yesterday i saw a post that was a drawing of jimothy that raccoon that was like "disability is only accepted as gar as it is exploitable" and the comments were alllll fucking up in arms like "let us enjoy things the world is literally burning!!!" "Jimothy isnt exploitation and you cant make us feel bad for loving him!!!" And just now. On the morning talk shows. I saw that there is a branded bobblehead being made of him.
During disability pride month.
When disabled people are talking and talking and talking about how its great to see love for an animal that differs from what we see more regularly in nature, but that it does hurt seeing this support only for an animal and not for disabled people.
And you think about how recent ugly laws were. You think about how disability is treated in workplaces (when disabled people are allowed into workplaces, and what workplaces they are allowed into, and how the visibility of a disability has a direct net negative impact on peoples ability to get and retain jobs). You think about how many people just stop finding reasons to hang out with their friends once disability becomes a huge part of that persons life. You think about how convenience and conventionality are king.
And you have to ask. How the fuck are you people so willfully ignorant. How do you not see this as exploitation. Except you know. Because you've always known. Because people love an animal that's "different" so long as it doesn't affect the amount of care and attention it needs. So long as it doesn't make the animal expensive. So long as it doesn't inconvenience them in any way, so long as its a cute quirk in a being that isn't capable of communicating its needs to you in words. Who isn't capable of being upset with you in any meaningful way. Who relies on you and loves you despite everything. To whom few would be able to prove you're doing anything wrong if you are.