PonWayPamyu in a nutshell.

Respecting a person as a PERSON means that you’re acknowledging that they exist. That’s it. Speaking about them, as if they are real. That’s what it means to respect a person as a person. You can disagree and downright condemn a person’s beliefs while still acknowledging that they are a person. Because we, as people, are perfectly capable of doing terrible things and still being people. We’re capable of bad, just like we’re capable of good. The point of respecting a person as a PERSON is not accepting their views. It is not sympathizing with them. It is not giving them the benefit of the doubt. And it is not allowing them to continue to hurt you or your people without consequence. It is not excusing them. It is not surrender. 

Respecting a person is realizing that they are still a person saying these terrible things. Not excusing, forgiving, approving, or supporting these terrible things and ideas, but knowing that it was a human itself behind these actions. A person is not suddenly subhuman just because they have terrible ideologies. They’re still a person. Because people do and can have terrible, unforgivable beliefs. And do do unthinkable things. But respecting them as a person is not forgetting that they’re a human. You’re not fighting a monster (Though, a monster in this context would of course be the harmful ideals spread, and the stigma that it both caused and was generated from. Etc.) But you’re fighting another human being.

Now, this by no means should ever weaken your resolve to fight and rise against ideas, campaigns, people that seek to degrade you and oppress you and make “jokes” (can you tell that I literally do not support Felix worth a damn.) at the expense of your suffering. If anything, I feel as if viewing them as a person (read: not forgiving or excusing them. But acknowledging that they are a person.) can only strengthen your fight. The second you fight as if you’re fighting a human being, is the moment that people around you begin to understand why you’re fighting and gain the will to fight themselves. Because they’re humans too. 

People on this site are so quick to completely forget the humanity of the other people on this site over something as remedial as shipping Peridot with Lapis over Amethyst. Do not weaken your own arguments, your own voices, and your own points by dropping your voice as if it were to regard and speak to subhumans. 

Do not let the forces you fight drop your battle from your own hands. You hold it firmly, back straight, and presented at the human being that pushed you, and didn’t expect you to push back. Make them realize that they are not subhuman. Let them know that you, as a human being, are speaking to them, as a human being, on a battle field that they do not want to to be leveled and fair. Let them know that they are not subhuman, even if their beliefs are garbage. Let them know, they’re not lesser as people. 

But as a human being, their actions are unacceptable. And inhuman. Allow them the privilege to feel ashamed. Do not give them the idea that, as a ‘subhuman’, these actions are expected and allowed of them. Let them know that it’s wrong. Let them know.

And that you, as a human being, will not stand for it. 

Don’t excuse them. But see them for what they are.

Keep your vision clear, and your voice true. Know that you do not owe them kindness. But know the force that opposes you. 

Know them in a way that, in some cases, they will refuse to know you.

It’s sometimes TERRIFYING to think that someone who exercises hate could possibly be just the same as you. But it’s the truth. And it’s a truth we have to be brave enough to face. We’re all born with the same capacity for good and evil and in a different upbringing you (anyone reading) might be on the other side of the argument.

I still firmly believe that Felix is not a harbinger of hate and yet I would actively encourage anyone to fight PASSIONATELY for what they think is right, even if it differs from my opinion. But never lose sight of who we are. Who YOU are (speaking to anyone reading.) The world is not black and white and the truth may yet lie somewhere in the distance between.

I would like to point out that not everything is a battle. If everyone is passionately fighting for what they believe is right it becomes infinitely more important for cooperation and base-level respect to arise. There are certain issues that are immovable and certain causes that are unyielding (there are certain battles that I would give my life to defend), but if you apply that mantra to every fight you’ll only hinder progress. There are very few people who actually hate for the love of hating and even fewer absolute evils in the world.

Just remember… we’re all human. Work together when you can, fight when you need to, but always treat each other with respect.

Some other gems by Tomislac Jagnjic:

When somebody from outside my country says my country sucks