Why Dissenters and Rejects? - A message from the Author
Dissent is tyranny's greatest fear. It is Martin Luther nailing his "95 Theses" to the Wittenberg Castle church doors. It is a signature on the American Declaration of Independence. It is Oliver Brown filing a lawsuit against the Board of Education of Topeka. It is the beating heart of democracy and the impetus of progress.
Rejects are those on the outskirts of society. They are those who from their remote corners of society peer into spaces of authority through high walls and windows and watch as people they do not know - people who seem to all look, speak and think like each other, but not like the reject themselves - make decisions about what their rights and protections will be. They are disproportionately represented by the bodies that govern them; they are discriminated against or disregarded completely based on aspects of their being that have nothing to do with their treatment of others and everything to do with how they look and sound. They may occupy a space, without having ever agreed to be part of it. Their friends and family (assuming they have either) may not even know their true identities, having never been able to express them for fear of retaliation or isolation.
When our government shouts over our right to be heard with our right to remain silent,
When lawmakers are more concerned with what we are allowed to do to our bodies, than they are about what they can do to protect them,
When mental illness is so disregarded that it is not even addressed while occupying the White House,
When compassion is held as weakness,
When hate is louder than love,
It is time for dissent.
This podcast and this website were created to provide responsibly sourced information to anyone who wishes to listen and learn, to inspire discussion instead of debate. It is designed to evolve and grow, to bolster appreciation for the beauty of diversity and to be a safe space for all.
The essays and posts that follow will vary in tone and level of importance. They will always aim to inform and, sometimes, entertain but never at the risk of misinformation or hateful speech.
Thank you so much to all those who listen to, read, engage with and share this content.
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