The issue you still haven't addressed Mr. Mont (heart felt thank-
yous aside) concerns the relationship between world bank policies
and the people these policies supposedly benefit, namely:
a) how the horrible conditions that many of the "beneficiaries" of
world bank policies find themselves in came about in the first
place?
b) What role the bank play(s)(ed) in producing or perpetuating
these conditions?
c) in what way *specifically* (platitudes aside) world bank policies
alleviate these conditions for the minority and if they even do, how
this translates into progress for the majority?
You seem to acknowlege that world bank policies might not alwasy
be kosher. On the other hand, you believe that there are disabled
people who *do* benefit from the bank's policies -- you claim to
have witnessed the benefits first hand. And since that be so, you
believe in the end that the good of these policies somehow
balances out all of the other bad effects of the bank's policies?
By similar logic, we should applaud the work of "civilian" personnel
in Iraq (e.g., relief organizations) who bring much needed shelter
and food (not to say, civilization) to Iraqi civilians. We should
applaud their work despite the fact their mere presense provides
blanket cover for the U.S occupation, namely, the business of
maiming and killing Iraqis and destroying the country's
infrastructure?
Similarly, we should applaud McDonalds for providing millions of
$$$ to various charities each year and towards the generous
funding it provides to research into (preventable) diseases, such as
cancer, while turning a blind eye to the companires role in
producing these diseases through its products not least the
billions its costs the health care system to treat such diseases?
If has been argued too that descendants of African slaves living in
the U.S. are proportionaly better off than Africans living on the
continent. As a result, should we set aside a "world day of
rememberance for slave traders" for the "force for good" their work
brought about for Afro-Americans?.
I imagine also that Native Amercans should feel fortunate that
Colombus was born?
Date sent: Mon, 14 Jun 2004 10:50:49 -0400
Send reply to: [log in to unmask]
From: Daniel Mont <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Cost of Inclusion
To: [log in to unmask]
> Well, thanks for comparing me to a Nazi. Given that half my family was wiped
> out by the Nazis you really made my day.
>
> The thing is...I really can relate to the criticisms people make of the WB and
> of the limits of cost-benefit analysis. But I also see the work I'm doing
> directly helping children in horrible conditions get education and medical
> care...and empowering people with disabilities to speak for themselves.
>
> I see what I'm doing as supporting the same cause as you. I know my son, who is
> autistic, feels the same way. I know that my boss, Judy Heumann, a long time
> advocate and activist in the disability community feels the same way.
>
> I can take constructive criticism. I can take people making me think hard about
> the implicit and explicit assumptions I am making and helping me deepen my
> knowledge and my approach to things. I'm not stuck in mud. I am hopefully
> evolving.
>
> And you know what...I am trying to grow and evolve IN SPITE of these kind of
> e-mails. My gut reaction is to get all defensive and thus dismissive. But I
> won't let ad hominem attacks keep me from trying to be a force for good.
>
>
>
>
>
> max neill
> <[log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask]
> .UK> cc:
> Sent by: The Subject: Cost of Inclusion
> Disability-Research
> Discussion List
> <DISABILITY-RESEARCH@JISC
> MAIL.AC.UK>
>
>
> 06/11/2004 09:24 AM
> Please respond to max
> neill
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> The message from the World Bank asking for information about the cost of the
> inclusion of people with disabilities reminds me of a certain exam
> question:
>
> "To keep a mentally ill person costs approximately 4 marks a day. There are
> 300,000 mentally ill people in care. How much do these people cost to
> keep in total? How many marriage loans of 1000 marks could be granted with this
> money?"
>
> This question was part of the curriculum that the National Socialists used to
> 'educate' children in pre-war Germany, and preceded the murder of those
> 300,000 people as the first (now almost forgotten) part of the holocaust. As a
> student nurse, it horrifies me that Doctors and Nurses were participants in
> this slaughter.
>
> History shows us that humanity has to come before the balance sheet, people
> before profit and that human rights are not just laudable sentiments, but
> essential for our existence.
>
> Noone should have to justify the 'cost' of their inclusion in everyday life,
> rather it is those that continue to exclude that need to justify themselves.
>
>
>
>
>
> "We speak and the word goes beyond us to consequences and ends which we had
> not conceived of" Gadamer
>
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