So I have been very into politics this summer and it has become very apparent to me how xenophobic we are as a nation. We are not open to the ideas of others in this country and it has been a problem since our country first began. We don't like 'the other'. This is ironic considering the founding principles of our constitution.
The article points out a minority group that until now i had not thought of as an 'other' group. Admittedly, I have always had a number of reactions to the disabled. Mostly this reaction is pity or anxiety or even patronization. When I think of a group being an other I always go to a group that I normally don't associate with in daily life. (Well at least before I came to school) Before i left home in idaho i had only met one black man. And gay people were an abomination. I was surrounded by a very large latino population but never spoke to them. What I knew of the other was that they were in America because life in Mexico was inferior. What I knew of African America was what i saw on white TV and that showed a less than desirable lifestyle. I had no concept of a Gay community because gay men only wanted to have sex with you and that was wrong.
I bring all this up for a reason. It has become apparent to me this summer that nothing has changed back in the 'world' I grew up in. I have livedin, thrived in and been protected in my little theatre community for about 10 years now. I take pride in being very xenocentric with my philosophy. (though I'm still not very good at practicing it in life) But recent politics have made me very aware of how mainstream america treats the other. We as white americans think that the ideal is good old fashion 1950's America. We are stuck in that colonial mind set where we the white straight anglo-saxon protestant american is the norm of american life. Meanwhile we forget that the 1950's were only good times for us. I see manifested in laws like Prop 8. I can see it in protests against Muslim Community Centers. I see it in laws that allow for cops to detain you for questioning because of your ethnicity. It's white america desperatly trying to maintain control over those that it has colonized, all the while trying put up a show of tolerance.
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I applaud you Jared for taking an introspective look at your up bringing and making conscious choices to go against mindsets that are bias and unjust. I believe we all should search our hearts to dissect what areas hold pre concieved notions and judgments about things and people we don't understand. I too never thought of individuals with disabilities as others until this semester. One morning before class, I was informed that two disability students would be in my non-major class. For a brief moment, I was perplexed and wondered how I would accomodate both of their needs. One being wheelchair bound and non-talking was definitely a concern. I quickly asked myself, who are you to think of this as a inconvenience to your plans? Embrace the opportunity and strenghten your skills as a teacher and learn from this experience. I am amazed at how they stretch my creativity being in my class. I learn other ways to incorporate them into a variety of opportunities.
Its so easy to fear what we dont understand. However, its wiser to recognize the difference and make efforts to gain knowledge. We may never fully understand each other, but respect is the main ingredient to co-exisit in a peaceful and harminous balance.
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