Making a complaint can evoke a feeling of futility.
Giving so much, receiving so little.
Like a drop in the ocean,
dissolving in a system that has not been waiting for your concern.
Like a drop on a hot stone,
dissipating with a hiss in a system not willing to see its own wrongs.
Like a drop in the bucket,
adding another one, and another,
until you are dried out.
The drop, the hiss, not heard,
rendered invisible, inaudible, by the institutional barriers.1
Drop after drop,
until you end up dropping your complaints.
Making a complaint can drain you.
It’s exhausting, while what you complain about is already exhausting.2
Soon you realize that there are certain rules that define if you will be heard.
You have to find the right paths,
paths made so entangled; they seem to be made in order for you not to find them.
A paperwork so user unfriendly, as if build to avoid its own purpose.3
In fact, you even have to be right person to complain,
and often if you are in a position where you need to complain,
you are not that right person.4
Making a complaint can disillusion you and your belief that you have a saying in a system.
How many drops do we need to break the barriers of institutions?
How many drops do we need to be heard by those who cover their ears?
Those avoiding seeing their mistakes, not willing to allow change.
How many drops do we need to create a river that forms its way through the impassable structures of institutions?
We might need so many drops.
Making a complaint can be very painful
But sharing pain can be a relief,
sharing energy can be empowering.
Let’s unite, hear those who complain, join their voice,
Let the rain fall,
let the drops become one.
Making a complaint can bring about sea change.
“A drop is just a drop is just a drop
until she meets another
combined they run together
she rinses stone, gets through walls, she crosses borders, never holds
until all the drops become one
big deep blue
where every drop
is just a drop
is just a drop
is just a drop”
Faraway friends – Intro (Rain is coming)
1 See: Ahmed, S. (2021): Complaint! 2021, p.6.
2 See: ebd., p.5
3 See: ebd., p.31
4 See: ebd., p.4