Rant # ... It's been a while...

I'm dusting this blog off to rant about something that's been on my mind a lot lately: people with special needs (or whatever the PC way of calling them is nowadays). I don't know quite how this obsession was created in me - possibly the brother of one of my students, or a girl who lives across the street from work. The thing is, I've been reading a lot of special needs parents blogs lately - mostly kids with CP, the Down syndrome kids still freak me out a little.

It's important to state here that I live in Greece. People with disabilities are largely invisible here. Navigating any city with a wheelchair would be a nightmare, but there is also a sense of shame attached. I mean, my god, look up Leros or -

I got sidetracked. I was looking for a video I'd seen on youtube, and ran into this article ... - anyway, the situation here is dire.

(Bear in mind that I kinda get freaked out by people who aren't normal. Any visible deformity makes me  feel uncomfortable. But I'm working on it...)

-Back to my rant, after a short break-

What triggered this was a post I read on lovethatmax. Now, first of all, let me clarify something: I don't think transplant decisions should be based on a diagnosis like this, but rather handled case-by-case. Do I think an  adult who can care for him/her self should take priority over someone who can't? Yes.

But what bugged me about the post was the cry against discrimination. According to dictionary.com:

dis·crim·i·na·tion

   [dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuhn]  Show IPA

noun

1.

an act or instance of discriminating.

2.

treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, orcategory to which that person or thing belongs rather than onindividual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.

3.

the power of making fine distinctions; discriminating  judgment:She chose the colors with great discrimination.

4.

Archaic . something that serves to differentiate.

Notice, a discrimination is in favour of or against somebody. So, when disabled children get to skip the lines at Disneyworld, it's discrimination. When they get a job in favour of a more qualified candidate, it's discrimination. Heck, when you ask me to say "hello" to your child it's discrimination - I wouldn't say "hello" to a normal kid. So, these parents are all for the in favour of  but vehemently against the against. But can  you have it both ways?