MK,

That is great - Wonder if Hawking's equipment bears this out.  I've seen
pictures of Christopher Reve's chair, and it appears to be true.

On Wed, Aug 20, 2008 at 10:19 PM, Mary Powers <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Carl Sagan also told me
>
> in an ideal world, people with disabilities/impairments (that we do not
> have to "hide") would be running the world.
>
> he said that was a joke but there was a lot of truth in it.  the truth is
> that before industrialization, physical strength and endurance counted for a
> lot, for the vast majority of people.  Now with modern technology, the
> future was in accepting that people generally have shifting patterns of
> strength and weakness.  That is, abilities and difficulties, and these often
> change over time.  Whether you are "normal" or impaired/disabled or
> whatever.
>
> and he also said that as people with CP and other conditions gained
> acceptance, we'd have the same (low but real) chance of getting famous or
> very accomplished ourselves, as "normal" people.  it wouldn't be a matter of
> parents and siblings, and other loved ones, doing work on our behalf
> anymore, not exclusively anyway.  and assuming of course, interest,
> motivation, and a certain baseline level of physical and mental capacity.
>
> none of which is meant to say that fame or a bunch of degrees is something
> that people should "have" to achieve.  that was my first reaction to what he
> said.  he said no, what he meant was, it was kind of paternalistic to assume
> that relatives would work for success, but not us on our own behalf.
>
> I thought that was very interesting.
>
> he also said
>
> "the thing about fame is you get nicer equipment"
>
> and then he smiled.
>
>
> he was a very moral person.
>
>
> take care,
>
>
> Mary Katherine
>
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-- 


Kendall

An unreasonable man (but my wife says that's redundant!)

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one
persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress
depends on the unreasonable man.

-George Bernard Shaw 1856-1950

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