Talking Points #8

Name of Author:
Christopher Kliewer
Name of Article:
“Citizenship in School: Reconceptualizing Down Syndrome”
Author’s Argument:
Honestly, I really don't know what the author's point is. I read it, I wrote about what I read, but I still don't know the author's point. I could be offered a million dollars, I still would not know it. I know that this will get points subtracted but... all I have to say is, I tried...
Quote #1:
Success in life requires an ability to form relationships with others who make up the web of the community. Though many of us have a certain level of control over who we meet and interact with, none of us can come close to claiming complete control. So we must learn to work with others, and this holds true... We have got to learn to get along as individuals and as citizens.
First things first, just because we live in America, that does not mean we are all citizens. =] Secondly, this quote is so right! Although we get to chose whom we want to speak with, but we cannot control whom we see. I just thought that it was cool that someone actually pointed this out, I never really took the time to realize this. I know alot of people, whom are like me: if the person(s) do not say hi to me first then I will not say hi either. In the end, no one says hi and we claim the other person needs and attitude adjustment. This happen to me on a daily basis. For me however, I have an excuse... I cannot see far. The other people do not. Author is right, we need to all grow up and not worry about feeling stupid about saying hi to the other person and worry about the other person response. Because then at least you can say, "Hey, I tried. So and so chose to ignore me so you know what I don't care!" People need to like grow up and stop caring about what people think of 'em.
Quote #2:
...the acceptance and respect accorded severely disabled and nondisabled people...these relationships include: (1) the attribution of thinking to one another; (2) the ability to see one another's individuality; (3) the ability to view the relationship as reciprocally valuable; and (4) the attribution of a valued social place for one another....critical to establishing a recognition of citizenship for students with Down syndrome in schools...
See, this quote here... alot is being said. I know for a fact that it is very important, but I like don't understand anything being stated here. "...the ability to see each other's individuality..." That is what I was saying earlier no? We need to start seeing beyond being Asian, beyond being Caucasian beyond being Black... wait nevermind that does not make sense lol... okaii let us start over... no... I think I am on the right track... people tend to intentionally or not, look at other people and judge. "Okaii, your Asian, automatically we know you know kung-fu." or "Hey! you are Hispanic you like rice and beans huh?!" and even "All black people can sing and dance." Like for real?! Don't let racial stereotypes get into the way of you growing up and maturing... becoming more aware of the rights and the wrongs. Just because someone has a disability, that does not and should not automatically mean that that person is incapable of other things. Like me, let us use me as an example. I think I have ADD, but look at me, I can eat, talk, sleep...well not realliii, walk like everyone else... the only thiing that makes me different from a majority of the world is that I get distracted easily and it is very VERY hard for me to focus on one thing. Like, when I was driving last weekend, I almost got into two accidents because I was distracted. That does not mean I am incapable of thinking, of writing, reading, of learning and anything related. I do it slower, but I can still do it...
Quote #3:
"Don't think," she told me, "that those special needs kids drain anything. That class would not be half of what it is if any one of those kids got segregated. We're all together in there."
Now correct me if I am wrong, but she is totally right! Without the the kids that are "disadvantaged" people would not really know what to say and what not to say... how to act when confronted by such matters and what not. Like, how would you know how to refer to a gay person if a gay person does not come out and tell you. How would you know that there are four categories regarding blacks: African-American, Black, Caribbean, and African. How would you know that Asian consists of more than just Chinese... How would you know that the right way of referring to a person with a disability is like for example... "The blind person," WRONG! The correct way of saying this sentence is, "The person is blind." Why you ask... because if you say the blind person is like using blind as like the only thing that the person is. Nothing else. That is not the case. Just because he or she is blind does not mean he or she is incapable of doing anything else. By using the second sentence, blind is only one adjective to describe the person... get me? So by sitting in the same class together and having these discussions, you learn things you did not know before and you become less ignorant on such matters... did I lose you lol... okaii moving on
Comments/Questions:
Professor, this was soo long!!! But I have to say that I did get much of this article. Unless I responded wrong then I take everything back lol. But for the most part, it was pretty easy to relate to and to talk about, hopefully I followed the assignment.