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Recently I’ve gotten to the root of exactly what angers me, with every issue that pisses me off. When I’m mad, in my personal life as well as in politics and social issues, it’s because of the abuse of a power imbalance. I don’t like when I’m on the bottom of the abuse of power, I don’t like when others in my group abuse any power position that we share, and I dislike all abuse of power that I witness. It’s easy to say, “I don’t like bullies,” but I’m breaking it down here today…
I hate it when children are abused—hate the underlying abuse of the adult-to-child power imbalance. Mental abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse—all of it. It’s the most abhorrent abuse of power imbalance, because children are the most vulnerable population. Mentally, physically, emotionally, they can’t stand up for themselves.
I don’t like when men abuse their power over women. This includes, but is not limited to, the imbalance in sexual assault—which includes not only the obvious rapist jumping out of the bushes and holding a knife on someone, but the date who uses his power imbalance to sneak in a rape after the dinner that, you know, you should be grateful he paid for.
I don’t like when White America exploits the power imbalance over Black America, which was overt until not so long ago and now remains implicit. I don’t respect anyone who wants to maintain systemic racism, which is a widespread, accepted abuse of a power dynamic.
I don’t like when America prioritizes pretty much everyone over else Native Americans.
I don’t like it when Americans use their power against non-Americans to refuse them assistance. I don’t like when speakers of standard American English mock or dismiss speakers of other languages or dialects, or when systems or the government do so.
I don’t like when politicians abuse their power over citizens. I don’t like it when power games decide prioritization of who gets clean water, who gets education funding, who gets police protection. I don’t like it when political parties abuse their majority to impede progress. I don’t like it when the bipartisan system uses its power to keep out third parties.
I don’t like it when the government exploits their power to convince some citizens below them to exploit their own power over other citizens below them.
I don’t like when employers exploit workers, or the rich exploit the poor. I especially don’t like it when employers exploit immigrants.
I don’t like it when cops abuse their power over citizens. I don’t like it when prisons abuse prisoners (yes, I mean that). I don’t like it when lawyers intimidate witnesses.
I don’t like it when the abled make fun of the disabled. I don’t like it when the young abuse the elderly. I don’t like it when doctors use their power dynamic to make people feel badly.
I don’t like it when the strong use their physical strength over the weak.
I don’t like people who use the human-animal power imbalance to abuse animals, be it tying your dog outside in extreme temperatures, hurting your pet, or trophy hunting. (Frankly, I’m mad at myself for not being a vegetarian. But I digress.)
I don’t like it when attractive people make less-attractive people feel ugly. I don’t like it when thin people make overweight people feel ugly. Basically, I hate when people make others feel badly about themselves. Hate hate hate.
Come to think of it, it’s probably why I hate being lied to. Someone thinks they have the power to manipulate Truth, and they attempt to wield that over others. Since people are often hesitant—or too polite—to call out liars, the liars get comfortable with the power of lies and use that power against those who won’t speak up.
I hate that there are people who are comfortable exploiting others. I hate that there are people who make a living off of exploiting power imbalance and hurting those below them on the power structure.
I know this seems like a lot of hate, but I will never let myself NOT hate the abuse of power. So…for as long as I witness abuse of power, expect me to be mad.
