Folks,
BBC Radio reported this morning that a growing number of disabled people in the UK are suffering from a change in public attitude towards them. Five hundred disabled people were interviewed on the subject and their responses were disturbing.
Among problems there were cases of disabled people being hassled in the street about 'being on benefits' by people who didn't know them. This was happening openly in public.
Some of us may remember this kind of mean and nasty thinking during the Thatcher era, when the comedian Harry Enfield coined a sketch about waving wads of money in the faces of beggars. "Loads a money!" I think was the mantra.
We all know that right wing governments have a tendency to bring out this dark side in some people and the constant witchhunting of disabled people in the Tory press and even by some government ministers is now having it's effect. History is replete with examples of suffering minorities being attacked and blamed in difficult times and this latest phase is not something to be proud of.
I personally think that government should act to stop this before it gets worse and make an example of anyone hassling a disabled person. It is a low and shameful way to behave.
Anyone disagree?
Alex.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.