I tend to agree with Phyllis that giving Singer too much ad hoc air time is
a bad idea, but I also feel that if we have to do it, a clear strategy is
important. I think it would be really bad news to put a non-disabled person
on the platform with Singer because, since he's such a slippery customer,
he's bound to twist it somehow to say well there you are - disabled people
(apart from Adrienne of course) can't speak for themselves. The strategic
opportunities that are created should maximise the potential for putting
disabled leaders in disability studies in the limelight - or have we
suddenly forgotten our politics of visibility? - and I have no problem with
the list that Lennard has given. It is precisely at times like this that
non-disabled people should step back from the spotlight and concentrate on
the lighting and the scenery.
Best wishes, Mairian
>
>Lennard Davis wrote:
>>
>> I'd love to debate with Singer. I spent all day yesterday driving from
>> Binghamton to NYC having my own private debate with Singer. Judging from
>> the response in my car, I won. But I WAS the only person in the car.
>>
>> This discussion only reiterates what I've been saying that we need to have
>> a PR/speaker's bureau. I can think of any number of people to add on to
>> Adrienne who would be able to argue Singer into a corner....Paul Longmore,
>> Tom Shakespeare, Rosemarie Thomson, Simi Linton, Harlan Hahn, Nancy
>> Mairs....there's no shortage of persuasive argumentive sorts amongst us.
>> And there's no reason we should not get pro-active about finding people who
>> like to argue, are good in public, can handle an audience, and then
>> assembling a list of would-be speakers. I hope that people will take this
>> issue up at SDS this year. I know there have been others who have
>> backgrounds in journalism, rhetoric, public speaking who have been
>> advocating this.
>>
>> In the meantime, I'll look into things like getting The Nation to host a
>> debate on this subject. If anyone has a venue they think would be
>> appropriate, perhaps we can stage further debates.
>>
Mairian Corker
Senior Research Fellow in Deaf and Disability Studies
Department of Education Studies
University of Central Lancashire
Preston PR1 2HE
Fax +44 [0]870 0553967
email: [log in to unmask]
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