Thoughts From The Wrong Century

Homophobia sucks. It is nothing but wrong, stupid and dangerous. 
We are all the same and therefore we all should have the same rights, it's that easy!

I want to sharewith you  the best speech in favour of gay rights I have heard in a long time. Not only is it witty and funny it is also so very true!

"I'm sorry, I brought the wrong notes with me this evening, I borrowed my arguments from the wrong century. It turns out what I have been reading to you this whole time are direct quotes from white preachers from the 1950s all in support of racial segregation. All I have done is simply take out the phrase 'racial segregation' and substitute it with the phrase 'gay rights'. [...]The arguments sound so similar I got them confused. I hope you'll not make the same mistake! I hope you will stand on the right side of history. "

This man deserves loud applause and standing ovations!

Have a great day,
The Countess

Pussy Riot sentenced to to years in jail

I am sad, I am shocked and I am disgusted! This is one of those moments where I have doubt that there is any good in people. The three members of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot have to go to jail for wo ears. 2(!) years. For a one minute long protest that did not hurt anyone or anything except for the huge egos of Putin and the Russion Orthodox Church. The (female) judge stated that they commited religious motivated hooliganism. Bullshit! They simply critized the influence the church has on the state and the close links between Putin and the church. 

Now, three young women will be seperated from their families and children. Russian jails are often hundreds of kilometres away from where the families live and the prisoners are only allowed very view visits during a year and only one phone call per month. Imagine being isolated from all your loved ones because you stood up for what is right!

Putin has again shown that he does not want a democracy where everyone can express their opinions but a dictatorship where his and the churches voices count alone. Sad but true.

If you want to read more about this, click!

10 Reasons why we need feminism

- There are 188 directly elected political leaders in this world right now. 16 of them are women.

- Female circumcision

- The word 'feminist' is still used as an insult.

- Less money for the same work

- The idea that women HAVE TO shave.

-The looks a woman still gets when she says that she doesn't like and/or doesn't want kids.

- The threats and harassments Anita Sarkeesian gets because she announced that she wants to talk about how women are portraited in video games. She gets threats that include her being raped, beaten up and killed.

-Gay women still have to fight against the stereotype that they are less of a woman than a straight woman.

- The Pro Life movement

- The feminist movement often got and gets involved in other important movements such as the anti- slavery movements back in the past, the LGBT movement etc.

I leave you with this: It's a really good video about how female characters in comics etc. are often randomly killed in order to support the development of a male character.

Are you a feminist?

Why do you think feminism is important?

Have a great day,

The Countess

Thoughts on Tolerance. And Architecture.

Please have a look at this building:

Be honest: This is beautiful, right? To me it is a fantastic  piece of architeture, the forms are amazing and the colour ads a whole lot of elegance to it. This is a digital version of the mosque that is right now being built in Cologne by the German architect Paul Böhm who won the competition that was held in order to create the best concept for it. It is built at the same place where the old mosque used to be. This old mosque wasn't a real representative mosque but rather just a plain, old building that was way too small for the amount of people who wanted to pray there. This new mosque will not only have praying rooms but also a library and a community center. I personally think that this mosque could become one of the most beautiful buildings in Cologne, a tourist magnet, a symbol for cultural diversity and the space the muslims in Cologne need and deserve.

Unfortunately, many people do not agree with me on that. And no, I do not only talk about neo-nazis and other intolerant right-winged bastards, I talk about the so called "middle of society", regular people who claim not to be racist but rather "concerned". Those concerns include such ridiculous things such as parking lots that will be used by the people who visit the mosque to pray there and therefore won't be free for the people living around the mosque. Some people were afraid that the muezzin could disturb their oh so important quiet and peace. Those people of course don't mention the church bells that make noises in every city in every part of Germany. Another "argument" that was brought up is that the mosque was supposed to be white which offended some people because to them a big white building would demonstrate muslim power over the christian western world. I know, ridiculous. I told you...

Germany is not homogeneous and neither are the people living here. 

We are diverse. 

We are multicultural. 

We are muslim. 

We are christian. 

We are jewish. 

We are budhist. 

We are atheist. 

We are wiccan. 

We are white. 

We are black. 

We are gay. 

We are straight. 

We are bisexual. 

We are transgender. 

We are female. 

We are male. 

We are old. 

We are young. 

We are ugly. 

We are pretty. 

We are smart. 

We are stupid. 

We are disabled. 

We are ill. 

We are healthy.

We all have the right to exsist, we all have the right to try to be as happy as possible. We have the right to pray. Everyone. Not just white male rich christians. This mosque is going to be a part of Cologne and so are the people who will come there to pray. To all the intolerant people who want to limit other people's rights in order to feel more dominant and powerful: Deal with it.Your hate will not change anything!

We have to be the change we want to see in this world. 

We can only do so together.

So get out and support those who need it.

Yours,

The Countess

Gothic vs. Feminism

I don't wear trousers. I don't show much skin. I wear my hair in braided buns. I love corsets. That sounds pretty much like the perfect victorian lady, right? Wrong. I have one "flaw" that would be considered unbelievably improper for a young modest victorian woman: I am a feminist. And normally I like to let my style reflect my political and social views (Hello, bag coverd in political badges!) because to me your style is the mirror to your soul. 

The problem is: My soul isn't the one of a nice and polite victorian housewife; it's the soul of a loud, independent, intelligent woman that isn't afraid to step on some toes in order to change the world. I discuss with people on a daily basis, I am not afraid to offend people with honest answers and I can get furious when someone is plain ignorant. A few weeks ago I was told that feminism is overrated because men and women are already equal. When I asked that guy how 20% less payment for the same work, less job opportunities and only tiny chances to get into a leading position are a definition of "equal" he just looked at me with that typical "Oh my God, she is one of THOSE women"-look. 

I was surprised. People expect me to be weird, nerdy, indoorsy and rude. They do not expect me to be a feminist. I thought about how i could change that. How can I let my style reflect my political views without loosing the frills, the skirts and the glitter? Then I realized: I don't have to change a thing. I wear what I love, no matter what. And that's exactly what feminism is about. It is about choices. Want to be a business woman? Great! A housewife? Great? A teacher? Great! A physisicst? Great! A Riot Girl? Great! a wall flower? Great! 

There is no correct style for a feminist except for the one you personally feel comfortable in. Feminism is about breaking up gender stereotypes, we shouldn't start constructing new ones by creating a certain form of uniformity. We are all different while being all the same. That is truly great!

So I'm going to keep the glitter and all the black because that is who I am. A victorian goth. A Quaintrelle. A "feminin" woman. A feminist.

How do you stand on feminism?

Have a great day,

The Countess

Homophobia is gay!

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia And Transphobia!

It's an important day even though it makes me sad that we still need to create awareness because so many people have to live their lives in fear and hate in our so called free and modern world. It is just so unbelievably disgusting that a person should be discriminated against just because of whom they love. 
Love is good! It makes people happy, everyone should want other people to love and to be loved. I mean, seriously, have you ever been in love? It's awesome!!! 
Why for fuck's sake should the love between two people ever be considered as something  "wrong", "disgusting" or "unnatural"? I am an Atheist but if the God that so many people believe in would hate gay people why would he/she/it still create them? That doesn't make any sense! 

We still put human beings in categories. Straight. Gay. Bisexual. Male. Female. Those who do not fit in one of the categories we think are "proper" or "good" or who simply do not want to identify with one of the labels society has created are excluded from range of what is normal. Happiness, love and having a family should be human rights! Why should gay people be less good parents? Why should a person who was born with a penis be less of a woman? What is a woman, anyway? Or a man? Label yourself if you want to but do not force those labels on other people! And hell, do not use your close-minded views and morals to spread hate!

The wonderful Frank Iero, guitarist from My Chemical Romance and his really cool t-shirt

Here is a video from the awesome FCKH8 campaign that fights for the rights of gay, bi and transgendered people. They make really great videos, they're loud, they neon-coloured and their message is so fucking true!

So go around and spread the word: Some people are gay, get over it!

Have a great day,

The Countess

Celebrating

This is just a quick emotional outbreak (a positive one!).

Today, the parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia had an early election after the minority government had what other people would call "failed". The old government was a combination of the Social Democratic Party and The Greens. I have just come out of the poll site where I functioned as a poll worker and turned on the TV as soon as possible. Then I jumped. And cried out of joy. And danced. And then jumped a little more. The minority government has turned into a majority rule, the Christian Democratic Party (conservatives) have lost a f*ck load of votes, The Left isn't part of the parilament anymore while The Pirates (yes, we have that) got into the parilament of Nroth Rhine-Westphalia for the very first time. 

As a member of the Green Youth these are awesome news! I am right now celebrating with tea, chocolate and NCIS while spamming Facebook in my amazement.

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

You have to be the change you want to see in the world

A few minutes ago, I was just sitting here at University with one of my closest friends, just chatting and wasting time when she got a phone call. Her mother, a politician, was invited to an open forum to talk about inclusion but unfortunately, she isn't able to go because she got the information at a very short notice. Therefore, she asked her daughter, my friend, if she wanted to go instead of her. My friend is studying to become a special education teacher and is an active member in the Green Youth like me so she knows quite a bit about inclusion. Of course, she took the opportunity and has just left me to prepare for the open forum which will be in a few hours. Good luck and have fun, by the way! 

I was really impressed that she got such a great opportunity. She gets to discuss with regional politicians and will be able to support the inclusion of people with disabilities in our society through her participation in the open forum. She is basically doing something to change the world, to make it a better place where everyone is seen as equal and important. Did I mention that I am really impressed?

To help her a little, I sent her some links on the topic while she was on her way home and while doing that I thought that I also really want to do something. I want to change the world. I want to make our society a better place. But how?

Then it came to me that actually, I AM already doing so, I just haven't noticed. It's the little things in life that make an impression, we are all important, we all have a voice. 

By sending her those links, I did something. 

By talking about the election that is coming up in our county (north-rhine westfalia) and telling everyone to get their friggin' asses up and vote I am doing something. 

By being and active member in the youth organization of a political party I am doing something. 

By being vegan I am doing something. 

By being a feminist and talking about feminism with people I am doing something. 

By becoming a teacher I am doing something.

Maybe I do not reach hundreds of people but only a handfull but still I am doing what I can to make this world a better place. If we all just go out, believe in ourselfs and fight for the things that we believe are good and important with all our hearts, we can do it! We can change the world. Not only for you and me. For everyone. To quote Obama: YES. WE. CAN.

So I leave you with this: Don't go on and on about how somebody should change the things you hate, you are somebody! And now excuse me, I have to go and learn more about medieval history to be able to teach it to children. They are our future and I want this society's future to be educated. 

Have a great day,

The Countess

15 things

Ok, so I reached 15 followers a few days ago and seriously: There are 15 people in this world (plus my friend Imke who reads this without following <3) who read the random stuff I post here? That is pretty awesome!

In order to honour that I want to post 15 random (hip hip hooray for randomness!) things about me.

1. Even though I believe in the idea that intelligent people do not have to be good at sports, I go to the gym (irregularly though...) and love to go skiing and water skiing. Also, I love to ride my bike whenever it's nice, warm and sunny outside.
2. If I were granted three wishes I would ask for a world free of war and violence, the end of world hunger and for justice for every living creature. Yes, seriously. I'm one of those weird idealists, haven't you noticed?
3. There are 10 books on my bedside table right now, including one about the history of the woman's rights movement, one about 1000 important women in history, 3 biographies (Elizabeth I., Bismarck & Napoleon), Sherlock Holmes stories, spooky ballads and The Hunger Games.
4. My favourite semi-precious stone is the snowflake obsidian. It reminds me of the fact that without darkness we wouldn't be able to see the beauty of light.

                                                                                                                                                     

5. I'm a vegan for more than two years now it was one of the best desicions I have ever made.

6. I have never done/tried any (illegal) drugs. Ever.

7. I tend to be friends with the same people for a really long time, probably because it takes me quite a while to consider them as friends, I like to choose wisely.

8. I got into Pottermore at the first day of the Beta phase. I'm a Ravenclaw which wasn't a real surprise and which is nice even though I like Slytherin better. At least it isn't Gryffindor. 

9. I have pretty strong political opinions. I'm in favour of a meat tax, pro-choice, pro gay marriage and I think the seperation of state and church is very important. Also, I'm a pacifist. I'm a member of the Green Youth and the themes I'm most interested in are animal rights, queer and gender issues, anti-racism and education.

10. In constrast to the typical cliché that women love chocolate I prefer crisps! I could eat 3 bags a week....At least!

11. I'd love to learn Swedish or Finnish.

12. My favourite animals are turtles and fish. I hate spiders, I'm phobic.

13. I suffer from a pretty severe form of asthma and have to take antibiotics whenever I get ill which is about 5-6 times a year. I've had 4 pneunomias so far and too many bronchitis to count (about 3 to 4 a year I guess).

14. Purple lipstic is awesome.

15. I make jewelry with pictures of people I admire such as Elizabeth I. and Oscar Wilde.

Ok, yeah, quite random, huh?

have a loevely evening,

The Countess