Hey, Hey, Over Here.
Yeah, it’s me, the fat guy in the wheelchair.
Listen up.
I SAID ‘LISTEN UP!!\
Do you know what I’m doing right now?
Right now.
Right freaking now.
Nope, that’s not it. No empty pill bottle beside me.
Nope, that’s not it. I don’t even own a razor blade.
Nope, that’s not it either.
Give?
Right now I’m not in a movie theatre readying myself to see ‘You Before Me. That’s where I’m not. And it’s not the same as the fact that I’m also not at “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” or as they are better known in the disability community, “The Boys.” You know how it is different? I just happen to be missing TMNT.
I am pointedly, and with every fibre of my being NOT at “Me Before You.”
So you know what I’m doing to protest the latest in a series of disability snuff films?
I’m living.
Yep, the outrageous act of living.
I just finished supper with my husband, who though I am disabled will not smother me in my sleep tonight. He may be tempted but because a couple of times today I was an asshole, not because he helps me put on my socks.
Oh, and tomorrow.
You know what I’m going to do tomorrow to protest your propaganda vehicle masquerading as a ‘romance’ movie?
I’m going to go to work.
Shock.
Don’t hurt yourself if you fall over, if you get a splinter we may have to end your suffering quickly.
Not only am I going to go to work, all day I am going to pointedly not be at the movies watching your latest opus wherein fictional disabled people are created by non disabled people and portrayed by non disabled people wherein we get killed, again.
Guess what I know a lot of people.
A whole movement of people.
Who are pointedly not going to your movie. Right now.
I know you don’t care.
But the fact that our asses remain in our chairs, not yours, will one day matter. Really matter. Because we are a movement that is growing, we are coming into our own, we are beginning to feel our power.
We will have the power, if not now shortly, to call you out.
Bigot.
Yeah, we know what you are.
We even know that you know its and think you are getting away with it.
You’re not.
And even if you don’t return the favour …
We see you.