Language is extremely important and I don't think it is as straight forward
as saying we should say this and we shouldn't say that. Promoting language
depends on who we are talking to, where and on what part of the
Continuum_mainstream - margins - margin of the margins_continuuM
we are working from. Some people who are in insittutions/day
centreas/sheltered workshops (on the margin of the margins) don't care
whether we say people with disabilities, disabled people or cripples out
there and quite rightly so. They have other more urgent "prorities" to sort
out "first" such as getting basic needs and requirements met. I say sock it
to the mainstream and thereafter use appropriate language carefully
depending on where we are working on the contimuum and who we are working
with.
Because a person fluently uses the correct definition of words does this
automatically mean that they are 'right on'?. I know many people who do use
the correct language defined by the disabled peoples' movement and yet quite
frankly wouldn't know a human rights issue if it hit them square on. And yet
I know some activists who don't know the correct language to use but, by god,
they would know a human rights issue if it hit them square on.
Does it matter?
Liz Fetes.
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