Reply #84: nonviolence [View All]

[Kanary]

I'm really glad this topic was brought up, and hope that I haven't gotten in on it too late, as I'd like some replies to this one. Just my luck, you've all probably gone on to other things by now. ^_^

From waaaay back in my dirtyhippiepinkocommiebum days, I've espoused the concept of nonviolence. Dehumanizing people with name-calling and such is just as violent as physically attacking them. I know, because I've been on the receiving end of both. However, hang with me here a moment, pleeeez....

On the other hand, I also don't care to do violence to myself. Continually swallowing verbal attacks is one form of that violence. I'm part of the population that is considered the lowest of the low in this society... I'm on disability and therefore considered a bum for real at this point in my life. I've put up with unbelievable abuse from doctors, etc. It wasn't too long ago that I was actually called a "parasite" by, of course, some rightwingers. Now, it's easy to tell people like me to "let it run off your back", etc., but stuff like that, over time, chips away at our personhood, and eventually leads to a sense of worthlessness and uselessness.

Step that up to the next level, please, and understand that I'm also under a real threat from these people of taking away what little recourse I have now to minimal survival, and their words are even more threatening to me. I suspect there is little chance that I, and others in my position, will survive another 4 years of Bush. Actually, there are indications that cutbacks scheduled for next year may finally finish me off.

So, these people are not ones I can engage in civil discourse... I know that they care not whether I survive, and in fact, hope that I don't. I'd like to see myself as someone who can rise above that, who can "turn the other cheek" in a mature manner, and return good for evil. I'd like to believe that I can see them as human beings even though they are out for nothing less than my demise. In short, I truly do not want to stoop to their level.

However, I'm not proud of saying this, but I find I'm not capable of that level of functioning. Basically, I have no respect for people of this type, and have learned the hard way that the only way they are ever going to develope any compassion is if they find themselves in the same situation I'm in. I'm not holding my breath.

So, given all that, I find that "blowing off steam" by letting loose with some name-calling (not to their faces, although I've considered that), and some demonization of my own helps to defuse some of the anger and fear that I feel about these people (and I think I use that term lightly).

However, it really does bring me down to their level. I resent that. I resent like hell being in this whole mess. So, if anyone has any good suggestions for how to blow off steam and yet maintain my nonviolence values, I'm open to listening. Usually I don't like advice, but this is one time when I'd be interested in the input of others who also don't like the use of the putdowns and name-calling.

Thanks for listening, and I'm glad to know there are others here who are wanting to resist the violence of words that sting.

Kanary!