The Power of Victimhood

How’s that for a catchy title?

I recently saw a reel on Instagram showing several individuals self-identifying as disabled who were using that identity as an excuse to neglect all forms of physical activity.  And I’m not going to lie, it frustrated me.  I volunteer with a day-program for disabled adults, and every day we have some exercise time.  Everyone does what they can.  One guy I work closely with has cerebral palsy and can barely walk or stand, so we have him move his arms and upper body around or do some grip training (which is particularly helpful in helping him be able to get up without assistance and use his walker). 
So I commented on the reel:
Just because you can’t do everything (hate to break it to you: nobody can)
doesn’t mean you can’t do something.

I feel like this used to be common knowledge; but the culture has shifted, hasn’t it?.
Victimhood is now seen as moral superiority.

The ideology rooted in Marxism pushed by the cultural and academic elites tells people that all of society’s problems are caused by the interaction of two groups:  The Oppressed and The Oppressors.  And The Oppressed are the good guys in this story.  So the more oppression you can claim, the more moral authority you can speak with; the more points you get in the game (which you just lost).
The irony is that usually these same people will shout others down for “internalized ableism.”
What shows “internalized ableism” more than a disabled individual with a defeatist attitude towards their own capabilities?

The other extreme is the “autism is my superpower” crowd.  Which I will probably have to write a blog post on, as well.

Back on topic, the temptation to say “woe is me” to garner sympathy (and attention) in order to achieve some end is pretty much unavoidable. I’ve fallen into it many times and have to fight against it still.  But the fact is that it is inefficient.  People will get tired of the act.  And the only way to keep using it is to find a new crowd to perform in front of.  And the few people who stick around to see the same drama over and over are not the type of people who will be effective for our cause.

Let’s cut the theatrics so we can be taken seriously.

Speak clearly and kindly.  Study the basics of rhetoric, in particular logical fallacies so that you may avoid using them and spot them when used against you. They are very easy to recognize once you are familiar with them.

Most importantly repent of the self-worship that is glorified in the current zeitgeist.