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From: J.P.THARIN@f7.n300.z1.fidonet.org (J P THARIN)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Terminology as a Red Herring
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Date: 24 Aug 90 20:24:04 GMT
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Index Number: 9965

Adrienne...

I was replying to your message earlier with a great deal of
righteous anger when my machine crashed. Perhaps G-d was trying to
keep me from making a fool of myself yet again. This over-concern,
this emphasis, this dwelling on the socially "correct" labels for us
human beings has got to stop some day. Just changing one previously
"correct" label to a new contemporarily "correct" (says WHO,
damnit!) label doesn't do one single bit of good for you or for me.
	 
Let me introduce myself. I'm an apparently able-bodied mesomorph
(labels suck) who some jerks have the nice convenient label of "TAB"
for. I drive a paratransit van for a living. The pay stinks but I
love the job. For the first time in my life I love what I'm doing,
getting out into the world every day and meeting all sorts of
strange and interesting people. I have two labels for the people I
meet who have no legs (I have no tail!) or who dove into a shallow
pool (I once shot myself!) or who's eyes aren't up to standards (one
of my ears works very well most of the time!) or who move
unpredictably (no fair talking to my ex-wife!). Those labels are
"Sir" and "Maam", whether ten years old or ninety. It ain't forced:
my mother also taught me to stand when a person worthy of respect
entered the room (or van), and to open doors for someone with their
arms full, and to give a free push when someone needs it (just
because I push on up-hills and then hop on for a ride on the down
slopes doesn't mean any disrespect, Mom). But I'm digressing. Maybe.
	 
Opening a door for someone is no different than getting behind
them and tilting their chair back to clear the threshold. Or holding
their hand so they're not afraid of falling. You do this for a three
year old child or a ninety year old parent, with no thought that
you're doing it because the person is three or ninety: you do it
because it's simply the thing to do. You also do it for anyone
between these ages, with no reservations, if that's what they need
to avoid their individual fear of falling. You don't need a label to
help you define your rationale for acting; you just act. This is
also known as "common courtesy".
	 
I think that the person who wrote that article was someone who gives
too much thought to what should be an unconscious act (or trend).
Maybe one of dem bleedin' heart lib'rals who give more credence to
guilt and socially "correct" actions than to personal dealings with
real human beings. Some of these labels are seriously belabored,
like "Congenital Disability" for birth defect, like "Mobility
Impaired", and like "Of Small Stature". Hey, the guy's real short,
y'know?. It's a valid physical description. I've got brown hair.
Also a valid physical description! Who cares? This dwelling on
socially inappropriate labels is just plain anal. If someone needs a
label in order to define him or her self, then that someone needs to
get a real life.
	 
Separate the mechanical aspects of life from the soul. Never
confuse the two. Leave the mechanics to the professionals and leave
the rest to the heart.
	        
Jesse (almost upset)
        
 

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