Adventures of an activist... maybe

[robinliness]

I just got back from Washington DC. I was there to be a panelist at this event on Capitol hill about an anti-bullying and harassment bill that being introduced. I have fairly mixed feeling about it. On the one hand, I love the feeling of doing something, of making a difference, or at least doing my best to make a difference which is all any of us

Comments

[mizuken]

life has to stay in balance somehow- the more of a change you make, the more people will notice and that can be good or bad.

[splaggie]

I've always hated it when people come away with pity from those sorts of things. I think it's mostly because it's so clear that's not the message. If anything, you are turning the tables, taking opposition into your hands and empowering yourself by taking action against things that happen everywhere. I absolutely admire it.

Doing stuff with my play I had similar feelings. I never got into this thing to be pitied, I did it to be heard. I think pity is an easier reaction than responsibility for some people though, and it's hard because they mean well, it's just not the point.

I'm not totally sure where I'm going with all this except to say that you're awesome, and yeah. That's pretty much it.

[robinliness]

It's stupid, because people take it at face value without considering that someone who is willing to speak about it in front of large groups of strangers probably already has some pretty good coping mechanisms.

I think the point they're missing is that once you're strong enough to get up and speak about it, it's not for you, it's for the people who can't speak up.

...And thank you.

[leisaie]

you will always be my little wonderwoman hero in shining armor. my friend, victims do not wear shining armor.

[totalfreak]

that is amazing my love
*hug*
thank you for doing what i would love to, but could not

i think you just needed to get out of Michigan ::hint:: ::hint::

[slashcrashburn]

i know how much it sucks to get labeled with a sign saying "pity me" but at a certain point the reason you need to get labeled with those signs so that people will know you exist. it might bother some people in your neighborhood more but the bill will hopefully save people from what you and people who went through worse had to go through. but it most definetly screamed "I EXIST!" to the universe that is the American Bureaucratic System. whether they care you exist or not, they can't publicly say that people don't get bullied for their sexuality (not that you alone did that, but you helped).

oh and about Dearborn High getting mad at you... FUCK THEM! you are in college now. you'll be moving, not having to deal with those people, and you certainly never have to set foot inside that school again.