I have a friend who is a hero.

They take personal risks all the time in an effort to document truth. They pore over data to organize those truths. They give the data away, filling in crucial blanks in other folks' work, and they do it for free.

They're in lots of pain, usually.

Heroism is a toxic concept in this country. It's marketed by way of body types, charisma, manufactured beauty standards, or very narrow and very rare acts in desperate circumstances.

But this hero I know is no fighter or model. They're dogged, persistent, methodical. Selfless.

It's easy to look at a sensational moment or viral video call that heroism, and sure, it often is, but we celebrate that brand too much and laud the other heroism too little.

My hero friend doesn't have a viral moment, but still they labor in service.

THAT is hero shit, y'all.

My hero friend is a member of several VERY marginalized communities, and that makes my hero friend a target by hate groups.

They live under the sickening weight of threats and slander every day.

Doing hero shit fucks you up, and the most important hero shit is often thankless.

That's why so many of the activists you know seem to have a little extra helping of illness, be it emotional/mental from sustained social assaults, or physical from long-term distress and, of course, good old police/far right brutality.

Like, all of the time.

My hero friend is subject to a world of threats. Doxxing. Threats. Arrests. Fines. Hatred. Poverty (marginalized communities, remember?).

Like all of us, my hero friend needs support, proactive care, and love from our vibrant, embattled community.

This isn't a criticism of the Left. It's a reminder that we need to celebrate, support, assist, and protect the many, many heroes among us who do the dangerous, exhausting, emotionally damaging, and BORING work that often gets taken for granted like a municipal utility.

Keep this economy of love and aid moving, cousins. Don't overlook anybody.

Did I mention that the most important hero shit is BORING?

These heroes are bored. THEY'RE BORED FOR *YOU*

FOR FREE

JFC, give them some money or something