T W Shakespeare wrote:
>
> In terms of disability, I do think we should be more positive and
> proactive and take risks and make the best of things. Sometimes people
> are quick to adopt a 'victim mentality'. Blaming social barriers or
> attitudes may locate the problem differently from blaming bodies or
> minds that work differently, but it still justifies failure, or not
> trying, or expecting the worst. I think we should try and enable
> disabled people to have high expectations, high aspirations, a positive
> approach to the world, a welcoming attitude to other people, rather than
> negativity, hostility, anger, defeatism, suspicion, rejection etc. I
> can see the ways in which oppression makes it difficult to take a
> creative and constructive approach to the world. But Che Guevara says
Well, what can you do? I am optimistic, fighting for recognition and
succeeding pretty well. But when I talk to other disabled people here in
Holland, over 90% of them are just whining about lack of money, blaming
society and telling me you can't change anything. To be honest, this pisses me
off. I'm more pissed off by their excuses than I am by the barriers of
society. If you *think* you can't change anything, you will surely fail.
I've even talked with a few organisations about this and they all say: 'Well,
you are right, but we can't critisize the very people we are trying to
support.'
I started my own 'campaign' a while ago (although the best campaign is to just
live your life regardless of any barriers) and I get a lot of positive
reactions. Well, 'normal' people like it, most disabled do not. It's only a
pilot right now, I intend to expand it when I find some time and inspiration.
The website is at www.spastic.nl , let me know what you think.
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