Soap box moment
I just read a forward I got (from who is unimportant) that was an "inspiring" story of a little girl who defeated the odds against survival to grow up and live a "normal" life (that is, one in which she was not blind, not "afflicted" with cerebal palsy or some other (to quote the forward) "catastrophic" or "devastating" condition. Not surprisingly, the forward also indicated that this was god's miracle to bless this child with a "normal" life.While I understand the intent of this email was positive (to be "inspiring"), this is far more insidious and dangerous than overt discriminatory policy, BECAUSE it is cloaked as being positive. The language (normal, devastating, catastrophic, inspiring, strength, courage, etc)and the sentiment behind it all imply that being unable to see, unable to walk, unable to walk, etc. means that a person's life is instantly less satisfying, less livable. I believe the exact line from the forward was that the girl grew up to be "all that a little girl could be", BECAUSE she avoided these HORRIBLE things.
And now, in my frustration, I am venting in a way that is pissing me off too. I can't express exactly how this bothers me without sounding cliche or self-righteous. Working in the program I am now in, I've struggled with this a lot. I have developed very strong opinions, which I'm not sure how to express. I'm not sure what level of action I can take. I know that protesting forwards like this doesn't do much, other than make people thing I'm just a cynic who can't be "inspired". Still, not saying anything makes me feel like what I'm doing is pointless. So, I speak and get frustrated with my inability to articulate myself adequately.
I find that the conversations that occur in my classes remain on the surface. A professor points out the dangers of the "inspiring" label, and the classes nods and understands, but never goes any further (to use just one example). I'm not even sure what questions I am trying to ask, or in what direction I'm trying to take this. In theory, that should be what classes are for. In reality, this is a practical program. Once again, the divide between the practical and theoretical makes me want to throw someone.
Any suggestions? Comments? Points of contention? Anything??
posted by Schna @ 9:59 AM
2 Comments:
Normal is what you make of it. If you grow up without sight or mobility, that is normal for you.
Not to be facetious, but you grew up without hieght -- which is normal. How rude it would be for someone to imply your life was less worth living because you weren't 5'10".
I think the best each person can do is treasure what they have, both physically and emotionally, worrying not what other people think, especially those who have little to no impact on an individual's life.
As for people who forward these e-mails, it will take but one encounter between them and someone they consider abnormal, whether it be a chance meeting on a bus, a coworker or even their own child, to realize that normal is a fallacy.
The sooner we all realize how little importance our physical presence actually carries, the sooner we'll get closer to actually getting along as souls instead of bodies.
I agree with you that the sooner people can put aside their pre/misconceptions, things would be better.
I don't have the same faith in people that you do though - I don't think that simply encountering someone viewed as "abnormal" is enough. On the contrary, too often people see what they expect to see, which allows them to confirm their stereotypes.
awareness is a start, sure. exposure, activism, study, thought, conversation all are important.
I don't know which course/s of action I want to pursue. The field seems to be divided into viewing disability practically (the program I am in) or from a cultural studies perspective (which I admitedly know very little about). I'm trying to find a new way to think (act), but don't know how to continue (as I view this post as a definite beginning).
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