Disability/Race/Community

[bluhairedmonky]

I'm sure many of you have heard about the movie "Tropic Thunder", which stars Robert Downey Jr. in blackface and Ben Stiller portraying an intellectualy disabled individual. Many activists in the disabled community have protested this movie (including myself), and rightfully so. However, I'm getting sick of hearing "How come people get all bent

Comments

[futurebird]

I hate that! I hate when a site claims to be for some group of people or centered on some interest, but then the people on the site are actively hostile to some sub-group of that group. (if that made any sense)

All I can say is you presence there (should you choose to stay) will REMIND them that not everyone sees the world the way they do-- it will make others like you feel welcome-- try to get a posse together.
;)

[bluhairedmonky]

It made perfect sense.

There's two other people on that site who are more liberal with their ideas, so we kind of band together. But sometimes even that doesn't feel like a community. It's complicated, you know?

[starsorstreet]

I agree with futurebird, although no one would fault you for distancing yourself from hostility. I know I couldn't stand up to it.

What the heck is with the "getting cured" thing? Wow way to alienate many people with a disability.

[bluhairedmonky]

The whole "getting cured" thing is so prevalent in disability websites and fundraisers and whenever disability is mentioned in the media. Even Christopher Reeve (who I LOVED as an actor) said something about "forget ramps and access to buildings, we just want a cure!"...not the exact phrasing, but that was the general idea. Many of us don't WANT to be "cured", we just want our damn rights.

[igiveyoumylife]

incest?

[crafting_change]

What was this one word comment meant to convey?

[sunnies]

I'm assuming she is bewildered by the "incest" tag, as was I.

[igiveyoumylife]

If you look at the tags you'll see why.

[piratesarah]

This is one more reason that I love you. That is all.

[bluhairedmonky]

And I love you too. That is all.

[lisaquestions]

I was linked by Disaboom earlier today, from Alexa's blog.

Alexa made several of the same points you make here, except for the white/conservative nature of Disaboom.

I agree with you on ranking oppressions. And with the "More blogs i read, the more other I feel." Too many people invest their activism in some kind of zero sum game.

[bluhairedmonky]

Who is Alexa and how can I get to the blog?

[lisaquestions]

Sorry, I spaced on including the link.

[bluhairedmonky]

Thanks!