It's happened many times of course, without me really noticing. But when it happened a few weeks ago, and then again yesterday, I began to think about it, ask questions about it and now want to write about it. The first time it happened Joe and I were having lunch with a couple, and if you knew the history of us all that would have surprised you, who were now 'accepting' of us as gay people but for years held very negative views of homosexuality in general and us specifically. What brought us together for this meal is too complicated to explain.
Over lunch we were told a long, and very detailed, story about them having been out for lunch at another restaurant some time in the recent past. The waiter who was 'obviously gay' had been rude to them, 'like he thought he was better than them,' and then it went on to what a snob he was and how poorly he did his job. The 'obviously gay' remark was thrown in there several times just so we never forgot even for a moment that this guy was a poof. Then the story ended. There was no point except to say that an 'obviously gay' man had been mean to the poor little straight couple. What did we do? Due to the politics of the situation, we simply changed the subject and went on.
The whole episode bothered me, like something really weird had just happened but I couldn't figure out quite what it was. Then, yesterday, I had someone I know well tell me a story, in response to the fact that I'd mentioned I'm back to using my scooter for short runs while I try to get my power chair fixed, wherein someone in a scooter had nearly run them over. Then once that bit of the story was out, a bit of a diatribe followed, they go too fast these scooter users, they don't pay attention, they think they own the side walk. Again, I was caught in the politics of the situation, there are times when it simply will cost too much to speak up.
I held these two conversations together in my mind and compared and contrasted. Neither of them had a point, they were just recounting negative experiences with marginalized people. In both, the privileged were victims of people who were rude and who demanded space. It seemed to be to be a way to through homophobia and heterosexism or disphobia and ableism into a conversation. It's a new way to call names and a way to present oneself as a victim of those who should know their place.
In the first I wondered if I was expected to apologize for the behaviour of another gay man.
In the second I wondered if I was expected to distance myself from one of my scooter using siblings.
I wondered if I was supposed to somehow let them know that their sense of hurt and outrage was justified and agree that we at the margins should stay put.
Well, because of the politics of each situation, I couldn't blast them, but in this case my silence was more than silence, it was rebellion, although a quiet one.
3 comments:
Then they wonder why those marginalized people become radicalized!
This is the 'I am superior, you are inferior' putdown, pure and simple. And these people would be offended if you pointed out their homophobia, racism, privilege, because they were only talking about one rude gay person - they otherwise have lots of gay friends - etc.
Someone they consider superior may have to shame them into line, or someone very close. But the barriers are very high, because their accidental position in life from birth or other luck has indicated they have a worth - which they never earned.
And people who EARN their worth are usually quite humble about it. Those who don't earn it, know it, and are always defensive.
I've been very sad. I lost a client. She didn't have to die. You see, she was 23 years old. I'd had her since she was about 11. Long before I was her case manager, she was removed from her home by CPS. Removed and returned, over and over. Then I came into the scene. I filed reports, I went to court, over and over. When she was finally permanently removed at age 14, it was too late. She was hardened by the abuse and drug use she witnessed. I had some temporary but serious health issues and she required consistent case management, so her case was transferred to another competent case manager. Eventually, she asked for her case to be closed. Last month, she surfaced as the local hospital called my agency. She had been homeless and apparently was using. She died and there was suffering before that. No family could be located. Oh, they were around before, if they had a chance to obtain some of her disability money. I don't think she had to die. My agency can't detain. She was failed by those that could and should have removed her permanently, early on. She will now have a "county burial." Definition: cremated and stored with other urns until the storage facility is filled. Usually, 4 years. Then, a mass burial. I have a piece of her art work at my desk. She won an award at the county fair. She gave it to me. I cherish it but there is sadness too. She had no one else to give it to, just a person who had been paid to be in her life. May her memory be a blessing.
As someone who uses both a powerwheelchair and a scooter, I can tell you that the able-bodied people who complain that scooter users
"had nearly run them over"
"they go too fast these scooter users"
"they don't pay attention"
"they think they own the side walk"
are usually the exact same people who walk around with their eyes glued to their smartphone screen, never looking where they are going...
Wheelchair users and scooter users can only ever take 50% of the responsibility for trying not to startle people.
The other 50% must be taken by the able-bodied people putting their smartphone away and looking where they are going.
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