Fw: [Pisani Canadian Adventures] Is dignity a cultural thing?

[Guest guest]

If this is a repeat, apologies. I cam across this from a friend who is

temporarily in Canada.

[Pisani Canadian Adventures] Is dignity a cultural thing?

>I read this post today on a Special Olympics blog. It's written by Tim

> Shriver. It's appauling. I have to wonder....would this happen in Canada?

>

>

>

> Raise Your Voice for Dignity!

> Posted on January 18, 2012 by Tim Shriver

>

> Many people have shared with me in recent days the tragic news about a

> girl

> named Amelia who was refused a spot on a waiting list at the Children's

> Hospital of Philadelphia for a liver transplant because she is “mentally

> retarded.” When I heard about this, it made my blood boil.

>

> Some have questioned why we in Special Olympics have mounted a campaign to

> challenge the humiliating use of the word, “retard.” Others have sometimes

> suggested that Special Olympics has gone beyond its mission in mounting

> the

> world's largest public health campaign to close the disparities and

> outright bigotry that still infect systems of care delivery for people

> with

> intellectual differences. Still others wonder why so many of us speak with

> such passion about how sport is needed to unleash the power of the human

> spirit and to attack the vicious discrimination that so often crushes

> innocent people unjustly.

>

> I say to all of them, open your eyes to the discrimination that goes

> unchecked all around us and help us stop it now!

>

> If you are a medical professional, raise your voice for dignity now!

>

> If you are a conservative political leader, fight for the dignity of all

> citizens now!

>

> If you are a liberal political leader, fight for the dignity of all

> citizens now!

>

> If you are a parent, raise your voice for the dignity of Amelia just as if

> she were your own now!

>

> If you are a young person, blast the social networks with your commitment

> to Amelia's dignity and justice now!

>

> If you are a Special Olympics athlete or family member or coach or

> volunteer, challenge the status quo and fight for Amelia's right to play

> and win the game of life now!

>

> There can be no bystanders at moments like this. Amelia is everyone's

> child. If she is denied care, we are all denied our humanity.

>

> This is life and death and that's not just rhetoric. Please join us in

> stopping this tragic injustice.

>

>

> --

> Posted By Kish Pisani to Pisani Canadian Adventures at 1/19/2012 10:49:00

> AM

>

>

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