Cutting funding to public broadcasting would be a massive mistake. PBS is one of the few leftover bastions good television in this country. It also sheds light on artists regionally. Here in Oregon we have Art Beat, as well as other shows, which only focus on the art community, and help those people to survive.
Not only that, but think of the childhood memories associated with PBS, that almost every American must have. Sesame Street alone should be enough incentive to spare the system. The meager, what is it? Dollar fifty? Per American? That hardly seems worth even slight consideration. In a country where we spend more on ethanol production, and considering the other things we blatantly waste money on in government, like busting Tommy Chong, this move seems irrational, and perhaps even stupid.
How much money did “we” spend arresting, and incarcerating Mister Chong for the better part of a year? Better yet, ask yourselves if it had anywhere near the impact on anyone (besides poor Mr Chong, and his family) that PBS has had.
Stop the teabagging of America!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Redactions...
It seems there needs to be some redactions of things previously said by certain borderline bi-polars, namely this one.
First, the name of this little corner of the world wide is such, as it was something (and still is) something I tell people who treat me like I am some kind of fucking child, or other form of dolt, just because my legs are monuments to atrophy. It in no way is designed to hurt a single disabled person's feelings, rather it is designed to shame people who are in no way disabled or infirmed. Ignorance still does not count as a disability in this country.
Second, my personal view of 'person first' language and political correctness are my own, and I do not feel the need to apologize, but more to clarify my position. The spirit of person-first is unarguably pure, but I would rather just be a person. That isn't about to happen, since we, The American People, feel the need to label everything, so I would rather be called the medical term for what I am, which is: Cripple. Get over it.
Rather than fighting to be known as people who are lacking something, which is literally what 'disabled' means, we should be fighting to be seen as people. Just people. On an equal ground with other god-damned people. In fact, most of the supposed disabled people I know would beat normal people in an intellectual ass-kicking contest, and I am baffled at the position that being known as disabled people is somehow worth fighting over. I am in no way belittling the victory of person-first language, but, I don't like what it has made of us. We are people. Only people. People who want equality. So go get it, but remember that you aren't disabled.
First, the name of this little corner of the world wide is such, as it was something (and still is) something I tell people who treat me like I am some kind of fucking child, or other form of dolt, just because my legs are monuments to atrophy. It in no way is designed to hurt a single disabled person's feelings, rather it is designed to shame people who are in no way disabled or infirmed. Ignorance still does not count as a disability in this country.
Second, my personal view of 'person first' language and political correctness are my own, and I do not feel the need to apologize, but more to clarify my position. The spirit of person-first is unarguably pure, but I would rather just be a person. That isn't about to happen, since we, The American People, feel the need to label everything, so I would rather be called the medical term for what I am, which is: Cripple. Get over it.
Rather than fighting to be known as people who are lacking something, which is literally what 'disabled' means, we should be fighting to be seen as people. Just people. On an equal ground with other god-damned people. In fact, most of the supposed disabled people I know would beat normal people in an intellectual ass-kicking contest, and I am baffled at the position that being known as disabled people is somehow worth fighting over. I am in no way belittling the victory of person-first language, but, I don't like what it has made of us. We are people. Only people. People who want equality. So go get it, but remember that you aren't disabled.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Politically Correct
Today I was informed, however gently, that my blog title is offensive and politically incorrect. I can suppose this is true, I can. But, I think political correctness has gone too far. It has made us too demure and passive. The notion of political correctness, at its heart, and in theory says we should put people first. It says I am not a disabled person, but that I am a person with disability.
This movement (meaning political correctness) has done, in my opinion something much more sinister, and unintended. It has taken the teeth away from saying we have a problem. No longer can we say 'this is fucked up because of x,y,z' because that's somehow offensive. You can't point fingers, because that is also somehow offensive. I can't call myself, or my compatriots cripples because that term is somehow derogatory.
In my mind the 'politically correct' terms for people like me are offensive, in fact, more offensive than the word I just used. I am not 'physically challenged' and neither are you. Nor am I 'handicapped'. What the fuck does that even mean? You know... someone once told me that was what Germans called panhandlers and beggars. Does that sound like you? I didn't think so. Doesn't sound like me, either.
I am also aware that some of you out there might consider the word cripple to be inflammatory, even if you are disabled. I pose to you that it's no different than a black person who calls himself a racial term. If a word has a negative power over you, or over me, or over any other group, then take the power away from it. Don't let people tell you what you are, or what you aren't be a goddamn cripple. Be a fucking gimp, and don't you dare apologize for it.
All of my life people have told me this crap line about playing the hand you're dealt. I didn't understand that, until I started playing cards. When you're at a poker table, you gotta know when to hold and fold and walk away, sure. But, if you can't walk you might have to make due with that seven-two, and if you have to do that, you shouldn't play that gently. If you have a bad hand, and you have to play it, then play it with balls.
When you have to play the gimp card, when you have to fight for what Olmsted and the ADA guarantee you, then you shouldn't go in there and use the most vanilla language you can. If you wouldn't apologize for introducing yourself, don't apologize for your wheelchair. Being 'politically correct' is doing just that.
This movement (meaning political correctness) has done, in my opinion something much more sinister, and unintended. It has taken the teeth away from saying we have a problem. No longer can we say 'this is fucked up because of x,y,z' because that's somehow offensive. You can't point fingers, because that is also somehow offensive. I can't call myself, or my compatriots cripples because that term is somehow derogatory.
In my mind the 'politically correct' terms for people like me are offensive, in fact, more offensive than the word I just used. I am not 'physically challenged' and neither are you. Nor am I 'handicapped'. What the fuck does that even mean? You know... someone once told me that was what Germans called panhandlers and beggars. Does that sound like you? I didn't think so. Doesn't sound like me, either.
I am also aware that some of you out there might consider the word cripple to be inflammatory, even if you are disabled. I pose to you that it's no different than a black person who calls himself a racial term. If a word has a negative power over you, or over me, or over any other group, then take the power away from it. Don't let people tell you what you are, or what you aren't be a goddamn cripple. Be a fucking gimp, and don't you dare apologize for it.
All of my life people have told me this crap line about playing the hand you're dealt. I didn't understand that, until I started playing cards. When you're at a poker table, you gotta know when to hold and fold and walk away, sure. But, if you can't walk you might have to make due with that seven-two, and if you have to do that, you shouldn't play that gently. If you have a bad hand, and you have to play it, then play it with balls.
When you have to play the gimp card, when you have to fight for what Olmsted and the ADA guarantee you, then you shouldn't go in there and use the most vanilla language you can. If you wouldn't apologize for introducing yourself, don't apologize for your wheelchair. Being 'politically correct' is doing just that.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Life Sentence?
In Washington state, a seventy-seven year old man has had several life saving things done, by the state, to prolong his existence. Big deal. Yeah, until someone tells you this man, with his power wheelchair, who survived a stroke, a heart attack, and skin cancer is in prison for killing someone.
What makes this story a shocking waste of money is not the man's age, or health concerns, or even that he's a killer. Where the issue comes from is he's been there since 1993, and he still has fourteen years left on his sentence. This makes his thirty-one year sentence almost certainly a life sentence. Now, consider this, when someone receives a life sentence, they are sentenced to the term of “no less than their natural lives”. Your 'natural life' means without any extra-ordinary life saving measures.
What do you think? Should the government prolong the lives of people who won't see the light as a free man?
What makes this story a shocking waste of money is not the man's age, or health concerns, or even that he's a killer. Where the issue comes from is he's been there since 1993, and he still has fourteen years left on his sentence. This makes his thirty-one year sentence almost certainly a life sentence. Now, consider this, when someone receives a life sentence, they are sentenced to the term of “no less than their natural lives”. Your 'natural life' means without any extra-ordinary life saving measures.
What do you think? Should the government prolong the lives of people who won't see the light as a free man?
Friday, August 13, 2010
A Matter of Opinion
What you need is a matter of opinion. Not you need an opinion, but what you actually need, that is someone's opinion, and it sure as shit won't be yours.
Today, I went to PSU, and I gave them my information as to what “reasonable” accommodations it might take for me to be a functional college student on their campus. It is someone's call as to whether my assistant who is going through all my classes with me, and going for the same degree, anyway, it's somebody's opinion whether letting her be in all my classes is “reasonable”. Their way of justifying such nonsensical behavior, is that they are not accommodating her. Even though she is my primary “accommodation”. My mode of transportation, and so on.
Their fix for my inability to take a language successfully is equally as ignorant. They offered me (or I should say, they plan to offer me) an adapted spanish course where, get this, the passing criteria can be pretty much whatever they think I need it to be. The course is self-paced, and I was told point blank they've put non-verbal students into it. At this point, why not just let people have the credits. Shit, at least let me. I have taken a whole year of ASL, and two terms of Spanish, already. Putting me in a class like that, in my opinion is an insult. Credit me what I paid for (and passed, mind you) and make me read Dostoyevsky. That should satisfy two requirements.
As for other adjustments, no one seems to understand “maybe”. As in I might need extra time, sometimes. I might maybe need my laptop for some classes. Sure, I could use a note-taker, but until I need one. Instead, it seems like I have to make myself out to be a fucking gimp, instead of who I am, and what I can do.
Today, I went to PSU, and I gave them my information as to what “reasonable” accommodations it might take for me to be a functional college student on their campus. It is someone's call as to whether my assistant who is going through all my classes with me, and going for the same degree, anyway, it's somebody's opinion whether letting her be in all my classes is “reasonable”. Their way of justifying such nonsensical behavior, is that they are not accommodating her. Even though she is my primary “accommodation”. My mode of transportation, and so on.
Their fix for my inability to take a language successfully is equally as ignorant. They offered me (or I should say, they plan to offer me) an adapted spanish course where, get this, the passing criteria can be pretty much whatever they think I need it to be. The course is self-paced, and I was told point blank they've put non-verbal students into it. At this point, why not just let people have the credits. Shit, at least let me. I have taken a whole year of ASL, and two terms of Spanish, already. Putting me in a class like that, in my opinion is an insult. Credit me what I paid for (and passed, mind you) and make me read Dostoyevsky. That should satisfy two requirements.
As for other adjustments, no one seems to understand “maybe”. As in I might need extra time, sometimes. I might maybe need my laptop for some classes. Sure, I could use a note-taker, but until I need one. Instead, it seems like I have to make myself out to be a fucking gimp, instead of who I am, and what I can do.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The problem is the Solution, is the problem, is a whale, is a grasshopper is a fish
The problem seems to be in the solution, and not that any of us have the equation wrong... well, maybe that too. But the problem is in the solution to the whole mess.
When I went to the ADA 'celebration' I made up hundreds of leaflets for Twisted Strands on printer. Thinking that if people knew there was another solution out there, they would run at it, just like I am running to make it happen. What happened though, is wholly different than what my ecstatic delusion had conceived.
People in my own community seem paranoid of what I am trying to do, one guy refused to take one because apparently every asshole who gives you a piece of paper is trying to lead you to Jesus. Another man told me other people were doing this, and he was a member of six such sites, though he could name none of them. He also promised he would register, if for no other reason than to lead me to these other communities with my vision. He has yet to register. Having all but given up waiting, I set out to find them. My only conclusion is that this fellow is lying.
Out of frustration I sent Twisted Strands material to the Connecting Communities Coalition, and Disability Rights Oregon (DRO), these places sent me rubber stamp style responses which directed me to websites deemed 'comprehensive', all of which have no community forum and seem primarily to be blanket mailing lists.
So, the problem is the solution, is the community, is the problem is a whale, is a grasshopper, is a fucking fish. It's all a big goddamned circle, and if no one is willing to trust the people like me, who only want to change it, it always will be.
When I went to the ADA 'celebration' I made up hundreds of leaflets for Twisted Strands on printer. Thinking that if people knew there was another solution out there, they would run at it, just like I am running to make it happen. What happened though, is wholly different than what my ecstatic delusion had conceived.
People in my own community seem paranoid of what I am trying to do, one guy refused to take one because apparently every asshole who gives you a piece of paper is trying to lead you to Jesus. Another man told me other people were doing this, and he was a member of six such sites, though he could name none of them. He also promised he would register, if for no other reason than to lead me to these other communities with my vision. He has yet to register. Having all but given up waiting, I set out to find them. My only conclusion is that this fellow is lying.
Out of frustration I sent Twisted Strands material to the Connecting Communities Coalition, and Disability Rights Oregon (DRO), these places sent me rubber stamp style responses which directed me to websites deemed 'comprehensive', all of which have no community forum and seem primarily to be blanket mailing lists.
So, the problem is the solution, is the community, is the problem is a whale, is a grasshopper, is a fucking fish. It's all a big goddamned circle, and if no one is willing to trust the people like me, who only want to change it, it always will be.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Happy Birthday, ADA
Today the Americans with Disabilities Act turns twenty. Next year will it not only be old enough to buy its own booze, but it might also see some people who rely on it put in homes. Sound like twenty years ago?
I went to to downtown Portland's ADA anniversary with a weird sense of duality. Here I am praising this huge non-partisan decision that changed not only my life, but the lives of almost everyone around me. Here I am hearing city commissioners and heads of all manner of organizations pledge their ongoing support to the ADA. The Governor even declared this month ADA Awareness month.
Of course this is the same Governor who issued the order to cut nine-percent of the State's budget. A cut that threatens programs started under the ADA. These cuts also fly in the face of the Olmstead decision, which says that no one with a mental or physical disability should be placed in a home unnecessarily.
So, happy birthday to the ADA...
I went to to downtown Portland's ADA anniversary with a weird sense of duality. Here I am praising this huge non-partisan decision that changed not only my life, but the lives of almost everyone around me. Here I am hearing city commissioners and heads of all manner of organizations pledge their ongoing support to the ADA. The Governor even declared this month ADA Awareness month.
Of course this is the same Governor who issued the order to cut nine-percent of the State's budget. A cut that threatens programs started under the ADA. These cuts also fly in the face of the Olmstead decision, which says that no one with a mental or physical disability should be placed in a home unnecessarily.
So, happy birthday to the ADA...
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