Is it just me or do other people notice too how it seems like so many of the exclusionists -- both in ace discourse and syscourse, and though I've barely waded into the waters of it, "acceptable triggers" discourse, and I'm sure there's a bunch more types of this sort of thing out there -- Most of them are just sooo... Young. Young and idealistic. Shit I feel so OLD saying this but... I *remember* being young and idealistic. I was pretty insufferable in my own way in my young teens. A staunchly fundamental Christian with mostly inflexible ideas of Right and Wrong. And an embarrassing (now) amount of anger towards injustice and Wrongness. I thought I knew what was healthiest for everyone and if they'd just do and believe the same things I did right then and believed were right then, then everyone would be much better off. I cringe a bit at it now. I'd like to think I've grown out of it... Except... I haven't really changed all that much, really. Not at the core of things. Oh I've gotten much less "fundamental". Still Christian, though I now hold much more liberal views that would have made younger me sigh and shake her head and silently pray for me. I think older teen me and I would have gotten along pretty well, as my way of thinking about things started to change, and I started to realize that pretty much everything is complex, not simple, that things aren't black and white but shades of gray mixed in with the rest of the rainbow. I'm still pretty idealistic. But my idea of what an idealistic world would be, and my passion for doing my part to make this world a little more like that ideal one, isn't quite as ... Strictly defined, let's say... As it used to be. But underneath are the same core principles, same core ideals, that I've always held. Kindness and love, out of genuine concern for others' well-being. Actions, not just words. Respect for all. Not treating anyone as inferior to or worth less than anyone else. Sharing. Less greed, more healthy ambition. Meaningful work. Actively doing good to help make things better for everyone, and being appreciated for it. Anyways, I had a point to this. So many of them are young and in a period of transition from adolescence to adulthood. That means there's hope that they, like me and so many other idealistic teens with strict black and white thinking, will grow -- not so much OUT of their idealism, but INTO it. And into the world where things are never as black and white as they seem in childhood. And I'll still be here, with my Crew and our kindness and love and respect, with open arms, ready to share with them all we have, and join in with them in the meaningful work of making the world a brighter, better place for everyone. And until then, I'll just be over here sighing and shaking my head and silently praying for their well-being and growth, and gently but firmly correcting judgmental views, and using what little resources and talent I have to make the world a little better for everyone, them included.
