PUSE Rally
Feb 19, 2014 5:33:54 GMT -5
Post by Evangeline B. Jada on Feb 19, 2014 5:33:54 GMT -5
Evangeline hadn't dressed up much for the PUSE event. She had gotten the impression that it was more of a casual event, just a gathering for PUSE to become more familiar and ingratiated with the community - and, of course, spread their message. Evangeline was still agnostic about whether or not they really wanted equality as opposed to meta-human oppression. None of their literature really made that clear, and she suspected that only really could become clear by talking to members of the group. Her default setting was suspicion - after all, even ragingly homophobic Evangelical Christians claimed to support equality - but she would hold off judgement until she knew more.
After all, meta-human status wasn't the same thing as homosexuality. There was a legitimate point to be made in saying that meta-humans had power over non-metas by virtue of their abilities. She would hear that out before condemning PUSE.
After a moment's hesitation, Evangeline picked up a plate and doled out some food. She would likely be here for a while, so she might as well make herself comfortable. She had barely taken a bite before a man stood up and started talking.
"I’m sure you’ve asked yourselves, how, how a single institution could round up every single meta human in our country, without room for error – have you ever heard of a meta that didn’t attend there? – and the answer is simple. They use their powers."
...okay, was this really new to anyone? Hammel had employees who sought out meta-humans, mostly those with meta-powers of their own to detect the presence of other meta-powers in the area. While the ethicality of that (as well as the basis of the institution as a whole, what with nonconsensually removing meta-humans from their communities and moving them to Pilot Ridge) was debatable, it ultimately assured that meta-human youth had the information they needed - as well as a designated place to learn about their powers without inadvertently hurting others. It seemed like, if anything, that should be a relief to a group like PUSE.
That alone made Evangeline suspicious, but she kept listening, trying to keep at least a slightly open mind.
"They have powers to scour our whole wide country, folks: they have the power to find anyone they ever want to, at any time, and if that doesn’t scare you, then you've never heard of Big Brother."
Wait, where did they get that idea?! The Hammel employees were hired specifically to find meta-human youth, not keep a file on everyone in the country. What did he think Hammel was, a sector of the U.S. government with billions of dollars at their disposal? Evangeline would have laughed had the man not sounded so dead serious. This was sounding more and more like propaganda to Evangeline, and she made a mental note to keep her temper under control.
That is, until the speaker started with the blatant falsehoods and fear-mongering. Evangeline looked around and sat down, bridging her nose with her fingers and attempting to stay under control. The words of the man - and others, likely meta-humans, who vocally disagreed with him - drifted through her ears, barely registering in her brain. Deep breaths. Get yourself under control. You can do this. You need to do this.
“Besides. Meta individuals are human like the rest of us, at their core, and we don’t simply rely on the goodwill of others to protect us from harm. Some will be law-abiding citizens. Some will be criminals, and criminals will use everything at their disposal. It’s human nature.”
Criminals. The way he used that word, as a transparently dehumanizing slur, sent a shiver of fear down her spine. How could she trust a group that would have treated her as subhuman had things gone differently in her life?
Evangeline shuddered as she realized the implications of what this group wanted. If that kind of legislation passed... she would be in jail, simply for defending herself against her attacker. She was already at risk for that, and it was by sheer luck that she hadn't ended up like so many trans women of color before her - in a men's prison or dead simply for defending herself. If this passed, meta-human trans women really wouldn't stand a chance.
God, they were already so vulnerable. Had PUSE even thought about that?
Even through her haze of fear and anger, Evangeline pondered that thought. Had PUSE thought about that? Their concerns flew under the radar (and under the bus) often enough, it was possible they simply hadn't. She thought about phrasing a question that would reveal their true intentions, chewing on the wording for a few minutes before standing up and raising a hand.
"Ms. Jada," she began curtly, as a way of introducing herself. "Much of what you're saying is solid in theory, but it seems to me that you're missing an analysis of the social factors surrounding legislation of meta-human abilities." Evangeline paused, forming the words in her head before speaking. "You seem to forget that, in many places, meta-humans are a socially marginalized group. The kind of heavy legislation you're proposing could remove one of the only ways for vulnerable meta-humans in strongly anti-meta areas to defend themselves from anti-meta attacks." She paused, glanced around to gauge reactions, and concluded with her question. "Yes, meta-humans can at times pose a threat to non-powered humans, but the opposite is also true. Can you explain how the legislation you propose would keep these complicated factors in mind?"
Evangeline held her breath. His response would tell her whether PUSE was honestly a misguided group advocating for equality, or a thinly-veiled anti-meta hate group.
After all, meta-human status wasn't the same thing as homosexuality. There was a legitimate point to be made in saying that meta-humans had power over non-metas by virtue of their abilities. She would hear that out before condemning PUSE.
After a moment's hesitation, Evangeline picked up a plate and doled out some food. She would likely be here for a while, so she might as well make herself comfortable. She had barely taken a bite before a man stood up and started talking.
"I’m sure you’ve asked yourselves, how, how a single institution could round up every single meta human in our country, without room for error – have you ever heard of a meta that didn’t attend there? – and the answer is simple. They use their powers."
...okay, was this really new to anyone? Hammel had employees who sought out meta-humans, mostly those with meta-powers of their own to detect the presence of other meta-powers in the area. While the ethicality of that (as well as the basis of the institution as a whole, what with nonconsensually removing meta-humans from their communities and moving them to Pilot Ridge) was debatable, it ultimately assured that meta-human youth had the information they needed - as well as a designated place to learn about their powers without inadvertently hurting others. It seemed like, if anything, that should be a relief to a group like PUSE.
That alone made Evangeline suspicious, but she kept listening, trying to keep at least a slightly open mind.
"They have powers to scour our whole wide country, folks: they have the power to find anyone they ever want to, at any time, and if that doesn’t scare you, then you've never heard of Big Brother."
Wait, where did they get that idea?! The Hammel employees were hired specifically to find meta-human youth, not keep a file on everyone in the country. What did he think Hammel was, a sector of the U.S. government with billions of dollars at their disposal? Evangeline would have laughed had the man not sounded so dead serious. This was sounding more and more like propaganda to Evangeline, and she made a mental note to keep her temper under control.
That is, until the speaker started with the blatant falsehoods and fear-mongering. Evangeline looked around and sat down, bridging her nose with her fingers and attempting to stay under control. The words of the man - and others, likely meta-humans, who vocally disagreed with him - drifted through her ears, barely registering in her brain. Deep breaths. Get yourself under control. You can do this. You need to do this.
“Besides. Meta individuals are human like the rest of us, at their core, and we don’t simply rely on the goodwill of others to protect us from harm. Some will be law-abiding citizens. Some will be criminals, and criminals will use everything at their disposal. It’s human nature.”
Criminals. The way he used that word, as a transparently dehumanizing slur, sent a shiver of fear down her spine. How could she trust a group that would have treated her as subhuman had things gone differently in her life?
Evangeline shuddered as she realized the implications of what this group wanted. If that kind of legislation passed... she would be in jail, simply for defending herself against her attacker. She was already at risk for that, and it was by sheer luck that she hadn't ended up like so many trans women of color before her - in a men's prison or dead simply for defending herself. If this passed, meta-human trans women really wouldn't stand a chance.
God, they were already so vulnerable. Had PUSE even thought about that?
Even through her haze of fear and anger, Evangeline pondered that thought. Had PUSE thought about that? Their concerns flew under the radar (and under the bus) often enough, it was possible they simply hadn't. She thought about phrasing a question that would reveal their true intentions, chewing on the wording for a few minutes before standing up and raising a hand.
"Ms. Jada," she began curtly, as a way of introducing herself. "Much of what you're saying is solid in theory, but it seems to me that you're missing an analysis of the social factors surrounding legislation of meta-human abilities." Evangeline paused, forming the words in her head before speaking. "You seem to forget that, in many places, meta-humans are a socially marginalized group. The kind of heavy legislation you're proposing could remove one of the only ways for vulnerable meta-humans in strongly anti-meta areas to defend themselves from anti-meta attacks." She paused, glanced around to gauge reactions, and concluded with her question. "Yes, meta-humans can at times pose a threat to non-powered humans, but the opposite is also true. Can you explain how the legislation you propose would keep these complicated factors in mind?"
Evangeline held her breath. His response would tell her whether PUSE was honestly a misguided group advocating for equality, or a thinly-veiled anti-meta hate group.
