Through Lines & Fault Lines

We’re all mad at somebody. We just disagree who.
We’ve been fed a caricature of “the other side” and taught to hate it. When really…more often than not it’s the ‘puppet-masters’ at the top who are causing all the chaos.

‘The wizard(s) behind the mask(s),’ if you will.

Let people be complicated and curious and contain contradictions. For that matter, let yourself be complicated, curious, and contain contradictions. Discussing someone’s opinion that is different from your own does not implicate you. You won’t get cancelled. You don’t have to change your values or even your opinion. And you just might learn something.

Conversations and Contradictions 'Everyone is a Pluralist'...at least in my experience

'Everyone is a Pluralist'...at least in my experience.
Somewhere in the wild and chaotic mix of my upbringing, the illuminating years at an Ivy League, and the travels back and forth while my values and principles remained unchanged...I developed a sense of authenticity and curiosity that made me feel as at ease discussing religion with my college peers as I did discussing science and politics with my family back home.
-
Let people be complicated and curious and contain contradictions. For that matter, let yourself be complicated, curious and contain contradictions.

Reflecting on the potential struggles of Edith Frank (Anne Frank's mom).

This morning, for no particular reason, I find myself thinking about Anne Frank's mom...
Reflecting on the unique struggle and strength of home-making during (inter)national crises.

Allyson Garcia-Quick is a writer and Science & Society scholar. She’s fascinated by positioning historical events (particularly legislation, “culture war” issues, and SCOTUS decisions) in their broader context -- for example: what religious beliefs, cultural norms, and scientific theories were prevalent at the time.

Her interests, insofar as more modern applications of a “Science and Society lens to journalistic writing,” include:
- women’s athleticism and excellence - how self-help and motivational books are often written for and by men and are missing the perspective and struggle many mothers deal with
- pop culture and politics - books and movies often reflect our moment and can inspire and inform our worldview
- feminism (its various iterations) and the science, politics, and pop culture that interact with it over time - from Taylor Swift to Mary Tyler Moore to Barbie; from eugenics to birth control to suffrage.

She named her blog “Through Lines and Fault Lines” because of her affinity for tracing connections, such as between science from 50 years ago, legislation from 20 years ago, and the culture and politics today. The “Fault Lines” part cleverly nods to the fracturing and polarization in American politics.

Having lived and worked all across the U.S., Allyson has had meaningful and respectful conversations with all variety of people. She knows better than to assume every issue has only two sides and that every person aligns all their views with one ideological ‘side of the aisle’. With a passion for linguistics and an ear for a sort of “code switching” (between the rural, conservative Christians she grew up around and the coastal, elite academics she was in community with at college), she believes we’re often just talking past each other and missing how much we actually could agree on. We’re often expressing frustration at the same problem - we’re just using different words (and often blaming different causes).

Whether by synthesizing complex scientific information, connecting the dots of seemingly disparate topics, translating ideas between the communities of science, politics, or society, or simply being the interpreter between ‘the sides’ -- Allyson strives to provide a voice that bridges gaps and speaks to deeper truths than clickbait or buzz words.

Through Lines and Fault Lines | Allyson Garcia-Quick | Substack Supreme Court rulings to medical biases, scientific revolutions to shifting social norms—I trace the hidden threads that connect them all. Weaving through the "Discourse" and buzz words, providing a voice that bridges the gap instead of cementing divides. Click to read Through Lines and Fault Line...

Turning thirty and finding career clarity. And a few of the future projects I've dreamed up as I set out writing about how regular people feel about the developments in ivory towers and halls of power. Link to Substack in bio.

Sometimes I’ve struggled with reading nonfiction or consuming the works of others and then turning around to create something of my own. The repetitiveness of human experience can feel frustrating. The fear of being redundant can plague you as you try to come up with something "new" to say.
But storytelling will always matter.
-
Link to post in stories, highlights, and/or bio.

When I was younger I had a bedroom in the corner of the house and it shared a wall with the entry way / mudroom that we keep our shoes and coats in.
I heard ALL the comings and goings.
My dad drove truck and went on long hauls. He would often get in close to midnight - after the family had gone to bed. The sounds of that house (the smells, textures, and colors) are a part of my bones. Grounding and comforting even when life right now feels a bit unmoored.

Posting some "low stakes," observational prose to my 'personal' substack thread.
It is technically a separate blog page. I'll keep the more personal stuff there and get back to "Through Lines and Fault Lines" when I'm getting more analytical and investigative again.

The Storm and The Sea
A poem about the strife and strength of loving someone who is your opposite.

First post after the break.
Not quite back to policy and politics yet. Will see where my writing takes me for now. And let it bring me back to things. 💛