Re: [Goanet] Mental Challenges and Tomato Plants
--- http://www.GOANET.org --- South Asian Film Festival in Goa from Fri (June 27) to Mon (June 30) At Kala Academy, and ESG, Panaji, Goa http://lists.goanet.org/pipermail/goanet-goanet.org/2008-June/076384.html --- Dear JC, Ha, you caught my one slip "mentally handicapped" and now I'll catch you on yours "really mentally disabled" . Of course you can claim that you were referring to those who are not, but need to be called as such. That won't fly since if you drop off the word "really", you still get the word "mentally disabled". Also I can tell you that all these "politically correct" words don't do a thing for those affected. My blind children are always telling me they are embarrased when people struggle to find the politically correct word to describe them (visually challenged). They tell me that they are quite comforable with "blind". Like calling a spade a spade huh? And if gowing tomatoes does more for the disadvantaged than alleviating poverty, does it have a similar effect on the unemployed too? They were clubbed with the mentally "handicapped" by Gilbert. Roland. > == jc's response== > > Dear Roland, > > I wish you had not joined Gilbert by dys-calling these > individuals,"mentally handicapped". > > BTW: Growing tomatoes (and other garden vegetables) is known to do > more for the disavdantaged than mere 'alleviation of proverty'. Inter > alia, it provides them with a sense of responsibility, a space for > reflection, and the feeling of achievement when they see the fruit of > their labour. > > All these contribute to their sense of purpose for living in this > world where the really mentally disabled folks are the pompous ones > who beat their chests and show off that "They are the Best".
Re: [Goanet] Mental Challenges and Tomato Plants
[1] Gilbert Lawrence wrote: Likely these people (mostly unemployed and mentally handicapped) have all the time on their hands to take good care to make a productive tomato plant. [2] Roland Francis replied: Encouraging mentally handicapped and unemployed people to grow tomatoes in order to hone their growing skills with a view to alleviating their poverty is an idea that must surely be reflective of the bankruptcy of thought of some Americans. == jc's response== Dear Roland, I wish you had not joined Gilbert by dys-calling these individuals,"mentally handicapped". BTW: Growing tomatoes (and other garden vegetables) is known to do more for the disavdantaged than mere 'alleviation of proverty'. Inter alia, it provides them with a sense of responsibility, a space for reflection, and the feeling of achievement when they see the fruit of their labour. All these contribute to their sense of purpose for living in this world where the really mentally disabled folks are the pompous ones who beat their chests and show off that "They are the Best". Perhaps those ones need some extra large pots to grow some extra large-headed tomatoes. jc
[Goanet] Mental Challenges and Tomato Plants
The mindlessness of successive American Governments has never ceased to amaze me. But now I am even more amazed to see that such disconnected mental thought processes has permeated not only to the American people but to some of those of Goan origin also. My God ! Encouraging mentally handicapped and unemployed people to grow tomatoes in order to hone their growing skills with a view to alleviating their poverty is an idea that must surely be reflective of the bankruptcy of thought of some Americans. "Those whom God wishes to destroy, he makes mad first" would apply not to the mentally challenged but to those that have such bizarre solutions for them. Gilbert how about diverting all those billions of dollars your Government is spending on futile wars and occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan which would be more than sufficient to completely eradicate poverty in your entire country and enough to provide free quality education to those gangsters and drug dealers that crowd your cities, so that they become productive members of society and hopefully own enough land to grow some tomatoes. Roland 416-453-3371 On Wed, Jun 25, 2008 at 9:25 PM, Gilbert Lawrence <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Difficult situations make people innovative. In our town, "Good Hope" that > provides food to the poor, this year is giving them a potted tomato plant. I > think this is a great idea. It teaches the poor the skill of growing, and > they stand to indiviudally benefit from, and the benefit is directly > propotinal to, their own efforts. Likely these people (mostly unemployed and > mentally handicapped) have all the time on their hands to take good care to > make a productive tomato plant. > Regards, GL
