Why Are We So Ignorant and Intolerant?
Now I’m usually a very calm and mild-mannered person, but there’s one major issue I have with today’s society that angers me and I have to address: the way people with disabilities, both mental and physical, are treated in America. Granted, there are lots of compassionate people out there who do the right thing and lots of advocacy groups raising awareness, but it is often those that act improperly towards the disabled that stick out in my mind.
In short, my point is this: in today’s increasingly diverse society, the disabled are often overlooked, causing the general public to become ignorant, shallow, and intolerant towards people with disabilities. This needs to stop.
People with disabilities have always held a special place in my heart because I witness the challenges they face and the adaptations they make to overcome them. My brother Andrew suffers from Angelman Syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes developmental delays and mental retardation. INCORPORATE LINK TO ANGELMAN SITE Andrew has been a huge part of my life since the day he was born, and has really opened my eyes to the world of people with disabilities. Hopefully using the lessons I’ve learned and experiences I’ve shared with Andrew will help me to educate people about our disabled population and dispel some common misconceptions they may have.
Too often I see people giving Andrew puzzled looks and scathing stares, wondering why he looks different than we all do. Their body language gives off a condescending appearance, which really pisses me off because they are basing their (incorrect) judgments only on his unique look and not his personality. They are not seeing him as a real person; rather they only point out his differences instead of embracing him as another human being like themselves.
Just because someone looks and/or acts differently than you doesn’t make them any less important or worthwhile. This isn’t even an issue of disability or not; it’s just plain common sense and basic humanity. Wake up people. In an age where we are progressing socially, people are becoming more accepting towards people from different nationalities, races, religions, cultures, genders, and economic classes. People with disabilities are left off of that list, because as we focus on the progression of various minorities in America people with disabilities take a back seat and are often forgotten. It’s time that we start to pay attention to these people and give them the acceptance and respect that they deserve.
Unbeknownst to some horribly ignorant and irresponsible people, people with both mental and physical disabilities accomplish some amazing things. The paths they take and methods they use might seem foreign to us, but their accomplishments are certainly worthwhile.
Take, for example Matt Savage, a young autistic boy from San Francisco. He struggles with classroom learning and requires a constant aide, but has an unparalleled affinity for composing music. By age 13, he was composing entire pieces of music and playing with adult organizations. He has released six CD’s, all of which have received high ratings GIVE LINK TO STORY
If you still don’t think people with disabilities have limited capabilities, just look to the Paralympics and Special Olympics and you will soon be proved terribly wrong. ELABORATE AND GIVE LINKS TO WEBSITES
Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin hits the proverbial nail on the head when she calls her young son with Down Syndrome “perfect.” ELABORATE AND GIVE LINK TO STORY
When it comes to specifically physically disabled people being mistreated and overlooked, it’s not only individual people perpetrating these “crimes” but also bigger institutions like many public buildings and establishments. ELABORATE ON STORY OF MAN AT RESTAURANT
CONCLUSION- give final plea to change their attitude and offer simple ways to help someone with disabilities if you happen to pass by someone in the street who could use the help-i.e. look them in the eye, smile at them, shake their hand, speak to them, and give them the respect they deserve. NEEDS ELABORATION
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1 comment:
Steven, I just stumbled along your blog and could not more enthusiastically agree. The mental and physically handicapped are becoming increasingly socially isolated as we shift the public view on issues of race, sex, and ethnicity. I can understand the general publics argument for their many times ignorant reactions and etiquette when presented with a case like that of your brothers. As we progress as a society, more profound scrutiny is put of the importance of social awareness and intelligence, and often times criticisms are too rigidly extrapolated onto the mentally and physically handicapped due to their physical limitations. I am glad to see you stated realistic examples of your thesis. You do a terrific job introducing objectivity into your argument by offering the given examples (Although the immediate link's would be nice, just to satisfy the readers curiosity and contribute to your own credibility). I would like to see more personal anecdotes pertaining to you and your brother, after all this is your piece and as narrator you can offer a very insightful analysis. You forcing the audience to critique there own biases and injustices against the handicapped and offering emotionally (pathos, as provided by stories like your brother and Palins son) and objectively relevant arguments (logos, as provided by the paraolympics, and the young composer) that adequately refute many previously help preconceptions of the handicapped. Your audience will hopefully reform their previous analysis of the handicapped and dually the social progression of our society as a whole. Although you do articulate a convincing argument relating to social reform concerning handicapped, being one of the majority I have had only limited exposure to handicapped, and also i feel you may come off a little critical on those who genuinely attempt to socialize with the handicapped, but just haven't had enough exposure to know what to do. What is it we can do to more appropriately collaborate with the handicapped, and what reformation would you like to see in our collective society?
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