Monday, June 12, 2006

One-legged Tarzans of the world, unite

The Guardian columnist Alexander Chancellor wants to be your employment counselor: apparently, he knows what jobs and hobbies people should, and should not, pursue, based entirely on their disability status. Well, he knows which work he would avoid if he had a disability, and his wisdom should suffice for all. If you can manage to be "triumphantly successful" maybe he'll give you a pass as an admirable "marvel." But really, why must disabled people persist in thwarting fate, and Chancellor's cherished sense of natural order? You're making him think, and imagine, and apparently he hates that sensation.

(It's true, sometimes people are mismatched to their jobs; but only when there's a disability angle to cover does such a case seem to become newsworthy, a socio-political indicator requiring harrumphing commentary like Chancellor's.)

1 comment:

Ahistoricality said...

harrumphing

Perfect!

What strikes me about the cases that he cites is that the "triumphantly successful" ones involve no risk (well, aside from the usual Everest hazards; I don't get anyone climbing that mountain at this point, disability or not.) or inconvenience to anyone else if they fail.