smart as a rock was she? 


--- On Tue, 5/13/08, Cleveland, Kyle E. <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> From: Cleveland, Kyle E. <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: what were your childhoods like?
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008, 2:36 PM
> Kendall and all.
> 
> Back a couple years ago when I was completing my career as
> a
> professional part-time student <insert melancholy sigh
> here> my academic
> adviser and department chair (communications) also happened
> to be the
> Campus Commissar for Political Correctness.  In order to
> complete the
> program I had to take one of her silly courses in
> "Contemporary
> Subcultures", or some such nonsense.  We delved into
> such varied and
> esoteric topics as the "Schism Between Roman
> Catholicism and Greek
> Orthodoxy as Expressed in Cathedral Architecture" (I
> kid you not) and
> "Alternative Lifestyles and the Native American
> Experience".
> 
> Anyway, we got around to the evolution of social group
> names (e.g.,
> "negro" became "black" became
> "African American") and how progressive
> societies elevated social groups by making current labels
> offensive and
> creating new labels that were supposed to magically raise
> socioeconomic
> status.  We were lectured ad nauseum about how hurtful
> these labels were
> to said groups.  Go figure.
> 
> So she got around to me and said, "Kyle, when you were
> a child, you were
> 'crippled', then you became 'disabled'. 
> Our progressive society has
> come to learn that 'disabled' still carries
> baggage, so you'll be
> pleased to know that you are not DIS-abled, but
> 'differently abled'.
> Doesn't that make you feel empowered?"
> 
> "Only if it scores me an "A" in this
> class", says I.
> 
> The sarcasm blew past her like a kid getting ready to score
> his first
> beer.
> 
> Says Prof. PC, "Kyle, can you give us an example how
> your "different
> abilities" have made your life "different"?
> 
> "Sure.  I got this plastic thingy I can hang on my
> rear-view
> mirror--looks like a guy sitting on a commode.  Anyway, I
> can hang that
> thing up and park right next to the mall at Christmas-time
> while the
> rest of you have to drag your sorry arses a half-mile!  (In
> the words of
> Napoleon Dynamite, 'Lucky!')."
> 
> She STILL didn't get it!
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cerebral Palsy List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
> Of Kendall D. Corbett
> Sent: Monday, May 12, 2008 1:50 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: what were your childhoods like?
> 
> <snip>
> 
> I also don't see an accessible parking space (for
> example) as a
> privilege,
> but as a way for a business to assure that they'll get
> my business.
> It's
> too bad that enough businesses didn't see the economic
> advantages to
> implementing the provisions of the ADA voluntarily, as
> pwd's (and
> elders)
> are potentially the largest segment of the economy.  If
> businesses want
> our
> money and talent, it's incumbent upon them to ensure we
> can get in the
> door,
> and get around inside, as customers or employees.
> 
> I'd also be interested to hear about the "special
> privileges" your
> disability has entitled you to.
> 
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