 |
 |
Carolyn, I have been a quadraplegic for 22 years. I disagree with almost everthing you say in this post. Henry Carolyn Tyjewski wrote: > It has been assumed in several posts on the topic (prevention vs./& inclusion) > that disability is, obviously, a thing that is unwanted, undesirable, and, of > course, no one would choose to be disabled or choose to have a disabled child, > etc. if it could be prevented and, therefore, inclusion and prevention are not > contradictory. There's a real basic problem with this line of thinking that no > one has brought up yet -- at least, not since we left the discussion of why one > would possibly like themselves as Disabled -- and it should be pointed out, so > here goes. . . . > > The assumption that what society defines as a disability is an obviously "bad" > thing that should be corrected/prevented stems from an empowered position that > defines difference as wrong and is no different than defining dark colored > skin, homosexuality, etc., as wrong and in need of correction or prevention due > to a perceived flaw in a physical or mental trait. And it was not so long ago > that these very same arguments were being made in the name of "race betterment" > against those of different hues, sexual preferences and other differences -- > including disability. To some extent, these assumptions still exist about > race, sexuality, etc. Those who believe that "lighter is better" don't need to > ask Johnson Cheu if he'd like to be white. They just assume it because "no one > would choose to be anything else. > > Whoever suggests that my Disabled body is like the lemon clunker a used car > salesman is selling to some unsuspecting pawn is, to say the least, confused. > 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, an > imperfection. Disability is just a physical or mental trait that is not > considered "normal" and that society has decided is incorrect and in need of > correction/prevention/assimilation. I don't see things "through a haze," as > someone else suggested. I see things quite clearly. Understand, what you > perceive as "blurry" is crystal clear for me because, unlike you, I am capable > of interpreting that "blur" for what it is (a car, an individual, whatever) > just as you are able to interpret those same objects as you see them and for > the same reason -- it's always looked that way. As I discussed with a friend > earlier today, human beings are adaptable creatures. One either figures out > how to use what one has to live in an environment or one dies from the > inability to figure shit out. > > Just because a society has created an environment that is more hostile towards > people with certain physical traits than it is towards people with other, more > "average" -- perceived or real -- physical traits does not make the people or > those certain physical traits "wrong" and in need of repair or prevention. The > United States and other Western countries are not friendly environments for > many people of difference. However, in discussing prevention of those defined > as Black or Hispanic or Gay, one would not be likely to suggest that prevention > and inclusion are not contradictory terms. > > And yet, here we are acting as if this is perfectly reasonable topic to discuss > and a logical idea to have in terms of another difference -- disability. Some > among you have claimed that the difference is a monetary issue. We're a drain > on society. We're dependent. According to the Board of Education of Topeka, > Kansas (Brown et al v. Board of Education et al), Black children were a > monetary drain on the educational system better spent on white children. The > same is implied in books like _The Bell Curve_. In the US, conservatives have > suggested -- some even insist -- that homosexuals, bi-sexuals, and > transgendered are not only a monetary drain on the US -- by assuming/suggesting > that we all have and are the only one's who get and transmit AIDS -- but also a > drain on the moral fabric of America. > > And the list of prejudices goes on and on and on without ever an admission, or > even the barest of recognition, that societal prejudices which have created > extreme inequalities has created the "drain" that everyone in society, no > matter their situation, ends up getting sucked down. And I recognize that some > who identify, or are identified, as disabled believe that disability is > inherently wrong. I am also aware of a term for it -- internalized oppression. > > And yes, I realize I have taken this discussion personally. How can I not? > You are calmly discussing my extinction and acting as if you include me while > you try to get rid of or prevent those like me that it isn't a bad thing or a > questionable thing or contradictory! Like it or not, to discuss the > prevention of disability is to discuss the prevention of the persons who have > those physical and mental traits because, as has been stated before, those > traits have -- for better or worse -- been a part of the fabric of that > person's experience and thus, been a factor in the creation of the individual > you wish to prevent. > > To put it in other terms: Suppose society is able to prevent, most of the > time, Black people from ever being born and, at the same time, society included > those, who did manage to be born, in society. . . . Would it be > contradictory? Would you see anything wrong with it? Those who see nothing > wrong with the argument of prevention on those terms have already had their > epitaph written, ". . . . and then they came for me and there was no one left > to say anything." > > -- > Carolyn > check out, "Passing, Invisibility and Other Psychotic Stuff" at > http://www.tell-us-your-story.com/_disc68r/00000003.htm > Add your story > at http://www.tell-us-your-story.com > Finding What We Have In Common One Story At A Time* %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%