Elle

I've been gathering my thoughts, but haven't really had much to say - since so many others have already so brilliantly said everything that needs saying! My opinion isn't needed. But what I do want to share, is what I've learned of Jason Arday in recent days. From the positive stories that have been circulating, he evidently spent much of his time supporting, writing, speaking, volunteering, running, teaching and mentoring, campaigning, and acting for other people. That's such a wonderful, genuinely beautiful legacy, to have focused so much of his energy on helping rather than hindering others! I've also read just a bit from the research papers he's published, and there's really a tragic and painful irony in how his public mistreatment aligns with some of his work. At the heart of what we were all forced to bear witness in recent weeks, was fundamentally a sharp contrast in how race and neurodiversity (among other things) influence how human beings are perceived, and our experiences ultimately valued. How and why do we decide who to believe, and who should be subjected to scrutiny? Whose knowledge and experiences are respected, versus whose opinions should be disregarded? Or, in certain spaces, simply who belongs and who does not? How we answer such questions exposes our core values, and reveals much more about our fundamental worldview. But this goes far beyond just ourselves as individuals; these same questions must be asked, and were posed in writing by Jason, on a societal and institutional level. I hope that we may soon collectively receive the answers that remain long overdue.