I so agree. When I was younger and coming to terms with renal failure I
was often compared to other people worse off - this had the affect of
denying how I felt and also how other people perceived different types of
impairment - it was often said that st least your not in wheelchair which
did me no good in sorting out my problems and also illustrated how people
view the use of a wheelchair etc. You can end up with monty python
scenarios which you had to laugh at - all this illustrates how important
it is that the use of words are important and contain powerful and life
affecting cultural ideas etc.
Glenn.
On Tue, 9 Mar 1999, M.G.Peckitt wrote:
> To all
>
> The e-mail reply list was making the letter rather long so
> I started a fresh one. I agree entirely It is such
> terminology I like to look at when I examine language and
> disability. I never liked the phrase "remember that there
> is always someone worse off then you".
>
> While this is true, nor as cutting as the numerous other
> phrases I could think of, it never "did the trick" for me.
> In a small way I felt ot negated my own disability and then
> I am forced to envisage that there is indeed someone worse
> off then me and that this is meant to make me feel better.
> Firstly, even at the age of 14, I find taking solace in the
> knowledge that some people had greater physical hardships
> then I belittling and ethically questionable.
>
> Apologises the length of this e-mail.
> ----------------------
> M.G.Peckitt
> [log in to unmask]
>
>
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