We are reading a book by Toni Morison called Sula in the book a mother kills her son after he comes back after fighting in the war and has a addiction to drugs. After discussing this fact the teacher asked us to write of all the ways it was moral or immoral for the character to kill her son. After writing stuff down we discussed it and someone said it was ok to kill her son because he can not take care of himself.
It hit me like a fist I am 20 years old and still live at home. Many people with disabilities spend their adult lives under supervision of others. Dose this mean that we all should die. I asked the teacher and told her to erase the point that it was invalid yet she left it up there. I know the character was once able bodied and had regressed to a infant level but that sould not mean death right. I voiced my option and ended class on a high note with laughter
Tuesday: I went to an online support group for people with CP. ( IF you want to know what group message me below) I then saw this link to a research of scientist trying to stop brain damage which results in CP. Now i am 100 percent against that abortion because of disabilities is wrong and i am not supper religious. This is not right what they are trying to do to my disability. Why used the word damage or broken. I am not broken because of my disabilities. I have speech differences and movement differences and behavior differences, yet i am not broken far from it.
As a young person i am trying to find my place in the world and how is anyone with disabilities supposed to develop good self esteem if scientist are saying that I was a mistake that should be avoidable with science . Having a disability is a part of me I do not know differently. Do I wonder what its like not to have a disability? sometimes yes. Would I want a cure for CP?No way. I know I do not know what it feels like not to have a disability but come on guys you mean to tell me that it the best thing in the world doesn't everyone have problems. struggles.
I wish if science was being done to help people with disabilities speak, move learn easier instead of abortion. I wish people without disabilities would stop lowing the achievement bar for us. that would make a bigger difference.
What do u all think
5 comments:
I think you are absolutely right. You are not broken! I'm so proud of the way you stand up for yourself and work to educate others, and I hope that one day my daughter is as great a self-advocate as you are.
You are right and I am very glad that I found your blog. :)
Definitely agree with what you say about people lowering the achievement bar.
That is definitely lowering someone's value in the eyes of themselves, their community and society.
Glad you voiced your opinions and got your fellow students to think.
It is science's role to embrace and learn from mistakes, not to get rid of them.
And, yes, the science you talk about is done, but it will not get the publicity that this sort of science would do.
(Probably a distinction between pure and applied science).
And I think people with disabilities who have scientific bents and abilities should use them to show the value of life and diversity.
I was actually thinking of doing a similar post after finding a hate-filled eugenics website that featured a post about a beautiful seven year old with a severe facial deformity. The author of this website spoke about this little girl as if she were some monstrosity and insulted the family for pursuing lifesaving medical treatment for her. The little girl's family (even though her story is in the media a lot) has taken down their blog. I wonder if this was in response to hateful people like that blogger. I think what needs to be done in our society is not eugenics, but increased acceptance of differences. I hope there will someday be a day when a severely disabled indvidual in a public place will be treated with the same respect as everyone else. As you have had the experience of being black, AZ, I'm sure you're well aware of a time (and even still some today) where individuals were rejected for their skin color. Let there be some day where people also do not react negatively to other differences such as disabilities.
Beautifully said! I couldn't agree more. I am so glad I found your blog, too! Thanks for liking Ollibean on FB :) My son is twelve and on the road to being the great self advocate that you are.
I know there will be a time when we are all accepted for exactly who we are..this is the civil and human rights issue.
Look forward to reading more from you!
Did you see the article about Tres Whitlock on NPR? There is a link to it on Ollibean page..he is our good friend ..the discrimination he's faced because of his disability is beyond belief. He's out there changing things though just like you!
Lauri
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