There's been a lot of interesting discussion of Peter Singer's ethical
theories on this list, and I hope to reply to some of it soon. We've all
been pretty busy at NDY - developing new information packets,
sending faxes and answering email about the protest at Princeton.
We're getting a very good response from the developmental
disabilities community, who appear to comprehend that Singer's
*primary* targets are people with cognitive disabilities.
Meanwhile, in the past week, we have also heard from several different
people that SDS is *considering* inviting Singer to the yearly conference
for a debate.
Is this really true? If so, when was SDS intending to inform the rest of
the community? When it was too late for too many of the people
principally affected to say anything?
If Singer is invited to present his views at the official meeting of the
Society for Disability Studies, there are a couple of ways the decision
could be viewed:
1. SDS is willing to give its seal of approval to the idea that "Should
it be legal to kill people with disabilities?" is a legitimate question
within Disability Studies (I am having a hard time imagining professionals
in other minority studies disciplines making a similar statement).
Therefore Disability Studies, as construed by SDS, is a field which
is at least theoretically willing to consider the legal mass destruction
of people with disabilities to be acceptable.
2. SDS, like other segments of society, devalues people with cognitive
disabilities to so great an extent that it is willing to invite a leading
advocate of their extermination as an honored guest. Therefore
Disability Studies, as construed by SDS, is a field that only values
persons with physical or sensory disabilities and without cognitive
disabilities.
I guess the difference between these two conclusions would come down
to, would SDS offer its podium to Kevorkian or another advocate of
killing people with *physical* disabilities?
I've probably said more than enough for this round. I'll wait for some
clarification from SDS before going farther.
Stephen Drake
Not Dead Yet
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