Comments for Laura Hershey: Writer, Poet, Activist, Consultant http://www.laurahershey.com News, Views, Musings, and Issues Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:02:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Laura’s Labor Day Weekend Column by Julie Weber http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=392&cpage=1#comment-953 Julie Weber Sun, 05 Sep 2010 04:02:01 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=392#comment-953 Really nice article, Laura, and I love that your work is on the Poster. Thank you :) Really nice article, Laura, and I love that your work is on the Poster. Thank you :)

]]> Comment on Speaking Out Against the MDA Telethon by Laura’s Labor Day Weekend Column – Laura Hershey: Writer, Poet, Activist, Consultant http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375&cpage=1#comment-952 Laura’s Labor Day Weekend Column – Laura Hershey: Writer, Poet, Activist, Consultant Sun, 05 Sep 2010 03:21:10 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375#comment-952 [...] since we’ve organized a direct action protest, the Internet continues to provide us with opportunities to educate and inoculate people against the Telethon’s pity [...] [...] since we’ve organized a direct action protest, the Internet continues to provide us with opportunities to educate and inoculate people against the Telethon’s pity [...]

]]> Comment on Speaking Out Against the MDA Telethon by Clara http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375&cpage=1#comment-949 Clara Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:11:19 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375#comment-949 http://thekidsareallright.org/watch.html http://thekidsareallright.org/watch.html

]]> Comment on Speaking Out Against the MDA Telethon by Clara http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375&cpage=1#comment-948 Clara Sun, 29 Aug 2010 15:33:55 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375#comment-948 I agree with TK and Laura. The ends are not justified by the means. That is why you find people with all kinds of disabilities protesting the MDA telethon. Those messages of pity and portrayal of lives solely in terms of inability apply to everyone with a disability. The pitying/charity aspect of the MDA's message is at the heart of ableism. I, however, do have an issue with the vast amount of resources put into the medical system rather than into something that could have a much more tangible and beneficial effect on the lives of people with disabilities. A true "cure" is not realistic and sometimes in our medical system proposed "cures" are worse than the disease. Medical advancement is usually presented from the perspective of the medical community and rarely reflects the true effect on lives. I don't watch the telethon because as an able-bodied person the MDA's messages doesn't do me any good. It prevents me from understanding my disabled friends as people and it plants a message that would be detrimental to my own identity in the event I become disabled. I agree with TK and Laura. The ends are not justified by the means. That is why you find people with all kinds of disabilities protesting the MDA telethon. Those messages of pity and portrayal of lives solely in terms of inability apply to everyone with a disability. The pitying/charity aspect of the MDA’s message is at the heart of ableism. I, however, do have an issue with the vast amount of resources put into the medical system rather than into something that could have a much more tangible and beneficial effect on the lives of people with disabilities. A true “cure” is not realistic and sometimes in our medical system proposed “cures” are worse than the disease. Medical advancement is usually presented from the perspective of the medical community and rarely reflects the true effect on lives. I don’t watch the telethon because as an able-bodied person the MDA’s messages doesn’t do me any good. It prevents me from understanding my disabled friends as people and it plants a message that would be detrimental to my own identity in the event I become disabled.

]]> Comment on Speaking Out Against the MDA Telethon by T.K. Small http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375&cpage=1#comment-947 T.K. Small Sun, 29 Aug 2010 00:26:49 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375#comment-947 As usual, another great blog entry! However, I have to offer one slight correction. I share hosting responsibilities for the program with Brendan Costello and Lawrence Carter-Long. Also, in terms of the two previous comments, Laura and I view disability from a civil rights standpoint, which is completely different from the charity/medical model. Without speaking for Laura, I have nothing against research and the advancement of medical care. But how that money is raised has a consequence of the larger disability community. If either of the commenters had listened to the interview they might have understood the criticism. Take a listen, you might learn something. As usual, another great blog entry! However, I have to offer one slight correction. I share hosting responsibilities for the program with Brendan Costello and Lawrence Carter-Long.

Also, in terms of the two previous comments, Laura and I view disability from a civil rights standpoint, which is completely different from the charity/medical model. Without speaking for Laura, I have nothing against research and the advancement of medical care. But how that money is raised has a consequence of the larger disability community. If either of the commenters had listened to the interview they might have understood the criticism. Take a listen, you might learn something.

]]> Comment on Speaking Out Against the MDA Telethon by Gimp Afire http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375&cpage=1#comment-944 Gimp Afire Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:01:59 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375#comment-944 I agree wholeheartedly with Jeanne. The MDA is a great organization, their telethon raises money to support vast amounts of research and individualized medical care and support that helps an enormous amount of hurting individuals. I understand that many people think disability is a horrid thing to be shunned, and you're trying to counter this, but come on! Many of the people the MDA supports WILL DIE SOON without a cure... and you have the gall to tell them they do not have the RIGHT to ask for help?! It's not like MDA is telling disabled people they need to go on camera and give a huge sob story for the world! Disabled people have rights, and one of those rights is to share their story. You don't have to share their views, but you should be ashamed of trying to stomp all over them. As to the money-raising aspect, and using those stories to gain support... would you prefer they just get up there and ask people to give money without telling them what it will be used for? That's ridiculous for any charity. You don't have to agree with MDA. You don't have to ask for help from them. You don't have to benefit from any of their research. If their research ends up finding a cure for your condition, or a medication that will significantly improve your daily life and abilities I hope you'll stand on your principles and refuse it. I agree wholeheartedly with Jeanne. The MDA is a great organization, their telethon raises money to support vast amounts of research and individualized medical care and support that helps an enormous amount of hurting individuals.

I understand that many people think disability is a horrid thing to be shunned, and you’re trying to counter this, but come on! Many of the people the MDA supports WILL DIE SOON without a cure… and you have the gall to tell them they do not have the RIGHT to ask for help?!

It’s not like MDA is telling disabled people they need to go on camera and give a huge sob story for the world! Disabled people have rights, and one of those rights is to share their story. You don’t have to share their views, but you should be ashamed of trying to stomp all over them.

As to the money-raising aspect, and using those stories to gain support… would you prefer they just get up there and ask people to give money without telling them what it will be used for? That’s ridiculous for any charity.

You don’t have to agree with MDA. You don’t have to ask for help from them. You don’t have to benefit from any of their research. If their research ends up finding a cure for your condition, or a medication that will significantly improve your daily life and abilities I hope you’ll stand on your principles and refuse it.

]]> Comment on Speaking Out Against the MDA Telethon by Jeanne Donnelly http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375&cpage=1#comment-940 Jeanne Donnelly Fri, 27 Aug 2010 02:21:46 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=375#comment-940 To whom it may concern: My name is Jeanne Marie Donnelly. I am also a disabled citizen. I belive in speaking out when the rights of the disabled are infringed upon. Trashing the MDA and the untireing efforts of Jerry Lewis is far fetched. The Telethone, in my openion, brings awareness to the public and to educate them about the harsh realities of this disease. You know as well as I do there is no way to understand or prepare for the ramifications of any disability. If Jerry Lewis and his MD families can tell their heartfelt stories to the vast audience he reaches in order to obtain the financial resourses needed for scientific research to put an end to these nuro-muscular diseases so be it. Without people like him and generous donations we would not have been able to have made the strives we have. There are always pros and cons for every contriversy I myself am for any organization that is for the greater good. sincerly, Jeanne Marie Donnelly To whom it may concern:
My name is Jeanne Marie Donnelly. I am also a disabled citizen. I belive in speaking out when the rights of the disabled are infringed upon. Trashing the MDA and the untireing efforts of Jerry Lewis is far fetched. The Telethone, in my openion, brings awareness to the public and to educate them about the harsh realities of this disease. You know as well as I do there is no way to understand or prepare for the ramifications of any disability. If Jerry Lewis and his MD families can tell their heartfelt stories to the vast audience he reaches in order to obtain the financial resourses needed for scientific research to put an end to these nuro-muscular diseases so be it. Without people like him and generous donations we would not have been able to have made the strives we have. There are always pros and cons for every contriversy I myself am for any organization that is for the greater good.
sincerly,
Jeanne Marie Donnelly

]]> Comment on More Thoughts about Public Space by Tracy http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=367&cpage=1#comment-924 Tracy Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:16:34 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=367#comment-924 Being invisible in society is not only unfair, it's not right. The spatial issues that come into play for a person with a disbility dont even come into play for a person without a disability. It's time for a change. Being invisible in society is not only unfair, it’s not right. The spatial issues that come into play for a person with a disbility dont even come into play for a person without a disability. It’s time for a change.

]]> Comment on More Thoughts about Public Space by Carrie http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=367&cpage=1#comment-901 Carrie Sat, 31 Jul 2010 18:12:22 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=367#comment-901 I was watching the concept video for the airport addition. The concept video has all kinds of diversity among the young and skinny people depicted throughout the video. There isn't a single person with a visible disability. In addition, the video take a viewer throughout the new addition, and access features are clearly omitted. People with disabilities aren't even on their radar screen. I was watching the concept video for the airport addition. The concept video has all kinds of diversity among the young and skinny people depicted throughout the video. There isn’t a single person with a visible disability. In addition, the video take a viewer throughout the new addition, and access features are clearly omitted. People with disabilities aren’t even on their radar screen.

]]> Comment on More Thoughts about Public Space by Amy http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=367&cpage=1#comment-897 Amy Sat, 31 Jul 2010 11:35:09 +0000 http://www.laurahershey.com/?p=367#comment-897 I think this is exactly right, and describes in clear and eloquent language a phenomenon that I feel like I see all the damn time. I also love that you take an issue -- access & the ability of PWDs to move about the world -- and strip away the assumptions to look at the way privileged bodies move as a phenomenon. PBs don't have to think about this, so to them it isn't even a Thing, a subject of reflection. I have a (mostly) privileged body -- white; straight; not disabled -- but I'm a fairly short woman, and I have noticed and sometimes try to subvert the way (largely) taller (mostly) men take up space. My view is that in crowds or elevators, for example, someone of my size and gender becomes almost completely invisible. Taller, larger men have no second thought about attempting to occupy the space I'm in, as if I simply didn't exist. There is often a moment of cognitive dissonance when I don't give ground or even move to occupy more space. I think this is exactly right, and describes in clear and eloquent language a phenomenon that I feel like I see all the damn time. I also love that you take an issue — access & the ability of PWDs to move about the world — and strip away the assumptions to look at the way privileged bodies move as a phenomenon. PBs don’t have to think about this, so to them it isn’t even a Thing, a subject of reflection.

I have a (mostly) privileged body — white; straight; not disabled — but I’m a fairly short woman, and I have noticed and sometimes try to subvert the way (largely) taller (mostly) men take up space. My view is that in crowds or elevators, for example, someone of my size and gender becomes almost completely invisible. Taller, larger men have no second thought about attempting to occupy the space I’m in, as if I simply didn’t exist. There is often a moment of cognitive dissonance when I don’t give ground or even move to occupy more space.

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