I Scream

"I AM WORTHY"

From beneath dreaded locks

behind the breasts

under skin reddened by Great Spirit

"I AM WORTHY"

looking out

with slanted eyes

dedicated to my god

MY GOD

my gods

and goddesses

"I AM WORTHY"

with empty pockets

with foreign language

with intelligence and culture

that is feared

But You Do Not Hear My Words

You Do Not See My Worth

YOU

Kill me or control me

enslave me

because I am not like you

You render all my shouting

meaningless

I now crumple mute

In your 'conversion schools'

in the ghetto

segregated

cut right off

in concentration camps

in the all-girl school

in your class system

at the very bottom

dehumanized

because you fear "..."

I Still Scream

"I AM WORTHY"

but you do not hear

I am not worthy to you

What you hear when I scream "I AM WORTHY"

is

"I am not like you"

"I am different"

I am "The Other"

Dehumanization tactics can actually cause a disorder known as 'depersonalization disorder.'

In the DSM-IV - Dissociation Disorders, this disorder is said to have a huge array of symptoms (co-morbid) and it is almost universally agreed that a central factor included in the cause of this disorder is EMOTIONAL TRAUMA, whether from childhood sexual abuse, severe stress, instance of life-threatening event such as an accident, use of certain drugs, etc. The list and variety of causal factors is long, however, all include the discomfort of emotional abuse.

When people employ 'dehumanization tactics' (name calling, any kind of physical abuse, verbal abuse, sexual assault, etc), these cause emotional discomforts and in more severe cases, dehumanization begins to cause even a kind of identity crisis in most people...belief in themselves as 'worthy' starts to fade, for others don't abuse 'worthy' people, do they?

Eventually this can lead to a person feeling detached and actually having the condition of 'depersonalization disorder,' whereby, the person no longer feels in touch with him or herself as a real person.

Basically, for an abuser to 'act out on' dehumanization tactics, the abuser has to get to a level of believing that or acting as if the victim is not 'human' or is not 'a real person,' and is simply an 'object.' Then the abuser can 'abuse' the object.

Depersonalization is the result, from the victim standpoint, and people who are pushed to this state often no longer strive to avoid abuse.

The reactions and symptoms of depersonalization are a long and varied list, but most include a disconnection or feeling of disconnection with reality. "Reactions" can range from hyped up anxiety and agitation all the way to complete apathy - and consequent inability to function to protect oneself from abuse.

Dehumanization and Depersonalization are an everyday occurrence and problem in our world. These conditions and effects haven't just existed in some past time frame, during the World Wars, during the times of The Inquisition, etc.

Dehumanization occurs anytime an act of prejudice is carried out or a discrimination is put forth. The receivers of prejudice and discrimination in today's world can feel depersonalized quickly, anytime enough pressure is exerted by abusers to cause intense emotional discomfort.

Both abuser and victim can see the victim (the outsider or 'different person') as 'The Other' very easily in our world. A depersonalized individual starts to believe that they are 'the other' that the abuser is accusing them of being, and starts to live, according to being 'the other.'

The biggest question is:

Are there enough of 'The Other' to band together as 'Us' yet?

Perhaps bigger yet:

Will "we" ever figure out that, as soon as one steps out of personal self viewpoint, one is an 'other' to someone else?