My ISP has been down for a few days, which is why I havent had a chance
to respond to a conflict which I had something to do with starting.
My position is that all combinations of
1. parents with or without disabilities,
2. disabled people, who may or may not be parents
and of course of whatever age, gender, ethnic group, weight, height,
hair colour, class, and anything else that I have missed
have experiences of oppression which no-one else can fully understand.
However, we can all strive to rise above a divisive and competitiive
social ethos, and be allies to each other.
Being an ally means
1. Finding people who will support us in the areas where we are
oppressed
2. Out of the strength that we build up from having been supported
in our oppression, finding the strength to support others.
4. This means that when we finally decide to be an ally, we don't
give in to the temptation to slip back into the role of
oppressed victim when the person we are trying to be an ally to is
talking about their anger/pain etc.
So in this context, it means that I as a parent can choose to put aside
my oppression as a parent to listen to the pain/ anger of people with
disabilities who have been oppressed by their parents.
I can do this, because I know that I will eventually get my turn too.
Especially because if I give 'the other' the space to burn off some of
their anger/resentment, there is a much better chance that they will
then be in a position to do the same for me.
One of the most divisive ideas is that one group's oppression negates
the others, that oppressions are in competition with each other. THe
reality is that there is time for everybody's stories.
Hope this is of value.
Judy
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