by Klaus Doring
Refusal and compassion characterize society’s attitude as regards social weaklings and handicapped people. It’s a topic which one gladly drives out, represses or tries to forget. I have written about it several times, although I have missed more about this topic.
Even in different groups, some segments of society are distant from them. The socially discriminated and handicapped people don’t correspond to performance, work, capacity, stress and competition in our daily surroundings. Opinions like these – well, that’s how people do it.
The anti-social slum inhabitant has not accepted his responsibility, and the anti-social confidence trickster, certainly not blind and without having difficulty walking, doesn’t believe in us. that’s it! Finished!
The bobo, the alcoholic, the without means gentleman of the road – so what! Did everybody not choose his own living condition? In plain English: the ideals of success, ability, efficiency and competitiveness in our performance-oriented society and its business life describe such fringe groups as “standard violators’, such as in failure, flop or slacker. But remember: a tax evasion is more costly than a social welfare client.
Do you have a social weakling or handicapped people in your surroundings – in your company?
Mostly, the social weakling appears as a monotonous mass through the glasses of prejudices. How very painful!
Honestly, but true: hindrance and handicap drive into poverty many times. Prevailing opinion is that poverty is going for a fault. The affected people draw back themselves with a sensible sense of shame. And, have you given notice already: most handicapped people feel isolated in their surroundings. Meeting handicapped people sometimes becomes a bashful situation, while giving the appearance of normality. In my opinion: this must not be!
Sometimes we try to avoid any communication, because we might say something wrong. Then – just show them a smile, as I often when meeting a handicapped man in a wheelchair many times at a Davao mall.
I really plead for more integration. Let’s give “such people” autonomies and acceptance starting in pre school or kindergarten yet. Let’s increase more liveable offers for organizations of especially handicapped people’s leisure time. Social weaklings and handicapped people don’t hinder, hamper or prevent us from living in a society with a much philanthropist face. They are human beings like you and me!
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Last but not the least in this week’s column: Debate is till raging in my home country’s government over the use of nuclear energy. German chancellor Angela Merkel has distanced herself (!) from comments by the environment minister that Germany could phase out its nuclear plants in 2013! As a total nuclear energy adversary: Distressing, Madame Chancellor!
Feel free to email me: doringklaus@gmail.com or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or follow me in Facebook.
