I appreciate your choice of framing. “Oppression Olympics” is an insidious form of oppression, that silences the oppressed. Once the oppressed are silenced, scores of ignorant, self-serving people speak on their behalf. Can you hear me ROAR?

It reminds me of the mental illness commonly known as Munchausen by Proxy in which the afflicted crave attention so badly, they literally make vulnerable people ill (often killing the young and the old). For example, earlier this year, Lucy Letby, a 33-year-old neo-natal nurse in England, was found guilty of murdering seven newborn infants and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of release.

Quite frankly, I think it fair to say, that the “Oppression Olympics” is another name for Munchausen by Proxy. And those who engage in it expose some pretty seriously dis-ordered minds.

And let’s not forget the “Trauma Olympics”.

Early in the Iraq War, what was once called shell shock, was UP-graded to PTSD and the “Trauma Olympics was born”. Suddenly, everyday people were sucking up attention, by diagnosing themselves with PTSD (suggesting that they too were as brave and heroic as soldiers). Today, I’ve got PTSD is just another way of saying, “I’m having a bad day”.

Whether it’s the Oppression Olympics or the Trauma Olympics the afflicted are addicts. No different than people addicted to meth or heroine, they are desperate for a fix – of attention. I suppose its a function of our celebrity crazed culture (with crazed being the operative word).

Thank goodness, some clear-headed, well grounded people like you, Super Mrs. C. are here to remind us that this is not a game, politics is not a spectator sport, and reality is real.

I should probably do myself a favour and not post this reply, but it’s early and my defenses are not up yet.