Betty, your concerns are echoed worldwide and are not unique to the US. I've
heard these same opinions echoed in the UN, the UK, Canada, France, etc.
etc.   The US is not alone in this.

Kat
----- Original Message -----
From: "Betty B" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 11:16 PM
Subject: Re: FW: [cshcn-l] Delivering on the Promise--New Freedom Initiative
Full Repo...


> Kat,
>
> Working from everything you've said, as well as everything I've come to
> believe in the past few years, I've come up with a list of my more
> troublesome concerns facing the disability rights movement, indeed, the
> nation as a whole.
>
> These are opinions, naturally.  In my mind this works up like a current
> events
> equation.  I don't envision a positive outcome, but will be delighted to
no
> end to be disproved.  This is also US stuff, but please do not misconstrue
my
> comments.  I am not an isolationist, and I am not ignorantly proud of my
US
> citizenship.  I don't feel that citizenship in any nation should be a
matter
> of pride as much as of responsibility.
>
> 1.  The general public's concern for a demise of the social security
system.
> 2.  Public perception of immigration issues.
> 3.  The increasing influence and acceptance of bioethical philosophies,
which
> I feel has enjoyed an insidious reach for a longer time than is generally
> known.
> 4.  The realization of disability rights legislation on the heels of other
> civil rights legislation in a now riot-weary nation.
> 5.  The lack of understanding in the overall disability community of the
art
> of war (the work of Sun Tzu).
> 6.  A steady decline of general acceptance of individual responsibility to
a
> greater whole, demonstrated by increasing contempt for the rule of law,
> coupled with increasing disregard for human life, disabled or otherwise.
>
> That list seems to span the gamut -- my concerns about everything from the
> pervasive beliefs about human rights in environmental and animal rights
> groups, to the right wing teachings of Robert Welch.  When I look at what
> I've just written, I become concerned that this time period may mark the
> beginning of a greater fall than we may be considering.
>
> Betty
>
> In a message dated 4/7/2002 6:02:47 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>
> > Thanks for the information and details, Betty.  Of course we've got a
right
> > to protest, that's a given.  And I happen to think we disabled have more
> > things to protest than the average AB American citizen.  Unfortunately
we
> > also tend to think we don't have a voice, which is totally wrong.
> >
> > Also, I don't have any answers to the dilemma I posed in my original
reply
> > to you.  Wish I did.  As a person who worked in benefits in many years,
> > it's
> > quite frustrating to me just how many of us will be living in poverty
when
> > we  retire, and how the younger generation resents us for taking what
they
> > think will be their share of the pie.
> >
> > Kat
> >