.
Christopher Newell, the disabled activist and writer who just died in his
mid 40s, was an example of many admirable characteristics, including a
belief in the "right" (as Larry puts it) to "make some criticism and to
continue doing so", on behalf of people with substantial disabilities. He
was also concerned that his critical message should actually be heard, and
should have some effect on the hearers and on the wider society.
For that to happen, Newell realised the need to listen carefully to the
views of other people, especially those with whom he disagreed, and to take
some account of how they came to think the way they did. This made some of
the difference between having the right (to bang his head against a brick
wall), and having the opportunity (to start where other people actually
are, and help them to move forward in their thinking).
Newell's disabilities were far from the Autism spectrum, and some might
think that his strategies for understanding other people, so as to
communicate effectively with them, were precisely the skills that people
with autism cannot use. But I'm not fully convinced of this generalisation
about 'autism'. Making the effort to understand the minds of people with
whom one disagrees is not something that comes easily or naturally to any
of us; but most people can learn at least that banging one's head against a
brick wall is not a useful long-term strategy.
No 'right' exists to have other people change their minds; but
opportunities do exist to communicate more effectively with them. (An
alternative epitaph, for those who got bored with head-banging).
miles
*********
On Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:31:04 +0100, Larry Arnold
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
[snip]
>I have every right to make my criticisms and to continue, someone has to
do it. (I think I will have that engraved on my tombstone)
>Larry
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