Battle lines are drawn.  Each side seems to claim superiority.  This has become a holy war, a battle over beliefs, neither side willing to accept the possibility of more than one truth.  Each side holds onto their righteousness as they preach bigotry and hatred for their opponents.  This holy way, this civil war has ripped divisions in the already fragile multiple community and now instead of fighting for our right to self define, to be accepted, the fight has moved to probe the opposition to be weak foolish cretins.

One side of this war speak of survivors as weak victims unable to take care of themselves.  Survivors and the issues involved in abuse recovery have become objects of ridicule.  As the term empowered multiple takes hold those claiming it refuse to allow the possibility the multiple with abuse histories or those that see their multiplicity as a result of abuse could ever be considered empowered.  Therapy becomes a weakness, something bad that only the stupid would need.  Integration the work of Evil.  The part of empowerment that is about the right to choose the path that suits the individual has become lost.  As it now seems the consider yourself empowered you have to meet certain criteria imposed by a few.

Personally I have never seen anything empowering about proving your rights by abusing or denying the rights of others.  And although I can understand the fight those that do not believe their multiplicity was a result of abuse have had to endure, I have grown to feel disgust in their methods.  When despising the generalisation of multiplicity solely being caused by abuse, why then does it become acceptable to make the exact same generalisation that multiplicity is not caused by abuse.  To fight generalisations and discrimination by making your own is surely more a sigh of weakness than of power.

On the other side of the battle are those that claim the term survivor.  LIke their opponents they can not see any other truth but their own.  Perhaps both sides beliefs are so fragile that if they were to consider the possibility of no absolute truth, of varying opinions and beliefs, that their own truth would disintegrate.  The survivor can not seem to allow the idea of multiplicity exiting in itself, it has to have a cause, a trigger to create its existence.  I believe this has to do with their underlying view that still, no matter what is said, sees multiplicity as a disorder, as something not quite right with them.  Therefore to accept that it can occur without the abuse catalyst opens the possibility that it is just an alternative state of being , with the judgment of acceptability.  But instead of looking at their personal fears about this they lash out at the opposition proclaiming them delusional or in denial.

As the empowerment movement start talking about defining their own reality, not accepting the imposed generalistions and stereotypes, many resist.  In the Western world, it seems to me, a lot of power and prestige is given to scientists and doctors.  The idea that they do not hold all the answers must appear almost sacrilegious.  It also means that the responsibility for wellness, be that integration or a life of multiplicity belongs solely with the people or person involved.  This idea can be challenging to those that have always looked outside themselves for the answers and direction they need.  Therefore it is easier to act the opposition as unhealthy for not seeking or following the professional beliefs, rather than accepting they might not be right for everyone.

With an war there is always a third group, the refugees, the displaced people.  Those that either do not care for the conflicts or can accept the ideas of both sides.  IT is my understanding that is where the Shire stands.  We are abuse catalyst multiples that identify as survivors.  We do not see this as weak or inferior.  We work hard to achieve the life we desire, struggling not only to understand the abusive messages of our past but also find a sense of community and acceptance in our multiplicity.  However this we recognise os our sense  of truth and in doing so allow others the same right to self define.  If for someone that means their multiplicity formed naturally without outside assistance it is not of us to judge  the truth or acceptability of that.

So these displaced people now live without a homeland, fitting into neither world.  Unwilling to take sides, or compromise their beliefs to fit into one group.  We struggle to find a place where we will not have to face ridicule or abuse for our beliefs, where we will not be dismissed for not conforming.  And around us the war rages on, both sides seemingly after blood.

~Victress