DIS-ABILITY

By Zemikael Habte -Mariam

Thu, 27 May 2010
  • 1514 reads
5 comments
 

Should we view
Dis-ability
In terms of
Ability
Or
Deformity?

Is dis-ability
Measured
In
Physical
Or
Mental
Capacity?

Are morbidly
Obese
Dis-abled?
Are size zero
Women
Dis-abled?

If physical
Features
Is a measure
Do we call ugly
People dis-abled?

If all these people
We call dis-abled
Can do what
The so called
Able-bodied
People can do
Why still call
Them dis-abled?

Stephen Hawking
Is a celebrated
Scientist
Puts to shame
So called
Able-bodied
Scientist

Why identify his
Physical dis-ability
Not acknowledge
His powerful brain &
Enormous
Mental capacity?

Let's not label
Or
Brand people
Like food or
Merchandise

Let's accord
People with
Dis-ability
Respect & dignity
They deserve

People with
Dis-ability
Have ability
Like anyone
Of us and
Are definitely
Valuable assets
To our societies

Contribute to
Socio-economic
Political
And Cultural
Developments
Of our communities

Certificate U
Opinion

Comments

Submitted by Jeff O on
great subject to write on Jeff . O .

Jeff . O .

http://ojeffo.blogspot.com/

Submitted by Nolan on
Zemikael you should read “The Country of the Blind” by HG Wells. Although I don't share your high regard of Hawking. Have you read any of his books? Me neither!
 

Submitted by Zemikael Habte ... on
Nolan, great to hear from you ,a year after I posted the above poem.I need a bit of expanded clarification on your comment.I missed your down to earth and apt comments. Cheers.

Submitted by Nolan on
Everybody seems to have an opinion on the work of Hawking and even judgements. From professional scientists and physicists to the broad public. The public appear to take it as gospel whereas many experts simply dismiss his ideas. The fact Zemikael is that comparatively few people have actually read any of his books. There was only one person who told me that she had read one (apart of course from our Mr Mangone). I myself haven't read any and this must prohibit me from forming opinions. The popularity of Stephen Hawking is no doubt at least partly due to (romantic appeal of) his severe physical disability. John Nash similarly. This is quite in line with the sentiments expressed in your poem and to me quite acceptable. It stimulates interest in modern science and at the same time demonstrates that disabled persons are not “incapable”. Cheers Zemikael! You did ask me to elaborate!
 

Submitted by Nolan on
You can find the stories of HG Wells at gutenberg.org - This one is a short story of a man who finds himself in a country of blind people. It's an allegory in which sight is equated to imagination. In it the gift of eyesight believed to be an abnormality, a deformity, insanity and serious disability. It is an excellent illustration of how the ignorance and contempt of society ruins creativity and beauty in arts and in science, as it has so often in history. Another I enjoyed very much is his prophetic “The Time Machine”. Cheers & Nolan