Again, that it is a pattern in her rhetoric is part of the concern - and that it is a common issue with many other middle-class leftist activists suggests that it is not some extreme abnormality that should be just ignored.

And again, like I said, Greta Thunberg is doing legitimate good in the world, and a hell of a lot more than I probably would manage in her position.

It is certainly a double-edged sword that she has found herself wielding, and a broad condemnation for being imperfect would be unfair, especially as she’s still at college age - fuck, the number of unfortunate implications in my own words at that age would shame me, not for malice, but simply for lack of exposure to why they had shitty implications. At the same time, the refusal of many left-wing audiences to acknowledge problems with this style of rhetoric, and with anything Greta has said or done in particular, is a problem. Speaking from a position of privilege to a largely unprivileged audience is a very delicate position, and online communities trying to paper over any raised eyebrows with “You’re just jealous” is the kind of lunacy results in echo chambers and a detachment from the actual conditions and opinions of the general population, which is key to rational and effective political action.

Yeah, like I said - it’s tone-deaf. That’s all I’m saying. It is a pattern, and it is not ideal, but if I found ‘not ideal’ was a reason to not support people doing legitimate good in the world, I would be an even shittier person than I already am.

I legitimately wish her the best, and have been in support of her actions for a long time. But the immediate group-think of defending every word out of her mouth is not helpful - rhetoric has influence, and it’s overwhelmingly not the politically involved like us who need to be convinced by the message, but ordinary, everyday, struggling people who are unlikely to respond well to being chided for not dropping the entirety of their lives to do the ‘bare minimum’. It is a privileged thing to say, and it unfortunately will be seen as such by many who need to hear the importance of opposing the genocide in Palestine and the abuses of the Israeli government.

Honestly, if it wasn’t the title, I probably wouldn’t have picked up on it. What we choose to amplify and emphasize as those who are involved in spreading the message is also part of rhetoric. And also honestly, if I wasn’t in a place as left-wing as the Fediverse, I probably wouldn’t have brought it up on my own - audience matters.

This isn’t the first time she’s made such comments, and she has explicitly directed them at the mass of ordinary people before.

You seem to want to shit on her for not coming from poverty.

… no?

I’m pointing out that characterizing a life of political activism - and it is certainly dedicating her life to it - as the bare minimum of morality is an extremely tone-deaf statement. I don’t really know how much clearer I can phrase this.

This is not, furthermore, a one-off statement, but consistently tone-deaf rhetoric of this sort she has used - a style of rhetoric which, as mentioned, is common amongst some other leftists who seem capable of understanding that the core idea is absurd until their current political crisis du jour comes up.

She risks her life, you don’t. You bitch about it.

What.

What an immensely poor take.

She is overtly stating that much more needs to be done.

She pretty consistently excoriates the great mass of people for not doing what she’s doing, which, again, she consistently characterizes as the bare minimum or in like terms.

For some reason, it’s common for leftists to recognize that most workers are struggling simply to survive under capitalism, until their political topic du jour comes up.

How is a call to do more privilege?

Do you…

… do you really not understand how the capacity to do more is, itself, reflective of privilege?

How is putting your ass on the line against the IDF twice privilege?

… considering that most people don’t have the money, time, or connections to join a flotilla going to another country in protest of genocide?

It’s… pretty inherently the product of privilege. Using that privilege for a good cause is commendable - characterizing it as the only moral form of existence, not so much.

As with most Greta Thunberg critics, you’re just nonplussed that she’s accomplished more for humanity in her short life, than you ever will for the remainder of yours.

I mean, other than her being immensely more privileged than I am, I probably wouldn’t accomplish as much as she has in her life even if I had her privilege.

That’s not the same as unconditionally praising every word out of her mouth as God’s own wisdom.

Unfortunately unsurprising. Israel acts like it’s invincible with regards to international law and opinion. Torturing international activists is just another day for the Israeli government.

I hope this will open more eyes, at least, here in the West.

We are not heroes. We are doing the bare minimum

What an immensely privileged thing to say.

I wish Greta and the cause of Palestinian liberation the best, but she is tone-deaf in consistently saying such things.

o7

They’d be stupid to do so at this point. Good on Taiwan.

May Italy’s support grow ever-stronger, and the occupation ever-weaker.

I was unaware that there was a one-referendum limit to his political activities. Apparently the first tired him out /s

Utter fucking insanity.

How utterly bizarre.

How did it go for Rome when armies owed their allegiance to one man?

[civil wars intensify]

What. do they need to make sure everyone swears fealty to the Orange?

Useful idiot who helped the GOP getting his just desserts

Good. Since empathy is a foreign concept to corporations, one must presume that public pressure got to them.

Students have been told Gazans “deserved what they got” and a Sydney teacher was “forced out [of] his job” for wearing a traditional scarf in what researchers say are increasing instances of anti-Palestinian racism in schools across Australia.

The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) released its first national register report on Friday to examine “the climate of fear, censorship, intimidation and punishment” experienced by students, teachers and members of the school community.

The report analysed the testimonies of 84 respondents over a four-month period between March and July 2024, including witness accounts and lived experiences from the Palestinian diaspora and allies.

It captured tensions in Australia in the months after October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched its attack on Israel, prompting retaliation that escalated into war.

Families reported students were experiencing racial violence that went ignored by educators, including a Year 2 Victorian child told by a Jewish student they “can’t wait to help the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) go kill Palestinians”, and another Palestinian student “physically attacked” after speaking Arabic.

According to the report, a Palestinian teacher was also banned by a principal from wearing her grandmother’s keffiyeh after a complaint, a primary school teacher was called a “terrorist” for also wearing the cultural scarf, and a casual staff member said their shifts were cut after donning a pro-Palestinian badge.

Jesus Christ.

Yeah.

Terrorism, really.