Yes, the true story of the stone soup is that all the stones and cauldrons are made by previous generations of workers and then laid out in front of new generations as the means of their survival

The most important part of maintaining this self-image is to never engage with the group being oppressed, because, if that young man in Ohio had to actually spend any time with actual trans people, his worldview would be shattered, as he realises that they've almost no power in the real world

All these acts of oppression are imagined as acts of defence, which means the true oppressor thinks of themselves as a victim. Telling them that they’re actually the arsehole never works - you’ll simply be seen as an ally to the dangerous element that’s threatening their imagined social order

(4/5)

This applies to a 1930s German mother, cheering at an anti-Jewish rally, or a Christian man shunning trans rights in Ohio, or an Israeli settler presenting Palestinians as being a threat to their existence, or the Apartheid state in 1970s South Africa justifying crackdowns on black groups

(3/5)

Throughout history, persecuted groups are always imagined as much more powerful than they actually are, and as being some kind of oppressor. This means the attack on them can be imagined as a form of defence, or as a promotion of some positive value that’s under threat

(2/5)

Really glad you like it