Illness is a failure. Not a moral failure, but rather, a physical restriction that prevents us from being our best selves. And we all want to present the world our finest side, don't we? However, disease forces us to reveal our brokenness, vulnerability, and humanity. I am not implying that my diseases made me any less of a strong person, because it takes fortitude to withstand a condition like polio and chronic pain. It is heroic to persevere in the face of hardship, discomfort, and limits.
Heroic, you say. In what way is illness heroic? Because it is difficult enough to live on this planet. For one individual, eking out a living, navigating the difficulties of relationships and struggling to comprehend the meaning of life, is sufficient. But then you have an accident that leaves you permanently crippled, like mine did. Or an illness hits as a youngster, as polio did for me, and you are permanently marked. All of a sudden, the course of your life has changed and you must adjust your dreams appropriately. It is heroic to bear a cross because, in addition to navigating the life that healthy people lead, you bear a second layer of life, all the while attempting to appear as though life is a lark. A hero is someone who can carry twice as much while maintaining a courageous demeanor and a can-do attitude.
People who are not part of the heroic circle are unable to comprehend this and may regard individuals who are unwell as less important. And this is the question facing civilization: is it better to evaluate someone based on their value as a worker or soldier, or upon their inherent value as a person created in God's image? The aged, sick, and disabled are worth less, if not worthless, when value is only determined by output. And a lot of individuals believe this way. Someone is said to be a drag on the economy if they are unable to produce. But these ignorant politicians forget that they will also grow old and ill someday and be reliant on society to support them. But they won't exclaim, "Since I no longer work, it is off to the slaughterhouse with me!" No indeed. On that day they will argue, "I worked and contributed, and it is only right that society bear with me because of illness" though the young and powerful will bear the brunt of their economic burden. That's the way life naturally goes.
What if, however, a politician claims that the old or the crippled are the issue? What if the government neglects its responsibility to care for the mentally and physically ill, veterans, and the elderly who have limits that they did not request? Then there is justification for the government to deny them social help, or even to eradicate them. This may sound unlikely, yet the Nazis actually did this. The old, the crippled, anyone who was different, and even children were collected like garbage to be thrown away.
Could something like this happen again? Keep in mind that a giant tree starts as a seed. The false belief that one human is superior to another based only on physical attributes is known as eugenics, and it was this belief that spread among the German people. The idea that one gender is superior, or that one religion is superior originated from the idea that one genetic line is superior, rendering all others inferior. Throughout history, eugenics has been the cause of conflicts and fatalities. Could it occur again? It is taking place! The seed has been sown, and leaders and their followers are growing the bitter seed that leads to ruin.
But why would anyone fall for such a harsh and senseless philosophy? Due to fear. The emotion that sows the seed is fear. They don't want to be caught in the rain, and they see the storm clouds brewing. "It's excellent," they say, pointing to the storm. When blood starts to pour, they defend it by saying, "Blood is terrible, but it has to be done." Or pretending not to notice, they turn their backs on the worst of it. In any case, their guilt is equal to that of the executioners. Fear has the power to turn otherwise decent individuals into killers and liars.
Furthermore, they are blind to the fact that they are supporting an ideology that has been shown to be scientifically incorrect. According to genetic research, all humans started out with the same features: wide noses, dark eyes, and dark skin. Humanity originated in the same part of Africa. Since we all grew from the same seed, we share the same ancestry. It's true that humans diverged and developed many bodily changes, including lighter skin and eyes. My argument is that we are genetically related, not only in name. And since we are members of the human race, there is no superior race.
Will you stop this folly or will you, out of fear, support the aggressors spreading the false philosophy of eugenics? I don't see strength when I see racists; I see cowards. I see uneducated individuals denying reality. It will become clear to them that we are all linked and that no bloodline is better than any other with just a little education. However, as falsehoods are simpler, they decline to educate themselves. Like kids hiding under their mother's skirts, I don't think this kind of immature conduct is admirable.
Everyone will have to decide whether to support the real heroes or the aggressors. Because I struggled against oppression, I chose to be a hero. You see, a hero is not someone who hides behind a shield, but rather, someone who stands without one. I will never call you brave if you hide behind a political party's falsehoods and rhetoric. Being heroic is calling out the storm and standing your ground even when you can see it approaching.
With Love,
Frida
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