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. > > ----------------------- > > 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