Same Struggle — Different Differences
It’s the same struggle – always.
One group – very powerful.
Another group – powerless.
Pushed down, shut out
Despised, disrespected.
Whether with blatant violence or subtle discrimination,
The ultimate aim is just the same.
With deliberate downright deception
to create unwarranted dread and hate
To build up walls of separation,
They’d prefer if you were ‘late’.
But the Powerless don’t stay powerless
You start to say ENOUGH
You find your strength in UNITY
As you begin to stand up.
So, the struggle starts –
The struggle requires resistance – the refusal to submit.
The struggle requires courage – the willingness to commit.
Oppressors demand your silence – to shut your mouth, to hide away.
To comply with their instructions – to obey.
But you say, “No way”.
You’ll no longer abide their bigotry.
You’ll no longer regard their authority
You’ll stand up to their abuse...
So, the struggle continues
It’s the same struggle always – the differences are different.
Discrimination against the differently abled is an ongoing fight...
Treating humans like trash because we cannot talk or lost our sight.
Looking down on us with their pity – not appreciating our worth.
We have a place and role like everybody.
We’re entitled to our dignity
Whether our difference is physical, mental or sensory,
Let us be the people we’re meant to be,
Celebrate our victory.
Stop making up policy
“for us but without us”
As if we have no mind of our own
We demand the opportunity
To make our opinions known.
Rosa Parkes resisted – she’d take her rightful seat.
Martin marched on Washington – he had a dream.
Stonewall was the spark that started the conflagration
For LGBTQ people against discrimination.
Emmeline, with her sisters fought fiercely for the vote,
With that Women’s Suffrage, the ‘glass ceiling has been smote.
So the struggle continues...
I can speak of many battlegrounds of hate,
Of oppressions of ideology – of Apartheid
Of Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo,
Huddleston and Tutu.
Of Marsha B Johnson and Harvey Milk
Peter Tatchell and Greta Thunberg
To mention but a few
The differences are different but the same struggle will continue.
John Fairlamb 1/2022
