I'm shocked by the defeatism around here.
Even Dona, who is normally quite sensible, has taken refuge in some
conspiracy theory about scientists having a single agenda as in
> The Scientists, funded by Economists who have their own agenda, have
> gained etc
I maintain that these feelings of helplessness and hopelessnes are largely
internalised disability oppression (sorry for outdated terminology). Just
feelings not reality.
While not wishing to get into debates about reality when there are
philosophers on the loose, it seems to me:
1. That minority groups always have to expend twice as much energy as the
majority just to stay in the same place. Now that's reality,get used to
it. But it's not always unpleasant: there are huge payoffs in
"in-crowdness"; "cuttingedgeness"; feelings of moral superiority;
frequently knowing where the best and cheapest restaurants can be found;
and all the other joys of counterculture.
2. The whole point is the pluralism, or the celebration of diversity, isnt
it?. This means there will be some who choose to form a speakers group,
others who think maximum effect cam be got by ostentatiously turning their
backs, still others will choose to kibitz on email lists (my personal
favourite). Some will even choose terrorism, which I find sad, but that
seems to be a natural part of life too. Perhaps they should be required to
meet with a support group of ex-terrorists before they choose this road.
3. Some people here think that this whole issue would never have come up
if it hadnt been for Singer, and therefore if we ignore him, it will go
away. I think that Singer is a channel through which the Zeitgeist speaks.
If it wasnt him, it would be someone else - there is no way of not
engaging with this issue, otherwise "we" wont just stay in the same place,
we'll go out backwards.
Judy Singer
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