these camps. It's a horror that shouldn't be reality in modern times. It's a humanitarian crisis given cover by bad theology and evil people.
I'm all for taking back language from those who would use it for violence and harm, which is why I'd prefer not to call this detention center "alligator" anything. Alligators are a naturally non-aggressive native species that serve an important role in their ecosystem. They were once endangered thanks to destructive human activity, and they're now an environmental success story. They aren't monsters or props and they don't deserve to be associated with monstrous behavior in humans. Same with the Everglades, which aren't some kind of stock threatening swamp set piece, they're an important wetlands biome home to many endangered species. They protect us against the effects of intensifying extreme weather events by mitigating flooding and erosion along with enhancing the quality of millions of gallons of water. I'd rather not treat that with the same disrespect as this detention center does.
Maybe a more appropriate symbolism for people who want to bring systematic harm to other groups of people would be something evoking man vs. nature inspired by greed and selfishness and shortsightedness. In the context of Florida, unnecessary resorts and condos and soulless overpriced housing developments have much more threatening connotations to me than swamps. Or if it's nature symbolism that's desirable, invasive species are more appropriate to use with negative symbolism than native animals. Maybe Anaconda Auschwitz? Python Plaszow?
Crystal, that's a really interesting perspective that deserves attention and consideration. It's so easy to think of places as "wastelands" when in reality, nature teaches symbiosis. I wished we didn't have to have a name for this. I wished it didn't exist. I really appreciate your insights on this and apologize it's been about a week since you left this comment. I'm working through some things that have kept me away--hoping to be back on track soon.
Chris Hedges has said the same. Both forceful and chilling pieces.
https://substack.com/@chrishedges/note/p-165674280?r=lqyg1&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thank you for sharing that piece by Chris Hedges. It really highlighted the conditions and harms of these camps. It's a horror that shouldn't be reality in modern times. It's a humanitarian crisis given cover by bad theology and evil people.
I'm all for taking back language from those who would use it for violence and harm, which is why I'd prefer not to call this detention center "alligator" anything. Alligators are a naturally non-aggressive native species that serve an important role in their ecosystem. They were once endangered thanks to destructive human activity, and they're now an environmental success story. They aren't monsters or props and they don't deserve to be associated with monstrous behavior in humans. Same with the Everglades, which aren't some kind of stock threatening swamp set piece, they're an important wetlands biome home to many endangered species. They protect us against the effects of intensifying extreme weather events by mitigating flooding and erosion along with enhancing the quality of millions of gallons of water. I'd rather not treat that with the same disrespect as this detention center does.
Maybe a more appropriate symbolism for people who want to bring systematic harm to other groups of people would be something evoking man vs. nature inspired by greed and selfishness and shortsightedness. In the context of Florida, unnecessary resorts and condos and soulless overpriced housing developments have much more threatening connotations to me than swamps. Or if it's nature symbolism that's desirable, invasive species are more appropriate to use with negative symbolism than native animals. Maybe Anaconda Auschwitz? Python Plaszow?
Crystal, that's a really interesting perspective that deserves attention and consideration. It's so easy to think of places as "wastelands" when in reality, nature teaches symbiosis. I wished we didn't have to have a name for this. I wished it didn't exist. I really appreciate your insights on this and apologize it's been about a week since you left this comment. I'm working through some things that have kept me away--hoping to be back on track soon.