Writer's Block: Yes, offense taken

[eumelia]

[Error: unknown template qotd]

Okay, wow.
This is actually a good Writer's Block.

I've been staring at it for a good while now.

Because the answer is: sometimes.

I'm being honest here, sometimes, I'm just too tired to confront people and tell them they're "wrong", "off-base", "being disrespectful" etc. Why? Because it's all the freakin' time.
It's prevalent and invidious.
How do you tell someone that their assumptions are offensive?

Is that over-sensitivity? Perhaps, but I'm often been called over sensitive for calling on people who said something about Arabs being untrustworthy, or about Gays "flaunting" their (our) sexuality.
And I'm like: "Die, fucker, die!" in my mind, while trying to calmly say: "Excuse me, but do you have any idea how offensive what you said was?" and then discuss for half an hour how #1 I took it the wrong way #2 It's just an opinion and they're entitled to it and #3 going around in circles regarding the whole concept of treating other people as human.
It's not that hard, honestly.
A little dignity and respect that goes two ways.

But it's not that, of course.
It's much deeper than that, because dignity and respect are concepts to be put upon those you see as equals, right?
Racial inferiors and sexual deviants aren't worthy of the same dignity and respect, right?

Generally speaking, I do not let this shit fly, because it reduces me as a person, to this non-person and it replicates the destructive discourse that makes sure that sexual minorities, racial minorities, women, people with disabilities, trans people and every intersection thereof into something other than human.
And that, plain as day and crystal clear, just doesn't effing fly.

And sometimes... I'm just too tired to deal with it, so I roll my eyes, make a sarcastic remark and hope the conversation moves on quickly.

Good night, y'all.

Comments

[bailarrose.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you!!! It does get tiring (especially if you live in the bible belt), but it always bothers me if I don't say something or show my disapproval in some way. I feel as if I'm just as guilty as them because I choose not to say/do anything.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I hear the Bible Belt is not easy when it comes to dispelling prejudice.
Let me tell you something... no where is easy, because people who spout hateful things can be anyone - and people you least expect as well... that's also what makes this kind thing tiring and at times frightening.

[bailarrose.livejournal.com]

Very true. How do you deal with that? I'm just starting to get a dose of that from some friends who I really like, but they don't seem racist...just ignorant and its not just towards my race. I've called them out on it a few times, but it seems like nothing ever changes.