[idaho-connection] A repost of something thoughtful

[Todd DeVries]

I can't argue with that logic. But thought it a cautionary personal 
reminder as one who enjoys playing with words and the symbols they 
represent. Perhaps the reminder strikes me where I live, as last week a 
chance disability comment offended one of the students with whom I work.

Todd

On 2/24/2011 12:45 PM, Michael Graham wrote:
> O Todd,
>
> I feel like a fish chomping down on a juicy worm. Your comments are nearly too tempting for me to avoid further rhetoric. I have written on this subject in the past as one with significant concern over what we do with vocabulary and words, as they may differ. A condition of disability, blind or otherwise may be acceptable or rejectable based on what resides in the heart of the evaluator, often those with respectable posts. The heart governs behavior even if the behavior comes from the mouth. Too much energy and attention is spent avoiding words thought to be offensive or sensitive so as not to hurt another, Allowing the heart with a dark spot to hide behind well sounding acceptable words. The heart of the matter is indeed, a matter of the heart.
>
> michael
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: idaho-connection-bounces at acb.org [mailto:idaho-connection-bounces at acb.org] On Behalf Of Todd DeVries
> Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 9:05 AM
> To: foodlady at theblindpost.com; idaho-connection at acb.org
> Subject: [idaho-connection] A repost of something thoughtful
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> Found the following post at http://bit.ly/fxTwVW and thought it worth sharing. A good reminder that "words do matter."
>
>
> Avoid the Stigma of the Word 'Blind'
>
> BY FREDERICK DRIVER, TIMES COLONIST, FEBRUARY 16, 2011
>
> I like Jody Paterson's columns. They are often full of compassion and
> cogent social analysis. Her most recent -a plea to remove the stigma
> affecting marginalized groups -is no exception.
>
> But this one contains a glaring irony: Her repeated negative use of the
> word blind.
>
> Blind means the absence of the sense of sight, and nothing more. The
> blind are a visible minority, a group of people who share a
> characteristic. It is not acceptable to use a group of people as a
> metaphor for something negative.
>
> Metaphorical use of the word blind -adjective or verb -to mean unaware,
> illinformed, or any number of negative baggage-laden uses, reinforces
> misconceptions and stigma -the very things Paterson wishes to remove.
>
> Blindness does not mean lack of awareness, understanding or perception.
> Through alternative techniques, vision is not necessary to be fully
> aware, perceptive, competent and independent. With training and
> opportunity, the blind can compete on terms of equality with the sighted.
>
> As Paterson says, "stigma costs people jobs. It costs them their
> children, and their housing. It brands them as outside the norm, forever
> 'other.' "
>
> With regard to blindness, I hope Paterson will follow her own advice and
> "quit substituting prejudice for thought."
>
> Frederick Driver, Victoria
>
> The Victoria Times Colonist
> Reproduced from
> http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=3f784089-5e38-4278-9155-3f7dc52b8832
>
>
>
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