"It's impossible to imagine such a thing in our country"

President Vladimir Putin uses J K Rowling as an example of Western cynicism and "cancel culture", which he says is currently being aimed at Russia.

Latest on Ukraine: https://t.co/XTFXr6HmAe

📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/TyH9lddC5k

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 25, 2022

Critiques of Western cancel culture are possibly not best made by those currently slaughtering civilians for the crime of resistance, or who jail and poison their critics. #IStandWithUkraine https://t.co/aNItgc5aiW

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 25, 2022

Read more about this exchange here, here, and here. Hat tip to Chris Calderon.

My three thoughts? Join me after the jump for those. [Read more…]

Earlier this month Rowling assured one twitter critic that she would not be giving up anytime soon her role in leading resistance to transgender overreach:

What you and your ilk fail to appreciate is how tediously familiar I find your tactics. I had a violent ex-husband who used to tell me life would be great if only I’d comply, but you’re making the same mistake he did. Women like me can’t be bullied out of resistance. pic.twitter.com/039pBtFtNT

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 9, 2022

She demonstrated her determination in this regard yesterday by tweeting out the stories of six women and the traumatic and life-damaging consequences they suffered after being hurried through transition to a transgender identity via hormone therapy and surgery. Read those heart-breaking autobiographical statements and Rowling’s encouraging words to each here, here, here, here, here, and here. In addition, she quoted with approval from and posted a link to a Guardian editorial in favor of opening up debate on gender ideology and medical ‘best practices’ around the transitioning of children.

Remember, these tweets are sent to The Presence’s almost 14 million followers on this social media platform. She has chosen to shift her rhetorical strategy from Contrarian Maven Feminist unashamed of bullying others herself to that of Story-Teller, sharing the experiences of women who have suffered grievously from the silencing of argument about the right and wrong of childhood and adolescent transitioning in the victims’ own words.

Rowling has said multiple times that she has been inundated with messages from such women and from health care professionals. Now she is giving them access to her global platform to share their testimony contrary to the party line that gender legislation saves lives rather than destroying them. This is a potential game-changer on this issue because of Rowling’s reach and the likely effect these stories will have on their new audience. [Read more…]

I will personally match donations to this appeal, up to £1m. Thank you so, so much to all who’ve already donated, you’re enabling @lumos to do crucial work for some of the most vulnerable children in Ukraine. https://t.co/XK8yTtB1nl

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 7, 2022

The Russian Federation invaded Ukraine last month and the war there continues. I am no Russo-phile, but it is clear that there are no saints leading either country (or the greater powers that use these nations’ leaders as sock-puppets). What to do?

Jo Rowling Murray pulled out her check-book and challenged others to do the same to help “some of the most vulnerable children in Ukraine,” those in orphanages. She didn’t say anything about the injustice or Realpolitik of the invasion, she didn’t browbeat the decision makers in the UK and abroad about their action or inaction, she didn’t make sardonic comments about the vicious way of the world, in which, as Thucydides noted, “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.”

Not right away at least; she has since re-tweeted messages about the invasion and its attendant horrors. See here, here, here, and here for a sample of those. Her stand, though, what she has chosen to do when confronted by this tragedy, is in essence apolitical, just as her posting The Ickabog for children and families in Covid hysteria lockdowns for free on the internet (and donating all her income from the book sales to charities helping those most hurt by the lockdowns) was all positive and generous. Here Rowling is a challenging example of action in service to a cause without exacerbating or creating antagonisms. I could definitely take some notes here for my own reflection.

I post below re-tweets and responses she made that are about her offer to match all money contributed to Lumos, not to mention paying all their expenses so contributions do not go to charity overhead, to encourage all of us to help.

"Children in institutions are one of the most vulnerable groups…they need to be supported…"
Our Director of Programmes spoke to @BBCNewshour @bbcworldservice to highlight the risk to children in orphanages in #Ukraine. Listen here at 18 minutes: https://t.co/g5CAzrv0l7

— Lumos (@lumos) March 7, 2022

For anybody wishing to donate to help children in institutions in Ukraine, who are extremely vulnerable at the moment, @lumos's core costs have been covered and 100% of your donation will go to helping those children.

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 11, 2022

You magnificent people. THANK YOU! 💙💛💙💛💙💛💙💛💙 https://t.co/bTmVNqAi3o

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) March 11, 2022

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