Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!300!3!Pat.Goltz
From: Pat.Goltz@f3.n300.z1.fidonet.org (Pat Goltz)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: kicking a dead horse?
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Date: 22 Feb 90 05:10:15 GMT
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In your recent message, you handed out a fair round of criticism about 
being too critical of terms. I couldn't agree with you more! While I 
don't advocate being proud of a disability, at the same time, I think a 
bit of pride in oneself is perfectly in order, and should be required. 
I have noticed that quite frequently people who find me disturbing will 
be highly critical, and if I am proud of the way I live my life, I 
regard it as a backhanded compliment. 
  On the other hand, it would put an even bigger crimp in conversation 
if each disabled person decided what he wanted to be called. Then I'd 
never know when I was offending someone. I'd rather have one term for 
everybody. This is a big problem with Spanish-surnamed persons in this 
part of the country, you know. In New Mexico, as I understand it, you 
can get your block knocked off for calling such a person "Mexican". 
But that isn't a problem here. So you see, I wouldn't encourage that 
kind of individuality! 
  Maybe in the final analysis, we need to take a lesson from the girl 
who waited eagerly for a call from her boyfriend, and who said, "I don't 
care WHAT you call me, just so you call me." 
  Pat 

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