tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post301655160550735241..comments2024-03-16T16:44:18.220-07:00Comments on Bad Cripple: A Second Class Existence: Me Before You Gets It All Wrongwilliam Peacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-47768441689091288672016-12-27T14:07:26.804-08:002016-12-27T14:07:26.804-08:00Eddie, I find your comment ever so sad. Anyone tel...Eddie, I find your comment ever so sad. Anyone telling you to remain alive post injury to await regaining function is no friend but an ableist bigot. Getting off a vent is huge accomplishment. For that alone, I applaud you. I have no idea where you live or how long you have been paralyzed. I am nearing 40 years post paralysis and have never met a person who shares your dismal views. Yet I know people such as yourself exist and a small number of people have chosen to die. I find this unfathomable. Why not adapt? As a species we are remarkably adaptable. Why do you refuse to adapt and thrive? Of course it is hard to remake a life with a disability but the is exactly what the vast majority of people do. Rather than frame one's life as a hellish existence, ask the all important why? Even the most severely disabled person can have a measure of situated autonomy. So I hope you will consider asking why is your life a hellish existence? The answer is not to be found in your disability but a society all too willing to deny basic social and practical supports.<br />How I am too blame is simply way off base. The films you name are nothing more than ableist propaganda. Please delve into the rich history of disability based oppression that is a few clicks away. There are many with comparable injuries that have led rich and full lives with Ed Roberts being the most well known. Please adapt. I implore you to adapt. Do not be misled. Life is rich and wonderful with and without a disability. Hence my use of we. We are one in the same. We are an oppressed minority. I wish you could see that. From this perspective anything is possible. william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-4865298890772061342016-12-26T23:42:10.456-08:002016-12-26T23:42:10.456-08:00I'm a quad - C3/C4 A1. Been wanting to die sin...I'm a quad - C3/C4 A1. Been wanting to die since the day I woke up with my injury, except for people telling me to wait because I might regain function… I didn't. I did however get strong enough to breathe without a vent, just barely, but enough so that I can't even request my vent be removed. Like James, I led an extremely active lifestyle. This existence of immobility and dependence is utter hell to ME. You use a whole lot of "we" statements in your essay, but there are a whole lot of people you don't speak for at all.<br /><br />It is very difficult to be cordial in this message because I blame you, people like you, and religion for depriving me of a peaceful exit from what I consider a hellish existence. You may enjoy life, I do not. In order to end my life I am left with starvation as the only option. Sure, I can fly clear across the planet to Switzerland, but the US may not be as forgiving as the UK to those that accompany me. I will not drag anyone down with me. I praise movies like Million Dollar Baby and Me Before You for putting MY point of view out there. I can only wish it's enough to change legislation so that in the future people who feel as I do don't have to spend years being forced to try and adapt.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18136136925248577753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-41255197302682755372016-06-04T16:45:55.753-07:002016-06-04T16:45:55.753-07:00Ann. I am far from alone. For most of human evolut...Ann. I am far from alone. For most of human evolution we humans adapt. I have adapted as have millions of others in the same situation. <br />Ann, I have no idea why people that say that to me. I suppose they assume my life has no value. <br /><br />SDSali, Other Side of the Mountain was a decent film. The sequel was dreadful. Far more bad movies than good movies on disability exist.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-25745261339704002262016-06-04T10:57:27.754-07:002016-06-04T10:57:27.754-07:00"once or twice a year a stranger says tells m..."once or twice a year a stranger says tells me they would prefer death to using a wheelchair. Strangers have been saying this to me since I was 18 years old..."<br /><br />How can they? :( I am crying :(Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15908688211469451929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-45712209264541768272016-06-04T10:49:04.488-07:002016-06-04T10:49:04.488-07:00The headline "Bad Cripple" said it so su...The headline "Bad Cripple" said it so succinctly, so powerfully. Your life is fuller than most 'abled' people. Only someone like you could do it. I'm a coward. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15908688211469451929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-38252917277016275482016-06-03T19:14:04.682-07:002016-06-03T19:14:04.682-07:00The only movie (actually two I can recall is The O...The only movie (actually two I can recall is The Other Side of the Mountain about the life of Jill Kinmont. SDSalihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07426971636669889720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-39397582117742448972016-05-27T14:34:00.978-07:002016-05-27T14:34:00.978-07:00By the way, I'm Polish. We are a strong and sm...By the way, I'm Polish. We are a strong and smart people! We don't give up on ourselves or others! They'll have to beat me with a stick to get rid of me! 😉✌🏻️😉Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263733877940703010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-53000063627908336702016-05-27T14:32:08.598-07:002016-05-27T14:32:08.598-07:00This movie is simply an insult to all disabled peo...This movie is simply an insult to all disabled people. In my humble crippled opinion, people have the right to ask for Suicide Assistance is their suffering is unbearable. But this doesn't automatically mean that being disabled is too painful to live. I have SMA, as does my younger brother, and despite the fact that we do need help with ADLs, we both live fulfilling lives and have loving & intimate relationships with able bodied people. My parents wouldn't ever help us kill ourselves. <br /><br />I'm so sick of people's disrespect of my life just because I use a wheelchair. I do have a lot to offer the world, as other disabled people do, but we don't get any recognition. <br /><br />I used to teach Psychology at a community College about 3 years ago and my students helped me, respected me, loved me and saw me for ME! I loved teaching! <br /><br />Now I volunteer at a hospice program for Veterans at a local VA Hospital. <br /><br />As long as I live, wheelchair and pain, I will continue to give of myself to others and the world.<br /><br />I will be remembered for more than my disability! ✌🏻️Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17263733877940703010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-17788821611122083562016-05-27T14:13:47.332-07:002016-05-27T14:13:47.332-07:00In all seriousness could someone, anyone, please t...In all seriousness could someone, anyone, please take a few moments and provide enlightenment as to the standard of measurement used to define "Able"? Moreover does "Able" even exist? <br /><br />As a human being who has practiced the art of nursing over many years, I have witnessed varied conditions and states of health but have yet to come across any human being not lesser abled in some area of health and well-being. Moreover in some situations what has been considered a "lesser ability" in one context has proved a "greater ability" in another. <br /><br />After reflection upon this thing supposed to exist named "able" that is broadcast in such a deceptively narrow yet ethereal manner, if asked I would choose to define "able" as not "doing human" but "being human" and demonstrated by independent thought, regardless of IQ. This would exclude the majority, but never upon permanence of death.<br /><br />3fulcrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17196390199581356350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-52766177527717990222016-05-26T20:43:27.946-07:002016-05-26T20:43:27.946-07:00I wanted to write to you and say how much i love r...I wanted to write to you and say how much i love reading your blog <br />I also have a disability though not a spinal cord injury i have been bedridden for nearly 4 years and i do not have a lot of function so i can appreciate how the misinterpreted information about living with a disability in films is no good and though i haven't seem any of the films i think its disgraceful to think that dying is better for every person with a disability <br />I think that if you can learn to adapt to your disability anything is possible! <br />I do all sorts of activities without leaving my bed and though its difficult both mentally emotionally and physically i have managed i wasx a wheelchair user for 4 years prior to being bedridden and all your writing about the built environment and how inaccessible it is i definitely agree<br />I am from Australia so we have many of the same problems as the US does<br />I am also writing a book<br />I love reading your blog from erinErinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13046735304257600621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-51190929180629786082016-05-24T07:49:17.594-07:002016-05-24T07:49:17.594-07:00Bill when I see you I do not flinch I feel so happ...Bill when I see you I do not flinch I feel so happy I want to hug you because you are a great person and a great friend. Kate Ryan Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12098857809058503748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-67672235466704362912016-05-24T06:34:25.789-07:002016-05-24T06:34:25.789-07:00Alex, I did exactly what you suggested. Six mainst...Alex, I did exactly what you suggested. Six mainstream papers turned me down. A disability rights perspective is just not welcomed in mainstream journalism. <br />Pretentious Best Friend, I really liked your essay. I never cease to be amazed that people with a disability are continually portrayed as asexual. You nailed this perfectly.william Peacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223601480542461802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-53269723102252407642016-05-24T06:29:14.839-07:002016-05-24T06:29:14.839-07:00Your article is important to the debate. I encoura...Your article is important to the debate. I encourage you to rewrite the article into a shorter format and get it published in a major newspaper. Sadly the disabily perspective is rarely seen in the mainstream media.Alex Schadenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07649977828342637842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1556371561007953336.post-36489056965958324662016-05-23T18:05:24.847-07:002016-05-23T18:05:24.847-07:00Excellent article, and I'm honored that you in...Excellent article, and I'm honored that you included a passage from my review in it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15864485519890705044noreply@blogger.com