Each of Us Can Suffer Our Own Kind of Leprosy

    Many of us suffer mentally, emotionally, or physically, or even spiritually, from types of phenomena that can follow us for weeks, months, years, or even a lifetime. Some of these stigmas or issues are because of genetics and nature; other vexing issues come by choice and nurture, or even compulsions or obsessions that many of us have less control over, or at least have a hard time confronting and dealing with.

    And, beyond the minority of people that suffer and struggle because of innate issues that are weaknesses and hindrances, there are the normal-born identities and statuses that so many people are that can be the cause or causes of their tribulations, persecutions, stigmas, maltreatments, and all the other sundry occurrences to those who face disfavor or oppression from others, usually due to a disparity of power, wealth, and and/or authority.

    Should I make a list?

    Leprosy, by the way, is a New Testament mostly Biblical metaphor for those that are feared, loathed, mistreated, hated, etcetera. This can be many of us, metaphorically: the ones that are shunned, isolated, exiled, left to rot, as it were. Or at minimum, disrespected and disparaged. Mocked or made less of by others.

    Over history and time, who can we list? Most of us, I would wager.

    1. Women. Despite lofty positions of some notable women as monarchs or other special subjects over the millennia, women have usually being objectified, subjected to forced labor, pushed into "smaller" roles of less importance or authority. Do I, as a male entitled to my own things in the 20th and 21st century, have to explain this more? No, I think we can agree in sheer numbers, women have had it the worst over time and history as people under a heavier thumb than most.

    2. The poor. Poverty and its woes can touch and crush peoples of all times, genders, races and ethnicities. Poverty, destitution, privation, lack of mobility can afflict anyone. And we know it does, in every society.

    3. Those born with physical and mental defects. This is inherently a very tough go for most. Blessed and fortunate are the ones with these disabilities that are treated with kindness and are capable of living a decent life. The blind, the deaf, the malformed, the crippled, the mentally challenged and infirm. Those that have diabetes, asthma, spina bifida, carpel tunnel syndrome, muscular dystrophy, hundreds of other physical and mental drawbacks... The short, the obese, the ones with cleft palates. 

    4. People of a minority race, ethnicity, language, religion. Do I have to cite examples? Read a book sometime, or even a current newspaper or magazine, and these things are obvious.

    5. Political views or parties that are ostracized or boxed in, marginalized. Yes, and sometimes it can be violent or deadly, too.

    6. Ranks or positions in the workplace. I was working towards some of my bugaboos. But after the above, it does not seem that bad. But then again, as my dad sometimes has said, just because another person suffered more, like losing a limb, hurting a finger or a toe still hurts.

    Big or small, pain is a tough thing. So, we do suffer in our respective times and places. But it is good to realize and recognize that all of us go through hard times and suffer from ignominy and levels of disrespect and abuse, or modes of lessened recognition or approval.

    Yeah, I will save my complaints for another day.

    My fingers and toes cut or bruised. Not full leprosy, perhaps only skin afflictions.