One could say that the children act out of ignorance, I suppose.
However, I have come to realise that even adults, myself included, do not know how to react in such instances.
Most of us would rather avoid them completely, if possible …
We are comfortable with acting as if they don’t exist.
So, I beg to ask, whose business is it to take care of the mentally ill?
Where should they go, if we do not accept them in our communities?
I don’t know very much about mental illness, which is part of the problem, and until recently I have been in denial about my prejudice towards it. An inherited disdain …
Because although we were taught to be respectful of our elders, it is seemingly acceptable not to show much consideration to anyone who does not appear to have the capacity to respond ‘appropriately’.
As if they are less than human, second class citizens.
Just the other week, a friend of mine was at a taxi rank when a man started behaving aggressively, throwing stones at pedestrians and vehicles.
When the police were called they discovered that the man was mentally incapacitated.
So they left him there …
We need to know who to turn to, not just to protect ourselves from harm but also for the person in question.
He could very well be a danger to himself.
But enough blame shifting …
I am ready to take responsibility for my own actions, or lack thereof.
How many times have you walked passed someone and thought ‘that guy does not look like he knows where he is going, or what he is saying, but it’s none of my business’?
We need to get educated, not just about what it is but how we can help – education that will dispel myths and destigmatise those who are affected.
Human dignity is the basis of fundamental human rights.
Even to those who do not know they have rights.
