Tag: Canada

Bias and oppression

Q: How do you think bias, oppression, etc. can best be addressed at an individual, community or policy level in Canada?

A: Simply by encouraging everyone to open their eyes and ears to the world around them.

I’ve learned to look on the world differently than I’d been taught to while growing up. Through that of experience. Lessons that would of otherwise been impossible to effectively learn without having lived through my accident.

I’m the person I am today because everything that has happened to me. And yet I still live to laugh. In all honesty I couldn’t tell you why that is. But it is. Continue reading Bias and oppression

Feelings

Q: What bias, oppression, etc. do you feel towards others and/or do others feel towards you as a result of your accident and do you feel this has changed on an individual, community or policy level since your accident?

I try, very hard not feel any serious preconceived emotions toward anything. If what you’re asking is do I feel anger towards “God,” my answer is simply no. I’d rather use my energy productively. And believing in a God is, in my opinion everything but a valuable use of time.

And before you assume my lack of belief stems from what happened to me, I assure you it has not. In fact being through everything I’ve been through has only strengthened my resolve. Trust me. Continue reading Feelings

Society and treatment

Q: How do you see you have been viewed by the dominant or mainstream Canadian society since your accident and how has this evolved over time?

A: Generally most people are quite accepting and genuinely (assumed) nice to me. That said, no-one is totally sheltered, I encounter “ignorance,” on occasion. Specifically from people who don’t know how to and go out of their way not to take the time to interact with me. But perception goes both ways, kid. When people choose to carry on as such I interpret them as possessing a somewhat closed mind. Frankly it has nothing to do with me. It’s their problem, not mine. I can’t control my “perception,” nor would I wish to. All I can hope to do is to change peoples impressions with my innocent charm… Continue reading Society and treatment

Interview

A friend who posed a set of questions for yours truly to answer for a school paper she is to write just left. It seems I slightly misunderstood the premise. She didn’t necessarily need me to write out every answer and hand them, complete to her. Which I did. She was to interview me and ask her questions and jot down my answers. She only forwarded me the questions as a “heads up” gesture. So I could think about and plan my answers, I guess. But what’s done is done.

But what was most compelling was the conversations that ensued. You see, she worked with me early on in my rehabilitation and was witness to much of what she asked. She able to add some to my thoughts. Things I forgot, was unaware of or, yes even hadn’t considered. Continue reading Interview