Why Does Noone March, Protest, Or Riot For Us?

I hear you. But, I could direct you to literally hundreds of severly mentally ill people in my state alone who have received horrifically unfair treatement by our legal "system" due to their MI. I lived with them. 20 years for a schizophrenic who fell asleep in a house with an unlocked front door when he was psychotic? People held illegally for years and years and years because they are not capable of udnerstanding their own legal rights and advocating for themselves. I could go on all month... I wrote a book about this.

I think to some extent it’s because people don’t know....these people are locked away so they don’t get to tell their stories...your book could change this.

Yeah I get it for sure. I wasn't trying to say that there is virtually no existence at all of discrimination against people with MI.

I guess I just wanted to say they're similar in certain regards, but different in others.

Also you bring a good point up in the thread, which is: why the **** don't people march for mentally ill people!?

And that is a good question in and of itself.

It shouldn't have to be compared with systemic racism.

All we can do is try to not be silent, I guess...

A lot of it is systemic, though.

The medical system in the US at least is designed to give the patients very few rights.

MI patients, I think, have ever fewer rights.

Further, it's designed against those who have few resources, financially or otherwise.

That needs to change in my opinion.

It needs to be a compassionate system.

I wish that could be the case.

Oh and sorry if I'm overstepping my bounds on the forums -- I technically have schizoaffective so I don't really have bipolar, just thought this thread was interesting.

I think it is fine to compare things as long as you are also willing to see and honor what is unique. Comparison of two things to see what is metaphorically similar does not discount either issue. An issue can be relatively more or less important to various people. Relativity of perspective is crucial to evolution of thought and creation.

We could say that both issues share the root of people believing they are better or worth more than others.

We could say that both issues are systemic.

We could say that both issues share a history of those in power abusing those who are not.

We could say the masses are poorly informed on the truths behind both issues.

We can also list infinite things that are different about the two situations. Several of those differences have been highlighted in this thread. I don't get the sense anyone here feels the two are the same simply because they share certain traits. I hope I have not conveyed that message. I can seek stark differences, but that doesn't mean I do not see value in analyzing the similarities.

Sometimes watching one movement inspires another to make changes within its own system. I think we should celebrate that as humans and stop arguing about which victimhood and suffering is more impactful. I
don't feel we should discount one because it is different than another. It is all relative and it depends on a person's history, where they are in the moment and what they believe about the future.

Pain is pain and it all matters as far as I am concerned. I do not choose to only look at pain as real and worthy of my time if it follows one certain path. I have room in my heart for everyone. All stories are valid. All pain is real. All abuse creates pain. I have volunteered for efforts that impact my personal life the most. That doesn't mean I am blind to other suffering.

If people want to educate themselves on one movement or another and not others, that is fine by me. We need passionate people who are called to specific movements at various times. We cannot expect everyone to resonate with one specific message. Our uniqueness makes that difficult. I would rather stand with one passionate believer over a thousand disingenuous followers who chose to speak for change due to peer pressure any day. True hearts are invaluable. Every movement deserves true hearts.

We should all honor what we are which is that we all stem from the same source and that we are equal in that regard. Our only rightful place is next to each other. Beside each other. Standing hand in hand. No in front or behind. No above or below.

Compassion without forgiveness is misguided. Forgiveness without change is wasted. Change without a true change of heart isn't really change at all.

WastingAsparagus, this rant isn't directed toward you. Just some things that came to mind when you shared the opinion that abuse of the mentally ill shouldn't be compared.

I'm glad you weighed in.

Here here.

Severe mental illness + almost universal poverty + almost universal lack of formal education = no rights--effectively.

Well, if you have bp 1 and tons of psychosis, as I do, what is the difference between the two? (There is none, in my opinion. They are the same illness...)

I love reading your posts, Wasting Asparagae!

I've been followed in stores, and actually asked to leave twice, because I was (apparently obviously) manic. The clerks probably thought I was high (I've never substance used).

I guess you kind of were high, in a certain way...

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpcyclist Huh. I see it a little differently. I believe humans can dehumanize other humans for "reasons" other than the external appearance of their physical body. Religion, for example. Hitler, various conflicts in Africa. China right now with the Uighurs. Etc. Or, disease states of their brains. Just my take, though.

Its not about dehumanizing its about protests and marches for the mentally ill. You cant see mental illness but as far as race goes, you can see someone's race/ethnicity in regards to the color of their skin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bpcyclist Huh. I see it a little differently. I believe humans can dehumanize other humans for "reasons" other than the external appearance of their physical body. Religion, for example. Hitler, various conflicts in Africa. China right now with the Uighurs. Etc. Or, disease states of their brains. Just my take, though.

No one is saying mental illness and it’s sufferers are not dehumanized, treated poorly, harassed by the cops, or experienced major transgressions committed against us. There is no way to tell by looking at someone that they have a mental illness. We are not going to get arrested for how we look.

i hear ya, but I still do not agree. To me, skin color is just the outward, external excuse for the process. The process is dehumanization. You are not a human because of the color of your skin. You are less valuable than other humans because of the color of your skin. Here in the United States, we even placed a numerical value on the precise fraction of a human a black person possessed. Just my own take, and I realize you do not agree, which is great, but, for me, all discrimination has the process of dehuminization at its core. It is all the same thing. For me. Whether based on creed, orientation, body mass index, disease state, being trans, being a Tutsi or Hutu, whatever. Treating other humans like they are not, in fact, humans is the root issue, in my experience, anyhoo.

I always appreciate and value your input, Sarah!!