“You’re a stupid loser and always will be…” — The American dream shimmers like champagne The American dream and Western “lifestyle” gleam and beckons to all people who are tired of being on their feet all day. They just want to relax on their boat. It’s an enticing dream, and entirely a fantasy. Even people who own yachts have too much work to do. Even…

A movement to protect young Black men was torn down by madness, media, & masculinity Roaring Rivers Torrents, currents, and ripples by Christyl Rivers I can’t breathe …until a woman gives birth to me In the breathless summer of 2020, we went down to Portland, Oregon to march with Black Lives Matter. A related movement had developed there which ultimately included thousands of mothers of Black youth. They gathered to protest the fear, injury, and even death…

Don’t marry your nanny, marry that homeless guy — Roaring Rivers Torrents, currents, and ripples by Christyl Rivers Roll out the red carpet to those with well-heeled feet Homophily is why we exclude most non-familiar people. Muddy feet need not apply. Homophily is our human tendency to mingle with those similar to us. …

Will you vote for almost any anti-GOP candidate to stop the one who scares you the most? — Where does his energy come from? Sometimes it feels like the far right is so powerful because of what Greta might call their small dick energy. This has nothing to do with the size of influence a “member” of the house may have. Nor does it have to do with media viewers who share membership —…

We all are immersed in thousands of belief systems that disagree — Dreams and themes When I was young, we were often told that all faiths of humanity emphasized positive human behaviors. They shared values such as compassion, love, sharing, caring, and respecting values. Ultimately, the message we were given is that all faiths have the same goal. …

Why are so many people asking for so many perks? — Roaring Rivers Torrents, currents, and ripples by Christyl Rivers Special rules for Trans people will rule out justice Every marginalized group fights to have equal rights. They do not want “special” rights. They do not want different rights. They do not want exceptions made on their behalf. …

Think of real people and expressive images — Turn that town upside down There is a cult of positivity and it sometimes extends to writers. We all know the happy ending formula. We also know it seldom happens in real life. What does happen in real life? …

Stay alert, engaged, and participatory in change, not churning — Tune out the noise As more violence rocks the nation, whether it be police violence or mass shootings — because we live in America — there is constant scandal unfolding in Washington D.C. Attention to these events does little, or usually, nothing, to help you and your world directly. They are a constant ongoing…

Taste the sweetness in the grass and trees, and ignore the fake sweetness of the new syrup label — Roaring Rivers Torrents, currents, and ripples by Christyl Rivers Brutality and totality Here is what will happen. Police will brutalize more people, some will die. A video will come out. Outrage will pour into the street. The disproportionate reality of marginalized people being beaten, arrested, and killed in comparison to criminals arrested at Mar-a-Lago, or…