What Exactly Are We Fighting To Protect?
The message in this photo should serve both as encouragement, as well as a cautionary reminder.
I find it encouraging in that it can be helpful in reminding change agents to be mindful to expect a great deal of resistance while working for change.
I find it can serve well as a cautionary reminder in that it is important for people who would say that they wish to help, to understand that they are also still impacted by being socialized and living in an oppressive society, and as a result can also harbor strongly held beliefs that support the status quo.
If we’re not careful, sometimes we may can find ourselves “defending” something harmful.
Every helper will always need help.
It’s a great reminder to be continuously ask ourselves “What exactly am I fighting to protect?”
From Aspiring Humanitarian, Relando Thompkins, MSW, LLMSW
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Many people prefer to stay quietly in their comfort zone, to maintain the status quo when they merit more simply because their education has made them believe better is not for them.
Yes, some have been educated to believe that better is not for them, while others are taught to believe that the best is only for them and no one else. One of the things that I think is so great about the message in this picture is that it can serve as a reminder to catch myself at both ends to see if I’m approaching something from either of those perspectives, which are both equally inaccurate.