1/
#WhatsYourWhy: Day 2 of 7

Cashier

Them: *ringing up items* “You find everything okay?”
Me: “Yup.”
Them: “I like your hair.”
Me: “Hey—thanks.”
Them: *nods while continuing to swipe items*

*beep-beep-beep*

Them: “Is that highlights? Or . . . .“
Me: “Grey?”

*laughter*

2/
Me: “Yup. I’m openly grey.”

*laughter*

Them: “Well, it’s working for you.”
Me: “’Preciate that.”

*beep-beep-beep*

Me: “Can I ask you a question since you got all up in my grey-hair business?”

*laughter*

Me: “You getting the #COVIDVaccine when it’s offered to you?”
3/
Them: *raises eyebrows*
Me: “Ha ha ha that’s not a answer.”

*laughter*

Them: “Wait--you a doctor or something?”
Me: *patting my head* “One with grey hair, yes.”
Them: *laughing* “You funny. But nah, doc. I’m cool on that vaccine.”

“Cool on” the vaccine. Hmmm.
4/
Being “cool on” something means it’s something or someone you prefer not to interact with for various reasons.

Sometimes big.
Sometimes small.

Example:

Friend: “I didn’t love #Bridgerton.”
Me: “WHAAAAAT?”
Friend: “Yeah. But I’m cool on most period shows.”
Me: “Aah. Ok.”
5/
Usually, you don’t ask someone why they’re cool on something (or especially someone.) It’s kind of an unwritten rule. Unless, of course, you’re me.

Ha.

Me: “Yeah? Why you cool on it?”
Them: *shakes head*
Me: “Hmm.”
Them: “It’s no point.”

No point?

*beep-beep-beep*
6/
I tried to activate my ApplePay and forgot that my mask impeded face recognition.

Me: *looking up* “Do you mind me asking why you feel that way?”
Them: “’Cause now they got that super-COVID in England that’s here now.” *shaking head* “Man, that shot not even gon’ work.”
7/
Me: “I hear you. But you know the thing about the vaccines is that they help you attack those spikes on the outside of the virus. And the new strains just have spikes that are more . . . umm. . .gangster.”
Them: *looking up* “Wait what, doc?”

*laughter*
8/
Me: “You ever seen the pictures of COVID?”
Them: “With those things that look like Bantu knots?”
Me: “Bantu knots?! Haaaa OMG yes!"

*laughter*

Me: "Okay, those are the spike things that the vaccine helps you fight. And the vaccines still get them even on the new strains.”
9/
Them: “That’s all too much. I’m good.”
Me: “But my point is they work against the remix variants.”
Them: *pausing* “But I heard the SuperCOVID gets you sicker.”
Me: “You mean the new ones?”
Them: *nods*
Me: “Nah. It just passes to folks easier.”
Them: *thinking*

*silence*
10/
Me: “I got the shot.”

They froze and squinted at me.

Them: “Ok. So tell the truth. Did you feel bad when you got it?”
Me: *shrugs* “Real talk? My arm felt like shit for 2 days. And I hear your whole body hurts for a couple of days after the 2nd dose.”
11/
Them: “You HEAR? Mane, you ain’t even get both shots yet?”
Me: “Not yet.”

I punched in my PIN.

Me: “But I will. I'll take that over what COVID can do.”
Them: "Hmm."

They handed me a receipt.

Me: “I hope you’ll think more about taking a vaccine when you get a chance.”
12/
Me: *gathering bags* “Thanks, friend.”

*waving*

Them: “Hey—if I did, where would I even get it?”
Me: *stopping* “The health department, a pharmacy, a lot of places really. If you live around here, you can come to Grady where I work.”
Them: “I’m gon’ pray on it.”

Bet.
13/
Concern about the new variants of #COVID19.
Scared the #COVIDVaccine won’t work against it.
Wondering about side effects.
Not sure about the logistics.

This was their why.

Theirs.

You know what? I’m gon’ pray on it, too.

#BlackWhysMatter

More from For later read

The common understanding of propaganda is that it is intended to brainwash the masses. Supposedly, people get exposed to the same message repeatedly and over time come to believe in whatever nonsense authoritarians want them to believe /1

And yet authoritarians often broadcast silly, unpersuasive propaganda.

Political scientist Haifeng Huang writes that the purpose of propaganda is not to brainwash people, but to instill fear in them /2


When people are bombarded with propaganda everywhere they look, they are reminded of the strength of the regime.

The vast amount of resources authoritarians spend to display their message in every corner of the public square is a costly demonstration of their power /3

In fact, the overt silliness of authoritarian propaganda is part of the point. Propaganda is designed to be silly so that people can instantly recognize it when they see it


Propaganda is intended to instill fear in people, not brainwash them.

The message is: You might not believe in pro-regime values or attitudes. But we will make sure you are too frightened to do anything about it.

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In the first skandh, the importance of Vedvyas


and characters of Pandavas are described by the dialogues between Suutji and Shaunakji. Then there is the story of Parikshit.
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It also discusses the evolution of universe.(
https://t.co/2aK1AZSC79 )

Next is the portrayal of Vidur and his dialogue with Maitreyji. Then there is a mention of Creation of universe by Brahma and the preachings of Sankhya by Kapil Muni.


In the next section we find the portrayal of Sati, Dhruv, Pruthu, and the story of ancient King, Bahirshi.
In the next section we find the character of King Priyavrat and his sons, different types of loks in this universe, and description of Narak. ( https://t.co/gmDTkLktKS )


In the sixth part we find the portrayal of Ajaamil ( https://t.co/LdVSSNspa2 ), Daksh and the birth of Marudgans( https://t.co/tecNidVckj )

In the seventh section we find the story of Prahlad and the description of Varnashram dharma. This section is based on karma vaasna.