Tough as a Tardigrade

In The Oleander Sword, by Natasha Suri, Elder Priya’s punishment is almost pleasant, doing something more times that she could count in her year as a temple elder. She takes comfort that a man that doesn’t want the help of a “Ahiranyi whore witch” doesn’t spit on her like others have. She replies that he has his pick of using either of her preferences: “temple elder” or “Elder Priya."

In The Lotus Empire, Malini’s dreams carry her to the court of the imperial mahal every night, where a weeping Priya is waiting for her there.

Rao informs the priests and villagers that he feels the nameless speaking to them in many ways, and that they are failing to heed their god. One of the boys whimpers as the earth continues to shudder. The priest Ishan tells the people that he felt the nameless when Bhumika prayed and they were meant to learn from her and save the people from the yaksa.

Malini has been Priya’s only way to cobble together a third path to leave Ahiranya and avoid her fate of becoming Mani Ara’s carapace. She is coaxed by Malini’s hands and gentle words in her dreams. Priya traces the cuffs she is wearing with her fingertips, and unlocks them. Having broken their power over her, her lacerations start to heal.

Later, when she is physically with Malini, Priya wakes to the gentle hand of Malini’s hand over her heart. Priya asks if it’s time to go, and Malini nods.

In More Stars Than Grains of Sand, Al Forsyth shares that tardigrades are the toughest animals on Earth. Tardigrades, microscopic eight-legged animals with eight legs each found in every region of the biosphere can survive in temperatures ranging from near absolute zero to beyond boiling, in pressure six times greater than the deepest trench, in the vacuum of outer space, without food or water for 10 years, being dried out for eight years, and lethal radiation. Some of their capabilities still defy explanation.

Utah Representative Trevor Lee, a Republican from Layton. Is going to once again run a bill to ban pride flags from schools and public institutions. The Republicans still maintain a supermajority in the both state houses, and have not been kind to LGBTQ+ interests and needs for the past three years. Without swaying the legislators, this bill is likely to pass, and fall into the hands of organizations like the ACLU of Utah to sue to block the legislation.

If this bill passes, and a school board doesn’t resolve a parental complaint about a flag, the parent would have the right to sue. According to a recent survey, almost 11% of high school students are lesbian, gay, or bisexual. One percent is transgender. Lee is targeting Pride flags specifically per his posts on social media, and called the news media covering the story a “race-baiting activist” and “communist scum.”

If you live in Utah, please reach out to your representative and senator and ask them to vote against this bill. Get to know them, and let them get to know you and why this bill is harmful. It is a direct attack on educators who want to make sure that LGBTQ+ students are just as much welcomed and supported as their fellow students.

Sometimes a teacher is the only safe adult a student can approach with their LGBT issues. The pride symbol marks that space and that adult as safe. It’s a scary world and we all need safe spaces. Teachers don’t try to confuse a student about their gender or sexual orientation; they are there to accept them no matter what their gender identity or sexual orientation may be. By removing symbols of support and safety, it helps pave the way toward a more authoritarian society in which those who don’t follow the prescribed norms are shunned and punished.

You should especially contact your representatives if they are Republican; and most especially if Trevor Lee is your representative. If you are so unfortunate as to have Mr. Lee as your representative, please work toward unseating him in 2026.

We can't be as tough as a tardigrade, but we can be stronger by being there for one another, showing that we are there no matter how tough the circumstances. While others may spit and shout obscenities and be incredibly rude, we can rise above that. When we listen to our hearts, we know the path forward is based on what we know in our hearts, and not necessarily from some priest or minister who would rather judge us than get to know us. We can rise above the misinformation and hatred and be a light toward the world, radiating truth and experience to the misinformed, and being there to increase their opportunity to learn. This is not "Cancel Culture." It's Callout Culture. We cannot fail to call people out, or be afraid to be called out; we just need to do it with the love and respect that we expect in return.