10:21 PM – July 4th is a really strange time.

I live in a time where the world is on fire.

Israeli-Palestine War, and Russia-Ukraine war, and The US bombing Iran.

The world is filled with bombs and killing and genocides.

And down the street from me are the sounds explosions from the fireworks.

I think about this thing called anarchist calisthenics,

Where you build a habit of doing things you wouldn’t normally do, to in a sense, train your ability to make decisions you’re not used to.

I can’t help but interpret these sounds through the eyes of these countries.

Through the genocide I’ve watched on screens.

Not to psyche myself out, but in preparation.

As I’ve seen in all the books and history I’ve been reading on tyranny, authoritarian governments, and more.. And how the US is following eerily in the footsteps of the regimes in my studies..

I think these anarchist calisthenics have some utility.

What a strange time this is.. To live in a world where we can see mass murder from our phones screens,

To see concentration camps, government funded kidnappings and torture, dehumanization and hate crimes. From the comforts of our homes, with warm showers, and fast food..

While nearly everyone around me is acting normal.

The current administration also just passed the “big beautiful” (ugly) bill

Cutting medicare health insurance for millions of people in the US.

They”re trying to shut down the Vegas Arts district, one of the only epicenters of culture in this weird city that I can’t think of any other example would be a better representation of post-modernism.

Again..

It’s a strange time to have a birthday.. July 1st.

And what is there really to celebrate on 4th of July.

When millions of people will die from this bill in my backyard.

What I will celebrate i guess..

Is the knowledge I’ve woken up to seeing,

with the pressures of history unfolding before me.

And the inner growth, development, and challenges I’m navigating through..

As I learn to take up space, using my voice during this time..