Hi, this is a rant.
Of course I can’t find it because I’m looking for it, but I recently saw a meme that said something along the lines of who exactly do we think is forcing us to take sides? Why does it all the sudden seem like we have to pick between Covid-19, sex trafficking-specifically in regards to children, and the ongoing civil rights crisis we are experiencing because racism is alive and well as being THE important topic we have to choose? They are all three happening. They are all three extremely important. Where is the choice?
Something I am also confused by is that racism has been alive and well and child sex trafficking has been happening- like literally these two things ARE NOT NEW but it seems like a lot of people are maybe just now realizing it? Which isn’t bad it’s just…confusing? Like where the fuck have you been? Covid-19 is new to us in our generation because there hasn’t been a pandemic on this scale ever, and there hasn’t been a pandemic period since the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 even though there is a flu season in general every year and have been mild strains such as the Swine flu which have caused higher death rates at various times.
But I digress.
I want to get back to the point of why there are suddenly people saying “sex trafficking is the real virus” or “racism is the real virus” whenever they are ALL THREE FUCKING VIRUSES HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY AND ONE DOESN’T NEGATE THE OTHER? That is seriously getting on my nerves.
I see that there are positive aspects of people acknowledging racism is real and child sex trafficking is real, because several people are starting (apparently for the first time?!) to take action and challenge their previous beliefs and operating systems and seeking to systemically make change in a broken system, which, better late than never so that is a good thing.
I think some people are maybe finally realizing all this shit that has been happening for a long time for the first time because for the first time in their lives they are forced to be still. Covid had/s all of us in our homes for an indeterminate amount of time where we didn’t have work or school or dining out or any outside obligations to distract us. We were and are all just stuck inside of our homes and many are experiencing boredom for possibly the first time in our lives. We can only distract ourselves for so long with television and our phones. Boredom is forcing many to realize the creative outlets that have been lying dormant in us since our inception. The fact that we can draw, bake, create, keep plants alive, walk and possibly even run for long distances, and maybe build something or play an instrument. Things we haven’t even attempted because we potentially haven’t given ourselves the time to learn. I think this is also what is happening to a degree with people finally waking the fuck up and realizing that there is racism (well that and Donald Trump) and that sex trafficking- including children- is happening. We are all being forced to a degree to slow down and actually see what is happening in the world around us outside our cubicles and desktops. And apparently a lot of people are newly appalled, which when that leads to action is great, but also maybe let’s not stop there? Let’s not make this a trend. Let’s not forget that sex trafficking and racism are alive and well when the virus is over and we all get to go back to our government sanctioned distracions and cozy blinders.
I’m (possibly insane) someone who chose social work as a career for several years and come from a family of social workers so I’ve been pretty aware of the ugly, awful shit that’s been happening to my brothers and sisters on a large scale for my whole life; and that absolutely does not absolve me of not having racist and ignorant notions and not having a firm grasp on the potential danger our children are in- but this is a continued conversation I’ve been trying to have in my heart and within my community. I am glad that people are joining the millions who had already started the work and that we are continuing to try and be better, non-shitty, anti-racist, safe people to our children and fellow human beings- I just don’t want to see it end when Covid ends. And I certainly don’t want people to just pick a side and ignore the other two huge, blatant issues. And yes, I realize that these aren’t even the only three issues, there is of course the discussion around sexuality and labels and disablism and economic inequality and misogyny and women’s rights and fuck the patriarchy and allllll of that additional stuff that is also wildly important and necessary so we can all become the intersectionalists we are meant to be, I am just pointing these three out because they seem to be the hot spots of the time.
I guess what I am saying, in my typical, rambling way, is let’s just be human, and not just now, but until we die, and let’s maybe not make a global pandemic have to be the catalyst to get us there next time?
And for SURE what I am saying is- don’t just pick one fucking side- be on board about the whole damn dish.
