I have been watching the comments flooding into my inbox
over the Charles Ruff "wheelchair bound" discussion.
The fact that I may not speak for a majority or elected
delegate should not be that important. The individuals
voice is just as important a the majority. Once we have
collectives, which have no real governmental powrers
deciding what is right and what is wrong on a social issue,
an issue which could be considered personal, we could be
treading down a very dangerous path. Why should a market
researcher decide whether I call myself "Disabled" or " a
person with a disability". What you decide to call
yourself is a personal issue, as long a you do not force
you definition onto other i.e make other similar to
yourselves call themselves the same thing then it is
nobody's business but your own. Self definition is to my
one of the most imoprtant parts of self-identity.
Is it right that no matter which opinion you are of on this
issue, that we should stop dealing with the particular,
just this one incident? You cannot blame the Charles Ruff
or Jeremey Paxman for one incident. That's not debate
that just plaining picking on people. Should the issue be
generalised to "incidents where the phrase 'wheelchair
bound' is used"? I believe and apologise if I miss
understood that Anita suggested this with her comments
about Roosevelt.
Michael
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M.G.Peckitt
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