Persons with disabilities are still fighting for their basic civil rights in this country. While people with disabilities are the largest minority population in the United States – 19.3 percent as compared to African Americans who make up only 12.9 percent* – they are given little respect from the world and their lives are considered nothing more than a bother by the majority and other minorities for that matter.
Disability is an all-encompassing minority population, consisting of persons from different socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, gender, location, and sexual orientation. Disability is no respecter of persons. Chances are that every person in the United States is more likely to know one or more individuals with disabilities, than they are someone with HIV/AIDS. Who doesn’t know someone with HIV/AIDS?
Still yet, the old perceptions of people with disabilities are still present today, even from the educated. These misconceptions, which lead to discrimination, are prevalent and rampant in the American psyche. There are several stereotypes that are still prevalent in today’s society. One of which is the idea that people with disabilities are scammers, liars and cheaters out to get ahead at the expense of everyone around them and scam their ways into a cushy, lazy lifestyle. So said Rush Limbaugh about Michael J. Fox and his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
And so it goes for many people with disabilities. For some reason this stereotype is still running rampant throughout our society and people with disabilities, and disability advocates, sit idly by and say little about the real issue. Oh they complain about Limbaugh’s remarks and insist he apologizes, but they don’t do a good job addressing the underlying stereotype. People with disabilities are not lazy or out to steal the state’s money any more than African Americans have that extra rib and are genetically inferior to whites. It’s a ridiculous argument. Sure, there are people in the world who look for an easy ride, but I can tell you that disability is no easy ride.
Living with diabetes, post-polio disease, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, Down syndrome, autism, spinal cord injury, HIV/AIDS, head injury, multiple sclerosis, or any other host of disabilities is a rough ride. Yet the sheep believe that if you have a disease or condition, then that disability affects you the same every single day. That too, is simply a case of ignorance on the part of the Rush Limbaugh and the rest of the world. Someone with multiple sclerosis never knows how their disease is going to affect them day-by-day. One Monday, someone can walk on their own, and then on Tuesday they may have to use a wheelchair. From the outside, that has the appearance of scam, but it isn’t. That’s the nature of multiple sclerosis.
The same is said for many disabilities, including Parkinson’s. People with Tourette’s Syndrome speak out inappropriately. They may curse profusely and be unable to stop. However, someone with Tourette’s may be able to control it for short amounts of time, giving the perception that they can really control it if they just try harder. What people do not realize is that when the person goes home the dam breaks and they will be worse than typical, spouting curses for longer periods of time. Control of certain diseases can be achieved for short periods of time, but it doesn’t last and can be very taxing for the individual. It’s a case of understanding, real understanding, of a disability.
Why do we care what Michael J. Fox has to say, anyway? Lots of people think that actors have no business talking about issues.
I care about what Magic Johnson has to say about living with HIV/AIDS, not because he is famous, but because he lives with the disease every day. He knows about it. That’s why I care.
I care what Oprah says when it comes to managing weight because she knows what it’s like. I care what Carnie Wilson says when it comes to living with gastric by-pass surgery. They both get it, albeit from different perspectives, and they understand the struggle. So when they speak on the subject, I pay attention to their thoughts.
Right now, a lot of people would try to get us to believe that because someone is famous, then we should not care about what they think. Working in Hollywood or the entertainment business does not automatically discount someone’s perspective. It has nothing to with Hollywood at all. When someone speaks out on a subject they live and breathe every day, then their perspective is valid and deserves it due. I may disagree with them, but people in similar circumstances often disagree.
Pundits, television and radio show hosts, and newspaper editors and reporters all think they have something important to say about stem cell research or other various issues, but the fact is, it may be those radio show hosts and reporters that are the least qualified to offer opinions. In the case of Parkinson’s disease and stem cell research, Fox has a valid perspective. Why do we care what some radio show host says? What qualifies Rush Limbaugh as an expert on stem cell research? Are these media personalities somehow more educated; are their thoughts more valid than someone living with Parkinson’s disease or diabetes? Could be they are living with a disease, or know someone that is. We don’t know that unless they tell us, which in the case of full disclosure, they should do.
Michael J. Fox is not being exploited. That is something idiotically stated by those who disagree with him in an attempt to discredit him, but it’s bunk. Fox has been a supporter of stem cell research and has dedicated his life to finding cures and has his own foundation. That doesn’t mean that someone has to agree with him, but his thoughts shouldn’t be invalidated either just because he is an actor. He’s an American living with a disease and he knows something about that.
I care what Michael J Fox has to say about stem cell research and I care what veterans say about politicians who vote against veteran’s benefits. Just because I listen to their thoughts doesn’t mean I vote their conscience. I vote my own, thank you very much.
Disability is an all-encompassing minority population, consisting of persons from different socio-economic backgrounds, ethnicities, gender, location, and sexual orientation. Disability is no respecter of persons. Chances are that every person in the United States is more likely to know one or more individuals with disabilities, than they are someone with HIV/AIDS. Who doesn’t know someone with HIV/AIDS?
Still yet, the old perceptions of people with disabilities are still present today, even from the educated. These misconceptions, which lead to discrimination, are prevalent and rampant in the American psyche. There are several stereotypes that are still prevalent in today’s society. One of which is the idea that people with disabilities are scammers, liars and cheaters out to get ahead at the expense of everyone around them and scam their ways into a cushy, lazy lifestyle. So said Rush Limbaugh about Michael J. Fox and his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
“He is exaggerating the effects of the disease. He's moving all around and shaking and it's purely an act…. This is really shameless of Michael J. Fox. Either he didn't take his medication or he's acting.”
And so it goes for many people with disabilities. For some reason this stereotype is still running rampant throughout our society and people with disabilities, and disability advocates, sit idly by and say little about the real issue. Oh they complain about Limbaugh’s remarks and insist he apologizes, but they don’t do a good job addressing the underlying stereotype. People with disabilities are not lazy or out to steal the state’s money any more than African Americans have that extra rib and are genetically inferior to whites. It’s a ridiculous argument. Sure, there are people in the world who look for an easy ride, but I can tell you that disability is no easy ride.
Living with diabetes, post-polio disease, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia, lupus, Down syndrome, autism, spinal cord injury, HIV/AIDS, head injury, multiple sclerosis, or any other host of disabilities is a rough ride. Yet the sheep believe that if you have a disease or condition, then that disability affects you the same every single day. That too, is simply a case of ignorance on the part of the Rush Limbaugh and the rest of the world. Someone with multiple sclerosis never knows how their disease is going to affect them day-by-day. One Monday, someone can walk on their own, and then on Tuesday they may have to use a wheelchair. From the outside, that has the appearance of scam, but it isn’t. That’s the nature of multiple sclerosis.
The same is said for many disabilities, including Parkinson’s. People with Tourette’s Syndrome speak out inappropriately. They may curse profusely and be unable to stop. However, someone with Tourette’s may be able to control it for short amounts of time, giving the perception that they can really control it if they just try harder. What people do not realize is that when the person goes home the dam breaks and they will be worse than typical, spouting curses for longer periods of time. Control of certain diseases can be achieved for short periods of time, but it doesn’t last and can be very taxing for the individual. It’s a case of understanding, real understanding, of a disability.
Why do we care what Michael J. Fox has to say, anyway? Lots of people think that actors have no business talking about issues.
I care about what Magic Johnson has to say about living with HIV/AIDS, not because he is famous, but because he lives with the disease every day. He knows about it. That’s why I care.
I care what Oprah says when it comes to managing weight because she knows what it’s like. I care what Carnie Wilson says when it comes to living with gastric by-pass surgery. They both get it, albeit from different perspectives, and they understand the struggle. So when they speak on the subject, I pay attention to their thoughts.
Right now, a lot of people would try to get us to believe that because someone is famous, then we should not care about what they think. Working in Hollywood or the entertainment business does not automatically discount someone’s perspective. It has nothing to with Hollywood at all. When someone speaks out on a subject they live and breathe every day, then their perspective is valid and deserves it due. I may disagree with them, but people in similar circumstances often disagree.
Pundits, television and radio show hosts, and newspaper editors and reporters all think they have something important to say about stem cell research or other various issues, but the fact is, it may be those radio show hosts and reporters that are the least qualified to offer opinions. In the case of Parkinson’s disease and stem cell research, Fox has a valid perspective. Why do we care what some radio show host says? What qualifies Rush Limbaugh as an expert on stem cell research? Are these media personalities somehow more educated; are their thoughts more valid than someone living with Parkinson’s disease or diabetes? Could be they are living with a disease, or know someone that is. We don’t know that unless they tell us, which in the case of full disclosure, they should do.
Michael J. Fox is not being exploited. That is something idiotically stated by those who disagree with him in an attempt to discredit him, but it’s bunk. Fox has been a supporter of stem cell research and has dedicated his life to finding cures and has his own foundation. That doesn’t mean that someone has to agree with him, but his thoughts shouldn’t be invalidated either just because he is an actor. He’s an American living with a disease and he knows something about that.
I care what Michael J Fox has to say about stem cell research and I care what veterans say about politicians who vote against veteran’s benefits. Just because I listen to their thoughts doesn’t mean I vote their conscience. I vote my own, thank you very much.
(* According to the 2000 Census Bureau.)
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