fandomhigh | Friday Ethics Class #3, 8-10am

Two boxes sit on Tara's desk. One is filled with homemade cookies, with a small placard labelled 'To all those who attempted the assignment - help yourselves!'. The other is a bin to return the Master/slave badges at the end of the class.

Tara smiles as the students settle down.

"I told you last week that part of the point of this assignment was to separate out the issues of slavery and abuse. There are many, many issues with slavery, even without abusive elements attached, and I want to tell you how proud I am of all of you for attempting the assignment - especially those of you who were uncomfortable with it. I have a lot I want to say, but I'm going to bite my tongue and let you all speak, first. Tell me about your experiences with the assignment - what was challenging for you? What was easier than you thought it would be? Do you have any insights you would like to share?"

[ooc: If you would provide linkage to any RPed assignment bits and pieces, I would be forever grateful when it comes time for grading. Also, those of you who made icons? I adore you, and worship your icon-fu.]

Before class lets out, Tara makes a short announcement.

"I would not ask anything of you that I am unwilling to do myself - including act as a slave. Anyone who completed the assignment is eligible to 'win' me as a slave, under the same terms of the assignment as you performed. I realise many of you are probably glad that this is over, but if you are interested, or want revenge, please put your name down on the sheet provided. I will post this as a voting list, and the involved parties will decide as a class who is to Master me, and what is to be done with me."

[ooc: Off to bed. Play nicely, see you all in the morning. Um, my morning. *as usual, kicks stupid timezones*]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think that people with significant limitations - such as mental disability - owe society exactly the same thing other people do: to be the best person they can be and to contribute as much as they are capable of. They may not be capable of doing what everyone else does, but very few people are incapable of contributing *something* to their community.

I don't see it as a kindness to do everything for someone with a disability. If they can *do*, if they can *learn* how, then they should be encouraged to do so. Think of the days when Deaf and dumb were equated. Because people equated spoken language with intellegence, Deaf people were considered mentally handicapped, when they were not. Today there are Deaf doctors and lawyers and actors and all kinds of things. Far too often, people with other disabilities are dismissed as completely incapable.

When a person has a condition like Downe's Syndrome, there are certain limits that cannot be overcome, but most DS people are capable of holding down a job and caring for themselves with some supervision. Isn't it better to give them the assistance the need to keep them as independant as possible? Better to be a working tax-payer than a dependant on SSI when possible.

So I think the first thing we need to look at is exactly who we define as 'helpless'. It's not as many people as we think.

Friday Ethics Class #3, 8-10am

Re: Second Hour