Carolyn writes:
>>I'm a '65 Corvette Stingray in pristine condition and low mileage, Baby.
I'm not a used car. I'm a rare classic. Like those in the Deaf community
Paul Preston interviewed in _Mother, Father, Deaf_, if I were to have
children, I'd prefer to have one's that are like me. If they weren't, that
would be ok but it doesn't change the fact that I'd prefer, like most people,
to have children who had my characteristics, my traits, and that includes what
society has deemed my disabilities. Why? Because I don't define disability
in the same manner as most of society. I don't define disability as an
impairment. . . .<<
Well said, Carolyn. Did anyone happen to see the (American) TV movie the
other night, with 'John-Boy Walton' --who portrayed a blind man who marries a
blind woman... has 4 children, one of whom becomes blind as well? The fear
and tragedy of the young boy's 'decline' into blindness evoked pathos
(pathetic...sympathetic...) responses that could have benefitted from
Carolyn's perspective above. Ultimately, the family decided to move to town,
where there were services for the boy, and they all were to live happily ever
after, I suppose. Not once in two hours (or I suppose the dozen years or more
implied in the film) did anyone perceive blindness as part of identity. It
was a defect, a shame, a pity.
On a similar note (sortof) Last night, there was a program on PBS (I've been
watching a lot more TV since returning to the US--where one is not liable for
a 100-pound 'license' for the 'privilege' of owning a TV... what's up with
that, Britons?). The PBS documentary on the feminist movement featured a 70s
song I had (thankfully) never heard, with the lyrics, "Stay young and
beautiful if you want to be loved." Is anyone familiar with the
singer/writer/popularity of this lullaby? I'd love to track it down, for
analytical purposes.
Cheers,
Dona
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