Phyllis wrote:
>If no one speaks out there are no activists present-I think we should
>protest ask provocative questions put'em on the spot-make ourselves
>strong and be in their faces-real activism isn't quiet philosophical
>debates-we should be out there in the trenches-until then we'll continue
>our safe E-mail discussions. Your thoughts?
Hiya Phyllis. Well, I've never been one for keeping my mouth or my mind
shut and, yeah, maybe that's one reason I exist on a part-time salary and
was sacked from a full-time high-powered job in education (we haven't had
the DDA that long)! I agree with you and Beth - we have to be educators AND
activists, and I don't think these things are incompatible. But it struck
me that the élitism of the academy is one of the primary sources of our
oppression and yet activists for the most part either ignore it or demean
those of us who are part of it and trying to change it. When I write a
paper for a workshop or conference, I put hours of thought, research and
preparation into it, at least as much as the majority of my fellow
presenters. On this basis, I think I have a right to be angry if people
can't be bothered to give me the same opportunity to be heard either in
print or in 'voice'. 'Our' email discussions are only 'safe' for exactly
the same reason that our conference papers are not heard - people see the
word disability - though, as our moderator reminds us from time to time,
this list is (at least potentially) public and we must be careful what we
say! Mmmm ....
Best
Mairian
Mairian Corker
Senior Research Fellow in Deaf and Disability Studies
Department of Education Studies
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Address for correspondence:
111 Balfour Road
Highbury
London N5 2HE
U.K.
Minicom/TTY +44 [0]171 359 8085
Fax +44 [0]870 0553967
Typetalk (voice) +44 [0]800 515152 (and ask for minicom/TTY number)
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"To understand what I am doing, you need a third eye"
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