gregoire ausgraben is not shy to say he is a victim. one way or another, we are all victims of the unjust system in which we live. and so, there is no shame in declaring to be in the position of the oppressed. claiming that position is a first step towards finding allies/co-conspirators to engage in a fight against oppression.

when i say i am a "crip", i reclaim this word. i extract it from its bad connotations. i give it a new life, mine.

when you blame me for victimizing myself, you erase my life experience. you dismiss the teachings i have acquired through my marginalization. you laugh at my belief in interdependence and solidarity. you discard my values. 

i feel betrayed, abandoned. my body shakes. i am in danger. i lose energy. i lose validation. i lose capacity. i become sick. and then what? are you sick too?

yes.

we can't heal alone.

we can't reach justice alone.

be a victim with me and we can change something together.