To the Ones Who Can’t March: I See You.
By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
I see you.
I see you hurting, exhausted, and just trying to survive — too tired, too poor, or too sick to come to the rally.
I see you wondering if it even matters, if anyone will ever really fight for us — or if it’s just more noise no one listens to.
You’re not alone. I feel the same way.
For over ten years, I’ve tried to get help. Real help. Dignified help. And it never came. All I got was judgment.
“It’s your fault,” they say.
“Your fault for working too hard.”
“Your fault for having a baby.”
“Your fault for being sick.”
“Your fault for saying no to Big Pharma, even though you saw what it did to your mother.”
They blame us for everything.
We’re punished for being too old to qualify for student jobs, but not old enough for a pension.
Punished for being born here, but not qualifying for the supports offered to newcomers.
Punished for not being able to prove we’re Métis, and not being First Nations either.
Punished for not dying, for staying alive, for “existing wrong.”
They say:
“We worked hard for our money — we’re not giving it to lazy losers who sit around all day.”
But they don’t see the truth:
We worked hard too. We still are. We survived trauma, illness, heartbreak, homelessness, and hunger.
And now we’re just asking to live with dignity — and they call that laziness?
This is why many of us don’t rally. Because we’re too busy just trying to breathe.
And yet, we have to keep trying.
Even if no one changes the rates.
Even if they don’t listen.
Even if they call us names.
Because someone out there might read this and realize they’re not alone.
And someone else might stop and finally understand that this system is broken, and it’s breaking us.
If you can’t march — I march with your voice in my heart.
If you can’t shout — I’ll write it for you.
If you can’t speak — I see you. I hear you. You matter.
#ISeeYou #EndPovertyBC #DisabilityJustice #WeDeserveBetter #ZipolitaSpeaks
