I'd like to applaud and echo Susan's comments below. Let me publicly
express my thanks to Phyllis and all those who participated in
the protest. At the same time, however, I'd also like to suggest that
activism takes many forms.
Scholars who teach and write are being activists, and I think those of
us who choose to advocate for disability rights in this manner are to be
commended. Is it necessary to rank who's "the best activist?"
But, I've made my position on this subject clear at other times on this
list. I might add that I worked forand with people with disabilities in
several capacities before returning to academia, so I know whereof I
speak.
Jennifer
On Wed, 22 Sep 1999, Susan Gabel wrote:
> Dear Phyllis and all,
> Phyllis, thank you for participating in the Singer protest. I appreciate your
> willingness to be arrested for that cause. I hope that I can learn from your
> example and your strength.
>
> I think, though, that there's another way to look at the activism issue. It
> seems like activism can take many forms and that from the outside looking in on
> someone else's experience, it might be difficult to know what they can and cannot
> do and what they consider activism in their life. Some folks have just enough
> energy (physical and mental) and just enough time to be good advocates for family
> and self. I suspect that we all go through stages in our lives when we can and
> cannot be involved in protests that lead to arrests, etc. There probably are
> many reasons for these phases but I'll bet they're often related to constraints
> or other commitments in our lives: children/family members who need us present,
> impairments that prevent or interfere with certain activities (my depression, for
> example, can be quite constraining at times and I must carefully manage my
> environmental stress), jobs that cannot be missed, selves that must be tended
> to. I'm sure my list isn't exhaustive.
>
> Can we find ways to value everyone's contributions and accept that we will all
> contribute differently but to the best of our "ability"? Susan Gabel
>
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