ASCII/computer code by Whisper
@dumpstermagic
Your worthiness isn’t reliant on how much you produce, contribute, keep up, or prove yourself. You matter to the movement even during times when your body, mind, and/or soul are at rest. Beware movement spaces that make you feel like resting is a sign of weakness and caring for you is a burden ~ accessibility should be the bare minimum! Respect should never need to be earned through productivity.
I’ve witnessed even the most leftist collectives, nonprofits, and co-ops fall into imperialistic habits of ranking, controlling, and discarding bodies. To state the obvious, a progressive label doesn’t guarantee a safe community or person. Beware lefty cliques that use the language of justice to shield themselves from accountability, punish disagreement, offer care selectively, or make newcomers prove themselves. Authentic community welcomes questions, makes room for different needs and capacities, repairs harm without spectacle and punishment, and shares power rather than hoarding it for social status and access to resources.
Don’t look for comrades who say they have the same exact politics as you, but relationships where you can set boundaries, be imperfect, and still be treated with dignity. Honor your capacity! Better community and health will follow.
