I have been searching high and low for some “historical mentor” or some inspiration to help me express my thoughts. I have limited my search to the 20th and 21st centuries. Anything before that seemed irrelevant for the message I’d like to convey.
After days of research, I believe I have found it. It is a speech that struck me and baffled me. It is the famous speech of Dr. Martin Luther King; “I have a dream”, delivered on August 28, 1963.
Before I go any further I want to make it very clear that I am not and wouldn’t dare to compare his fight, his cause to ours nor do I compare myself to him in any way. I am only referring to his phenomenal text as an inspirational guideline.
I have a dream too, that we, mentally ill people will be treated and considered the same as anyone else in society.
Mental illness bears no colour, no race, no gender, no sexual preferences or social economical standing.
It strikes without discrimination and yet we are discriminated.
I was reading Dr. King’s famous speech and gave me the inspiration that I was looking for. Their battle doesn’t have anything in common with ours. But it dawned on me that, if Dr. King was able to move a nation and make the impact that he did, facing violence, hardcore segregation. Fighting for a battle which seemed impossible to win. He did it. He paid the ultimate price but he did it. If he has done for a cause far more riskier and seemingly impossible to achieve then why can’t we do it for ours.
Today’s society is not accepting us. If you have the time and interest to read his speech, I believe that you will agree with me that we are still living in the 60s as far as our rights are concerned.
It is not by having seminars held by some so-called doctors or other bogus awareness day and empty speeches that we will accomplish anything. In my opinion, as I have already stated in previous posts, it is doing us more harm than good.
Why don’t we have a bipolar seminar where only bipolars can come as well as other mentally ill people? Ms. Zeta-Jones and Mr. Dreyfuss are welcome of course.
Mentally ill people have been abused, reduced to vegetable and kept behind lock doors, victims of mental torture and all of this has been kept under the carpet for far too long.
I was told that a famous clinic in the French region of Switzerland was over medicating bipolars to reduce them to flower pots as they didn’t know or didn’t want to know how to deal with them. It is only recently that they are trying to start to medicate bipolars more efficiently. Trying! What an outrage.
Nobody wants us and/or believes in us. Lawmakers and others are avoiding to address the issues. For them, we are a costly problem. The perception is that we are a minority which cannot contribute positively to society. Also, we are a small portion of society with little voting power, therefore, we have no political impact hence no support from politicians. I know that I am repeating myself but it cannot be said enough times that if we are living in a free world is because of the leadership of a bipolar named Sir Winston Churchill. We have to change these negative preconceived ideas and turn them into positive ones. Only us can make a difference, and we will. We need support from a major establishment, which I’m working on. I need to increase my visibility and credibility one way or another. Basically, I need all the support than I can get.
I am new to this universe of blogging but I am not new in fighting for what I believe in.
I live about two hours away from Geneva where all the international institutions are based. When ready, we will knock on their doors present our case, our needs, and goals. It’s going to be tough but achievable.
It is time to take action, we cannot live and accept to be half a century back from the rest of the world.
Peace and serenity
Lawrence Illoc
Being bipolar. 
Reblogged this on Undesirable, Like Me. and commented:
Things like this need to be passed around and shared.
Monsieur Lion is fighting the stigma of mental health by taking it to the big people that matter.
Lawrence is all gung-ho about this. He has made it his own personal mission! So drop by and show him your support!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Ashe. Your support means the world to me. Reblogging my post makes me feel that I’m doing the right thing. We will make it, we can, we have the brainpower, we have a cause that is worth fighting for, let’s do it. We are not ashamed nor are we proud, we are humans like everybody else with the rights that go with it. That’s all we want and ask for. Thank you so much again Ashe
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh I’m loving your post and your passion! Quite right too … you’ve absolutely nailed it. Do you think that Prince William and Kate have made any impact on mental health?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much for your comment and compliments. It means a lot and like I said to Ashe, it confirms that I am on the right track.
Now to answer your question. I don’t think so. They probably have their hearts at the right place but I firmly believe that celebrities hurt us more than they help. We need to have a movement from the ground up, with people like us, who are believable because we are suffering from it. We have a massive advantage that we are not using to serve us which is our brain. I am determined to find a way that we will be heard. Like I mentioned, I am currently working one powerful avenue. If it doesn’t work we’ll try another one. We are the solution, we have to be united. Thank you for your support.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward very much to reading more and following you …. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for your kind compliment. It’s a very nice way to start the day! I wish you a great day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“…other bogus awareness day and empty speeches ..”
Wow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much. Your comment confirms that I am on the right track. It gives me more motivation.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I totally agree with every word. “Mental illness” does not make us inferior, but the public has stigmatized the issue into a death trap. I have been fortunate enough to be part of a Clubhouse in South Carolina in the United States. The Clubhouse International program is an international organization that encourages and helps people with mental illness to get jobs and go back to school. It helps us by giving a purpose to get up in the morning to do meaningful work. There are even apartments available at affordable rates. All of us who come are “legally disabled.” We talk to our congressmen/women and send out newsletters to legislatures and local supporters. But this still doesn’t seem to put a dent into the public and government’s points of view. We are pushed aside and run over because we are “different” and not “normal.” The last time I checked, “Normal” is just a setting on a washing machine! No one is normal. Why do people punish those of us who have to think a little differently in order to take care of ourselves? Being labeled is so demeaning. I have been labeled since I was in high school! All this said, I just have to keep on talking/writing and reach as many people as I can. The more people who understand who we are, the bigger impact can be made towards change. I need to learn patience, for change can be so slow. But it is still possible…
LikeLiked by 2 people
The fact that you already have a support system is a great achievement.
Being labeled by society and ignored at the same time is unacceptable. Society is depriving us of our basic rights. I agree with you that changes take too long but they will definitely happen. We have to stand united. The more we are the faster it will go.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally agree Lawrence. How can a society that has made so many technological advances still be in the dark over certain things. It frustrates me!!! Keep going Lawrence
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much for your support. I believe we can achieve a lot as long as we stand together. Like others did it in the past.
LikeLiked by 1 person