Another interesting fact (speaking as an ex RAF officer) is that there
actually are disabled people in the British military - e.g. there was an
Army Major I once met who had his lower leg blown off by a landmine in the
Falklands and who continued his career - reasonably common I think, although
this doesn't apply to the full range of impairments. If it's OK to stay in
when you become disabled, why isn't it OK to join when you are? Seems like a
reasonable point...There's also the fact that many military people are not
involved in the macho front line stuff, and do a range of other jobs which
do not necessarily require physical fitness - indeed, many of the incumbents
I used to know who were ostensibly 'fit' were actually chain-smoking,
sedentary, overweight and unable to walk a mile without panting. They
weren't discriminated against.
All the arguments in the military when any form of change is suggested
revolve around a set of specious arguments about 'front-line efficiency'.
They are used variously to: prevent women doing anything; prevent gay people
doing anything; prevent disabled people doing anything. I think it's all a
part of the patriarchal, hierarchical, 'boy's own' club that still exists
across the military (with certain sections being particularly guilty). It's
an integral part of the strangely anachronistic monarchist and
(un)democratic, 'tradition'-based system of which we are a part.
Lynne
> ----------
> From: Laurence Bathurst
> Reply To: Laurence Bathurst
> Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2000 10:47 pm
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Selected military memories
>
> Britain seems happy enough to have men and women BECOME disabled by
> entering
> the army - I know there's irony in there somewhere.
>
> Regarding the response from the BBC. What a smarmy, self-satisfied load
> of
> crap that was. Its ok for Tanni to not want to make a fuss but what about
> all those who now accept that its ok NOT to provide access? This reminds
> me
> of the fuss made about Supermodels and anorexia / bulimia. Whenever
> supermodels are interviewed about promoting anorexia, they typicically
> deny
> having an eating disorder and defend the fact that [this] is their natural
> body shape and that they can't help it. Well excuse me!! The interviewer
> (I assume) is not enquiring about your welfare ducky - and you could
> frankly
> drop dead in front of me for all I care.. But what about the millions of
> girls around the world that you are affecting? Lying to? Advocating
> suicide
> to? Fame can make people become so self-centred - as if Tanni can say
> that
> its ok for people to NOT provide equal access just because SHE doesn't
> want
> to make a fuss. And its ok for Supermodels to promote unhealthy body
> shape
> standards because its not THEIR problem.
> Sheesh! Oh goodness, I have been harsh again.
>
> Best regards
>
> Laurence Bathurst
> School of Occupation and Leisure Sciences
> Faculty of Health Sciences
> University of Sydney
>
> PO Box 170
> Lidcombe NSW 1825
> Australia
>
> Ph: 61 2 9351 9509
> Fax: 61 2 9351 9509
> Email: [log in to unmask]
> Home Ph: 61 2 9818 2050
> ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
> ``
> `````````````````````````````````
> Lost : - My leisure. If found please return it to me -
> it has great sentimental value and holds many fond memories.
> Lost : - My self. Last seen within my leisure
> ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
> ``
> ````````````````````````````````.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Thursday, December 21, 2000 4:17 AM
> Subject: Re: Selected military memories
>
>
> > Douglas Bader was an airman in WWII who lost his legs but insisted on
> flying again. He found that without legs it was easier to turn, dive,
> etc.
> in his plane! PAUL BRICKHILL wrote his biog.
> >
> > Jai Guru Dev,
> >
> > "Sundari"
> >
> > ________________End of message______________________
> >
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