Dignity in Dying (aka The Voluntary Euthanasia Society)

Dignity in Dying (aka The Voluntary Euthanasia Society) are at trying to find a new angle to bump off terminally ill and disabled people.  They obviously regard our lives as being unworthy of life.  The BBC News film has been carefully manipulated to portray Tony Nicklinson’s impairments to be as devastating as possible, which suits Dignity in Dying’s aim of legalising assisted suicide for all terminally ill and disabled people.  I for one will continue to resist.

I am becoming agitated by the over-use of the word hero and it being applied to almost anyone.  This, I fear, devalues those who do perform truly heroic feats.

 

You barely have to turn on the television news to hear the word being over used.

 

The Oxford Dictionary defines a hero as:-

 

Hero noun (plural heroes)

 

Ø a person, typically a man, who is admired for their courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities: a war hero

Ø the chief male character in a book, play, or film, who is typically identified with good qualities, and with whom the reader is expected to sympathise

Ø (in mythology and folklore) a person of superhuman qualities and often semi-divine origin, in particular one whose exploits were the subject of ancient Greek myths

 

Are soldiers returning from Afghanistan heros?  No, of course they are not.  They are just doing a job that they signed up for.  Are their wounded comrades heros?  No, not usually.  Are the dead automatically given heroic status?  No, they shouldn’t be. 

 

 

Are disabled people heros?  No, not automatically.  This “Telethon Heroism” was invented as a money-raising tool and has been over used and again this over use diminishes the achievements of the few who certainly do act heroically. 

 

Are sports men and women Heros?  NO!

 

The true heros are the few who performed some form of extraordinary feat.  Those who are truly heroic are usually extremely modest about it.   

 

I really think it is about time that we restored the word “hero” to its true meaning.

BBC News - Squat toilets in Rochdale shopping centre

" BBC News - Squat toilets in Rochdale shopping centre:

When driving through the Auvergne region of France a few years ago I stumbled across a "wheelchair acccessible" one of these in a picnic area, complete with extra-wide door, space for a wheelchair next to the "hole in the floor" and handrails all round the walls. Couldn't work out how to use it............................... Decided to drive to the next service area!

http://apps.facebook.com/rnid-hearing-check/?source=wall&ref=mf

Just done the RNID hearing check on Facebook and guess what folks, it told me that my hearing was below normal. Yep, I knew that – I’m 60% deaf in both ears!
At least it proves that it works.
Go on have a go for yourselves at http://apps.facebook.com/rnid-hearing-check/?source=wall&ref=mf

Nalaga'at Theatre Comapny

The Israeli theatre company Nalaga'at are claiming to have “devised a unique experience for London audiences to experience the sensations felt by their blind and deaf actors.” See hyperlink below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment_and_arts/10548850.stm

This is of course total nonsense as it does not give the audiences the psychological experience of being a blind or deaf person.

It reminds me of the bad old days of “Disability Awareness Training” when trainers used to make participants wear ear defenders, blindfolds, sit in a wheelchair or wear labels depicting a particular impairment for a few minutes, and then and claim that the participant had experienced that impairment.

Personally I refuse to conduct this type of session, despite being asked to on a number of occasions and this coming up as a constant theme when asking participants what their expectations of a course are at the beginning.

It has nothing whatsoever to do with promoting Disability Equality.

This is from a “Heather Mills” mentality. I cannot see the added value in this from the viewpoint of the non-disabled person. All that the ear defender, blindfold or wheelchair offers them is a few minutes less sound, sight or a sit down in an uncomfortable wheelchair.

Linked Facebook, Twitter and Blogger

Well this took an enormous amount of intellectual activity, patience, perseverance and several pounds added to my swear box, but I actually managed to link my Facebook, Twitter and Blogger accounts.  Is nothing beyond me these days?