The Witches are Coming

by Lindy West

We have to be the witches they’ve always said we are, and counter their magic with our own. So fine, if you insist. This is a witch hunt. We’re witches, and we’re hunting you.

Someone will always pop up to say, “You would be more effective if you were nicer.” “You would have a more receptive audience if you adjusted your tone.” “You catch more flies with honey.” Well, I don’t want flies. The most likable woman in the world is crawling with fucking flies.

Whatever your sphere is, however big or small, you get to make choices within it, and if you care about healing the wounds of the world I hope you become a real demon bitch about diversity and never let anyone sleep. Think radical thoughts and let yourself imagine they’re true. Then ask yourself why it’s considered radical to make art that accurately reflects reality, to build a society that takes care of its members, to demand a better world.

Irreverence is the ultimate luxury item.

that’s what love does to you—it scrambles your compass, so that the idiosyncrasies you hate with fire and fury become so fucking charming you just want to gobble that person up and then poop them into a baby’s cradle and coo over them until the heavens fall into the sea.

Being cognizant of and careful with the historic trauma of others is what “political correctness” means. It means that the powerful should never attack the disempowered—not because it “offends” them or hurts their “feelings” but because it perpetuates toxic, oppressive systems. Or, in plainer language, because it makes people’s lives worse. In tangible ways. For generations.

I’d been taught that when ordinary people try to do activism, they look stupid. Of course now I know that there is no effective activism without the passion and commitment of ordinary people and it is a basic duty of the privileged to show up and fight for issues that don’t affect us directly.