Diversity, Extremism, Inclusion
During these week, "diversity equity inclusion" programs are stopping in TOO many relevant places and, as an advocate and worker in inclusion, I feel it's appropriate to openly discuss about these topics WITHOUT panic if possible, because we can still make a difference if we get into the topic with facts, not slogans. Well, I have just started reading a book written by a progressive and feminist journalist from France. Caroline Fourest. French title is "Génération Offensée" (offended generation), which discusses many wrong behaviours against art and culture, in name of inclusion and anti-racism. People who call themselves "liberal" for example, but then insult a mother because she organized a Japanese-style party for her kid. Or some black folks accusing a white artist of racism, for an ANTI racist portrait. It's a misunderstood version of "nothing about us without us", a distorted inclusion statement. I talk about this as an amateur writer. I'm blind, HIV negative, hetero, cis-woman. Why should I give up writing from the point of view of a different character? Different in sensory condition, sex orientation, identity, HIV status... My HIV-positive friend helps me to avoid stereotypes, but then? WHY a hetero actor shouldn't interpret a gay role or vice-versa? Where's the sense of this? In smaller context: WHY should a sighted person decide to change verbs with me, avoiding to use those connected to sight, but used as metaphor of "pay attention"? I fear this can be one of the reason why too many people prefer conservatives rather than progressives in politics, at least they know who they are, what they think. It's our chance now, for us inclusion and accessibility workers, for self-conscience, self-criticism and asking questions to ourselves, taking a definite opinion about this dangerous "friendly fire" phenomenon.