You hit the nail on the head. We need to be more selective when looking at
issues to cry foul about. Although "wheelchair bound" is a poorer choice of
words than say, "uses a wheelchair", the positive thing is that it showed a
person with a disability in a fairly important position. ABs need to see
that people with disabilities are able to hold such positions. Then
attitudes will change.
David Kehler
Information Systems Technologist
Canadian Centre on Disability Studies
Web Site: http://www.escape.ca/~ccds/
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: homan <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: January 21, 1999 6:09 AM
Subject: Re: Charles Ruff - Wheelchair bound
Don't get your knickers in a twist, or don't get seasick in a storm in a
tea cup.
descriptive bits and pieces are the stock in trade of journos and other
writers and story tellers. They are used to distinguish, name
attributes, colour, enhance or bias a tale. If terms like tall, grey,
bold, bearded, etc are appropriate, why not a walking stick, spectacles
or a wheelchair. It articulates a fact of life, rather than a lie or a
distortion.
I think there is the danger in this world that super sensitivity starts
to seriously resemble intolerance on the way to becoming a big chip on
the shoulder.
Have a good time, rgds John
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