InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Drink some water."

Mia Jesbar (miaj) wrote in undertherainbow,
@ 2008-04-25 23:47:00

Entry tags:

anakin solo, atton rand, emma frost, guido carosella, henry townshend, jamie madrox, mia jesbar, molly hayes, qui-gon jinn, triesta darkholme-harkness

I got called a freak today when I used the Force.

I've been helping a girl with emerging mutant powers who's been threatened by kids from school. I'm a freak for helping? I used to call myself a freak of nature, but it was different. Somehow, all this time, no one else has ever called me a freak. And never with such hatred. They weren't just scared. They honestly hated us.

They cornered this girl after school in an alley and were kicking her while she was down, and she was too scared to use her powers to help herself because they already hated her so much for it. I don't think I've ever really had a taste of what mutant persecution was like. I hadn't really seen it for myself and hadn't experienced it until today. I know it happened a lot back in the reality mutants come from, but I realized today I have no idea what mutants have gone through and how much some people hate them.

I guess my point is that I respect anyone with special abilities a little more today. Sometimes, it takes a lot of guts to be different.

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jediheir
2008-04-26 07:52 am UTC (link)

Back home, no one really cared about Jedi. I suppose it was different during the Empire days, back when it was all Rebellion and Imperials and good guys and bad guys and terrorism and government. But by the time I was old enough to know what was going on, it was just the way things were. Uncle Luke had the Praxeum on Yavin IV, people didn't mind Jedi.

It changed during the war. And sometimes, when people were yelling at us to get out, or trying to sell us to the Vong, or saying that we were trying to run the galaxy or whatever, something I wondered if that was the way people had always really seen us.

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miaj
2008-04-26 08:03 am UTC (link)

I freely admit I didn't always like Jedi. (The irony, I know, I know.) It was cause I was scared, I knew they always had the one-up on anyone else in an encounter. There was a lot of misunderstandings out there about Jedi and what they would or wouldn't do. But I never hated them, never tried to hunt them down or persecute them or gang up on them. I just stayed out of their way, and once I got to know some during the war, I had to admit they weren't so bad after all.

But these kids weren't like that. They seemed to really hate this girl. It was horrible.

I don't think that's the way people always saw Jedi, but I'd have to ask Master Qui-Gon more about that. I think they -- we were respected once, almost revered. History goes in cycles, I guess.

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	guyin302 2008-04-26 01:28 pm UTC (link)
	God, that's...that's horrible. I just got here, and with these boards and all, I just sort of assumed everybody in this universe, even the natives, were more accepting of people being different. Hm. Maybe, I don't know, but maybe those of us that get dropped into celebrity status could do PSAs to try and get people to realize this sort of behavior is horrible. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-26 03:10 pm UTC (link)
	Some are, some aren't, I guess. Every universe takes all kinds. You're a celebrity? You... look like someone I used to know. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	guyin302 2008-04-27 01:55 am UTC (link)
	I guess so. Thanks to the Vortex, yeah. I don't know if this means anything to you, but I replaced Tom Cruise. That's the second time I've heard that. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-27 08:38 am UTC (link)
	I don't really know who that... oh, movie star. Really? I think your face has been here a few times. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	guyin302 2008-04-27 02:21 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah, he's a sort of...well, he's got sort of a reputation for being crazy. I'm hoping I can turn that around. Really? Do you know if they're still here? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-28 03:07 am UTC (link)
	I take it you mean the bad kind of crazy. The one I knew disappeared a long time ago. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	guyin302 2008-04-28 05:10 am UTC (link)
	Well...a little bit, yeah. I did some research to see if he got crazier after 2004 - when I'm from, on my world - and...yeah, he got worse. A lot worse. Not the kind of crazy that disturbs people, but the kind that makes you the punchline of most jokes. Oh. I'm sorry. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-28 05:23 am UTC (link)
	You seem pretty sane to me. I'm sure you'll turn it around. It's okay. I think there might still be one guy here with your face, but I've never really talked to him. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	elitistqueen 2008-04-26 03:20 pm UTC (link)
	You're living under the assumption that people will actually listen to you. If it were really that easy we would have erased bigotry and intolerance generations ago. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	guyin302 2008-04-27 01:57 am UTC (link)
	I didn't think it would just be one little PSA and poof, it would totally disappear. I don't think it ever will totally stop. But maybe with a campaign we could get some people to rethink things. Maybe you're right. Still, the offer is on the table, if anyone thinks it could be helpful. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	_multiplicity 2008-04-26 03:18 pm UTC (link)
	Guido, Rahne, and I could always stop by and menace the kids into leaving her alone. Sometimes that's the only thing that works. Is the kid okay? (Reply to this) (Thread)

miaj
2008-04-26 10:47 pm UTC (link)

I sort of... menaced them pretty good. In a perfectly acceptable Jedi way. If these bullies keep it up on Monday, you're more than welcome to menace them some more.

She's okay, physically and otherwise. She's got a few bruises but the doctor said she'll be fine -- I think she's got some sort of healing/shield thing going on. It shook her up, but her parents have been pretty supportive of her and it helps a lot.

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	_multiplicity 2008-04-27 02:18 am UTC (link)
	At least she's got her parents on her side. Poor kid. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-27 08:44 am UTC (link)
	Yeah, I'm real glad her parents are adjusting, all things considered, rather well. And she is too. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	elitistqueen 2008-04-26 03:21 pm UTC (link)
	May you forward me the girl's information? I would like to speak with her and her family and see if they'd care to switch to a different school. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-26 10:49 pm UTC (link)
	I told her and her parents about Taunton and they seem very interested. They'd have to move (unless she can use portkeys to go to school), but attending would be the best thing for her. I'll email you their contact information. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	elitistqueen 2008-04-27 02:19 am UTC (link)
	Thank you. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	ex_strongert756 2008-04-26 04:10 pm UTC (link)
	Sounds like she needs some assistance. Can she be trained to defend herself? Or would she be better off somewhere where she can learn and grow safely? Nobody deserves to be treated like that. *Ever.* (Reply to this) (Thread)

miaj
2008-04-26 10:53 pm UTC (link)

I think she needs both, really. I think she can be trained but it also needs to be done in a place she feels safe. She's done well so far with all of this, the bullies, her new powers, cause if she bottled it up it'd just make things worse. Her parents are great about it, too.

I know. I'm just sorry I wasn't there a minute or two earlier to stop them from even starting. I try not to think about if I'd been late meeting her.

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	ex_strongert756 2008-04-26 11:21 pm UTC (link)
	You did good, Mia. I am proud of you. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-27 12:52 am UTC (link)
	Thanks, Guido. I hope the girl feels the same. How've you been? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	ex_strongert756 2008-04-27 12:58 am UTC (link)
	Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't. Welcome to the life of a hero. I've been good. You? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-27 01:14 am UTC (link)
	Hey, I've seen people attack their rescuers. Never stops being strange. I've been really good. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	sleepylilbadass 2008-04-26 07:11 pm UTC (link)
	Man, if they called her a mutie or anything, I hope you broke their faces! 'Cause that's a terrible word, and if I hear anyone usin' it, I like to kick their freakin' butts so hard that they plow into themselves from the other side. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-26 10:54 pm UTC (link)
	They didn't use that word, but the hatred was there they may as well have. I guess no matter what reality you're in, someone's always going to hate people who are different. Are you a mutant? Or do you otherwise have some special ability? (Reply to this) (Parent)

	alwaysaharkness 2008-04-29 06:39 am UTC (link)
	It gets better? I dunno what to say. People are tons more tolerant in 20 years. And meta hate crimes are punishable by the fullest extent of the law. I grew up being constantly teased for my mood hair. I was always more comfortable at school in somebody else's skin, so I pretended to be someone else until I went to Taunton. It was so much easier there. (Reply to this) (Thread)

miaj
2008-04-29 09:39 pm UTC (link)

I've seen worse beatings and muggings before. I've fought in a war, for kriff's sake. I've seen hate crimes before just cause someone didn't like a certain species. But for some reason, this one hit me harder than usual. You have this perfectly innocent girl who just wants to be normal and wants to be liked, and stupid teenage boys are kicking her because nature gave her different genetics. And that could've been me. If I'd lived a different life, had different parents. It's... made me think a lot. She could be any of us if we had grown up with parents like that.

Really? They make laws? Good.

I guess it's the galaxy I come from with hundreds of different alien species that I think something as small as hair color should not phase someone. On the other hand, kids can be cruel about the stupidest stuff. Your hair's beautiful, Tree.

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alwaysaharkness
2008-05-01 03:31 pm UTC (link)

It's totally sad that the world is the way it is, anywhere you go. I mean, I grew up here. But I've heard stories of all the different planets and universes and worlds that people are from. It's just nuts to think that things are worse elsewhere than they are here, or that how it is here is worse than some other places that are more accepting of mutants.

They do. Sometime soon, I think. Not soon enough if you ask me.

Yeah, even here with all our I dunno, I guess you could call them galactic immigrants? It still bothers people, especially those new to this world who don't come from a reality with crazy aliens or superheros. And thanks, Aunt Mia. I've come to love it, because it's the part of me that comes from my mom.

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	onceaforceghost 2008-04-29 06:47 am UTC (link)
	Perhaps you should turn a bit of that respect inwards and reflect it to yourself. You were most brave, and quite valiant in your protection of the girl. You did well, my dear. Very Jedi of you to protect her. I'm proud. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-29 09:46 pm UTC (link)
	Master, really, it's no big deal. It's what I would've done even if I wasn't a Jedi. I had to sorta restrain myself from seriously kicking them into next week, actually. That's what I would've done if I wasn't a Jedi. But I was careful to not get angry. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	onceaforceghost 2008-05-01 03:35 pm UTC (link)
	And that's where my pride in you comes in. You didn't let your anger get the best of you and you used your training in handling a tough situation. It's what any good Jedi would have done. Diffuse the incident with minimal violence. Well, when we can that is. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-05-02 01:55 am UTC (link)
	Thank you. (Reply to this) (Parent)

	crackingwise 2008-04-30 06:42 pm UTC (link)
	I'm proud of you and that kid. You did good, Mia. (Reply to this) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-30 07:17 pm UTC (link)
	I wasn't posting this to get a pat on the back, but... thanks. I did what any of us would've done, Atton. This girl is really the one you should be proud of. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	crackingwise 2008-04-30 07:19 pm UTC (link)
	I know you didn't, but you still deserve one. Lots of people would've thought it "wasn't their problem". And she does too, yeah. I can't imagine that. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	miaj 2008-04-30 07:51 pm UTC (link)
	I've seen too many muggings and beatings where other people stood by. She's doing good. Teaching her how not to freeze up. (Reply to this) (Parent)