Its really disheartening how many proclaimed activist circles are replete with the most narcissistic and oppressive individuals. Those who refuse to grow, express humility and honor foundational principles of respect and compassion in their day-to-day interactions.
Part of having “good politics” is being a good person, meaning someone who actively works to dissolve neglectful, abrasive and even abusive tendencies, within themselves and others.
We can discuss grand schemes of liberation in theory all we want, but if we can’t practice basic ethics amongst ourselves, what good can we possibly afford the world? How much of our concern with the ills of the globe is about keeping up a radical aesthetic for show and not so much with the processes of accountability and critical reflection required to dismantle some of those ills internally?
Theory without application is just literature in abstraction.