wow, mary k... fascinating! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ http://www.zazzle.com/TamarMag* Tamar Mag Raine [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ----- Original Message ---- From: Mary Powers <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:19:21 PM Subject: 1 other thing about fame and disability 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 ----------------------- To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy ----------------------- To change your mail settings or leave the C-PALSY list, go here: http://listserv.icors.org/SCRIPTS/WA-ICORS.EXE?SUBED1=c-palsy