Captain America Speech

This is my favorite Captain America speech ever.  This is what it means to be a hero.  It's not about powers or publicity.  It's about integrity.  It's about observing the world until you understand what's wrong with it, figuring out a solution to some part of that, and applying yourself to it.  It's about deciding your own personal code of honor from which you will not deviate no matter what other people do or don't do.  Heroes take responsibility.  An unsullied hero like Cap is just not budgable on this point. 

Conversely, this is my iconic villain speech.  Villains tend to focus on what they can do more than what they should do, and what people will think about them.  They're in it for their own purposes, their own desires, rather than what is good or what is needed.  When things to wrong, they consistently try to lay the blame on someone else, anyone else.

On the Proper Use of Safe Spaces

So people are picking on college students again for needing safe spaces. I think the world would be a better place if we picked on people less and supported people more. In that interest ...

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Poll: Free Epic for May 5, 2015 Poetry Fishbowl

The May 5, 2015 Poetry Fishbowl met its $200 goal, so you get a free epic.  Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll.  I will keep it open until at least Wednesday afternoon.  If there's a clear answer then, I'll close it.  Otherwise I may leave it open a little longer.

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Poem: "If You Do Not Change Direction"

This poem is from the May 5, 2015 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by prompts from thnidu and Shirley Barrette. It also fills the "talk with a friend" square in my 5-2-15 card for the Wellness Toolbox Bingo fest. This poem belongs to the Polychrome Heroics series.

WARNING: This poem deals with some intense personal topics. Highlight to read the warnings, some of which are spoilers. The two main characters are dealing with very difficult issues around gender identity and sexual orientation. They are at the stage where they're realizing their current circumstances are untenable, but they are not yet ready to make the major changes required for happiness. However! They do get there, because this is actually a prequel for Hyperspaceman and Professor Nigel Bonneville, both of whom we've seen in much better circumstances farther down the timeline. If these are sensitive topics for you, please consider your headspace before reading onward.

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Poll: General Fund for May 5, 2015 Poetry Fishbowl

This is the general fund poll for the May 5, 2015 Poetry Fishbowl.  Everyone is eligible to vote in this poll. I will keep it open until at least Wednesday night.  If there's a clear answer then, I'll close it.  Otherwise I may leave it open a little longer.

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Polls for May

I have two fishbowl polls up on LiveJournal now: the free epic poll and the general fund poll.  If you're not on LJ then you can vote in a comment.