#5SmartReads - June 3, 2022

Hitha on the Amber Heard-Johnny Depp trial, student loan debt, and where our focus is

June 03, 2022

content warning: abuse

I have to admit that I didn’t give this trial much attention, so I needed this primer to understand what is happening.

After reading this deep dive, the fears that survivors of abuse can be silenced with a swift defamation suit are valid and very likely about to become our reality.

And in such legal battles, the court of public opinion is the only one that matters, as we’re seeing on social media and the incredibly loud and impactful support of Depp. I’ll leave you with this, which sums it up more eloquently than I ever could:

“In the end, perhaps that’s what’s most damning about the larger conversation around this trial: the inability to handle the ambiguities. Faced with a portrait of a relationship in which there’s compelling evidence of violence and toxic behavior on both sides, our culture seems unable to accept that we may simply be looking at a story without heroes. Instead, we demand a tidy narrative with a heroic redemption arc — and if the hero is a beloved, charismatic, and powerful white man, well, all the better.”

…and speaking of the court of public opinion, it appears their focus was on this trial and on Elon Musk more than the news stories that captured my attention.

And if you’re wondering why there’s been so much press around the trial (and verdict), it’s because the demand is there, and that demand is profitable.

It’s giving me flashbacks of the OJ Simpson trial, which similarly gripped the nation and distracted us from the Yugoslav War, that the first African-American astronaut walked in space, the government shut down over the budget, and the final Calvin & Hobbes comic was published.

Trending news is why I aim to share the underreported stories and underrepresented perspectives here on #5SmartReads, and my friend Emily talks frequently about the public square (watch her highlight on that topic) and on citizenship being a daily activity, not a check-the-box-and-done moment. What you choose to click on, watch, and read matters and determines what our news media publishes. Click & share with care.

“Because of the trials and tribulations that come with being closeted, hiding our true selves, and battling the urge to come out, many LGBTQ+ people turn to substances and toxic behavior as a salve. Indeed, compared to their hetero peers, LGBTQ+ people are more than twice as likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol excessively, use illicit drugs, have substance-abuse disorders, and experience major depression. Poor self-care in the lesbian community is reflected in higher proportions of eating disorders, unhealthy weight, and lower physical activity, as well as lower likelihood to get preventive care for cancer.”

Dr. Sara C. Mednick bravely shares her own story and the reality for so many queer American who suffer due to not being able to show up and be loved for who they are and always have been.

But don’t take my brief words for it. Read Dr. Mednick’s words with compassion and an open mind.

…and a big part of the credit goes to Vice President Harris, who sued Corinthian Colleges in 2013 when she was Attorney General of California.

I know there’s been a big push on social media for large student debt forgiveness (and I would encourage anyone who has tweeted about it to call their Member of Congress and Senators to pass a comprehensive student debt forgiveness bill), but I also want to credit this administration for doing a significant amount on student loan forgiveness, including bolstering the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program and having approved $25B in loan forgiveness over the past 17 months.

We can always do more. But we should also take a beat to acknowledge just how much has been done to date.

You probably saw these words from my wise friend Lauren on social media last week or this week, and it continues to ring true as the mass shootings continue, formula is still in short supply, and parents - especially moms - continue to live in this relentless, unforgiving, hard place.

If you feel hopeless about *gesticulates widely* all of this, I hope you find the comfort and the actions you can take in Lauren’s wise words. I have a daily calendar invite to remind me to call my state and congressional rep and senators to voice my support for whatever Emily tells me I should (at the federal level - at the state level, my request is for their support for the bill to tax ammunition).

Reply

or to participate.