The passing of Nelson Mandela this week reverberated throughout the world. Rarely has a human being received such universal acclaim and appreciation for his presence on earth. Mandela represented the highest ideals of compassion, forgiveness, truth, honesty and love.
So it is not surprising that he also spoke eloquently of the needs and rights of people with disabilities in our society. Here is what he said,
"It
is not a question of patronizing philanthropy towards disabled people. They do
not need the patronage of the non-disabled. It is not for them to adapt to the
dominant and dominating world of the so-called non-disabled. It is for us to
adapt our understanding of a common humanity; to learn of the richness of how
human life is diverse; to recognize the presence of disability in our human
midst as an enrichment of our diversity."
We mourn the passing of this great man. The world is poorer today because he is not in it.
Mark Bernstein
Growth Consultant, Central East Regional Group and UUA Liaison to Equual Access
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