Why is it that in a group of people with room for dozens, maybe hundreds, of topics, politics still makes some uncomfortable? Shouldn’t it be something basic, almost inevitable? No one is asking you to pick a political side or wear a party jersey. But to walk together, we need to share fundamental values. That has been said countless times in our spaces. And it’s okay if someone walks away on the first day, that is fair. Better that than pretending to belong where there is no real connection.
Sometimes I hear, “I don’t think it needs to be so political.” In that case, maybe this is not the place for you. Maybe you would feel more at ease among people who do not see themselves as immigrants, even after leaving their country and who, somehow, are still against immigration. That kind of contradiction is not just uncomfortable, it is dangerous.
I remember a time when a client did not want to pay my band the agreed fee. It created tension, and they tried to downplay our work. The simplest, most direct, and even polite response was, “Thank you, but please find another band.” That ended the conversation. In the end, they paid in full. Because the basics are not up for negotiation.
And speaking of basics you do not need to be an activist or fight for grand causes to respect the simplest forms of human dignity. You do not need to “accept” anyone, who are you to do that? Just coexist. Listen. Respect. That is the bare minimum. And if the bare minimum bothers you, maybe the issue is not with the group, but with your willingness to be among people.
If your identity challenges norms, if your presence disrupts comfort, if your voice demands space, then your life is already political and take responsability about it. You don’t need to run for office to be political. Just being, surviving, and insisting on dignity in a world that tries to deny it.
