Where Do The Disabled Belong?


© William Robb

I have heard it said that all people of Earth are Citizens of the World. If we are all citizens, then all of us,the Disabled and the Non-disabled should possess the same human rights which most Nations agreed to during a conference held in Helsinki Finland. The Rights agreed to appear to mean that no Nation can force any citizen to do something which is against his will. They, as far as I can tell, are suposed to apply to all citizens no matter if they are disabled or not . If this is the case then the disabled and non-disabled should equal before the laws of their countries. Is this true or is it just immaginary?

I am an American and my founding fathers called these Human Rights one's Inalienable Rights. They were considered Inalienable because they were given by a Creator not made by Man. They are known as ones Rights of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. In modern terms these Rights should be called one's Rights of Self Determination. Self Determination means that all citizens are suposed to be able to determine their own destiny without any undue encumbrances.

Do the disabled of the World possess the Right of Self Determination or have their Rights been predetermined by someone else? The answer appears to be that our Rights have been predetermined for us and that this predetermination may have been against our will. I base this supposition on conversations which I have had with disabled American's as well as other disabled citizens from around the World. In these conversations one thing stands out. Most disabled people feel that they would not be disabled if they were only given help to overcome the many barriers which may prevent them from becoming productive. Where do they feel this help to come? It must come from their governments.

Would it not be better for all governments to help their disabled become productive by removing barriers which may prevent them from becomming productive? As productive citizens we could then contribute to the monetary base of our countries. As productive citizens we would not find that we may have been assigned a position which is against our wills. If such a thing has occured, and it occurred against our wills have not our Human Rights been denied? If these Rights have been denied than haven't our Rights of Self Determination been denied also?

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

3.   Mar 2, 1998 4:45 PM
John Abbott
Right on! I'm new here also. How about
a Circle of Advocacy, with every person an advocate for someone else. The circle begins with you each of us and comes back to each of us, Ea ...

-- posted by JohnA_3


2.   Feb 27, 1998 3:31 PM
Welcome to Suite 101. I'm new, also. I've been an editor about a month. I'm considered disabled by most physicians. That's why I am a stay at home mom now, rather than a working mom. But I conside ...

-- posted by StCatherine


1.   Feb 16, 1998 10:00 PM
Society has long has a set of unwritten rules for each group of people, disabled included.

Such rules as "Don't speak up" "depend on others" "do as you're told" and many more. Then there are more ...


-- posted by Othello





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