Empathy

Trigger Warning: Abuse/murder of autistic people, Ableism
Oh, and I explained where this came from here

For you, it's about the good they've done, what of it there is.

For you, it's about raising awareness.

For you, believing what they say about those who disagree is easy, safe.

For me?

I know it will be life or death for someone like me.

Not think. Know. It already has been, too many times.

It could be MY life or death, some day.

For me, it is not safe,

And that can never be forgotten.

There is fear.

Abject terror that you might be the next to kill

When you tell me how blessed I am

To be able to think for myself.

That someone else might hear you,

Someone who thinks being unable to think makes one less human,

Makes it OK to abuse, to maim, to kill.

You dismiss my fear.

You say that YOU don't think inability to understand makes people less human,

That YOU don't think inability to think makes people less human.

That's great, it really is.

But what of the people who DO think that,

the people who might hear you.

And that inability to understand, to think?

It's been assumed before.

Of people who were abused for it.

Of people who were killed for it.

Of people with more to lose from their ``help" than I do.

Because unlike you,

They cannot pretend that this is a safe discussion.

They know it is life or death.

More likely theirs than mine,

And so more vehement their anger.

My tame fear, my restrained anger?

That's too much for you?

Try for some empathy before claiming I have none.