General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Gal Gadots Seemingly Innocent Tribute To Stephen Hawking Pissed Off Some People [View all]EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)I am an African-American woman who deal almost daily with racism, prejudice and insensitivity - and has to constantly weigh and consider whether to respond to it and, if so, how and when to do so in order to try to avoid being criticized and attacked for being overly sensitive and worse. I usually try to bring it up in a careful way to create a learning moment - and more often than not am still told that IM the problem and if I just werent so damned sensitive about everything, things would be better.
Given this life experience, I also strive to be more sensitive when others bring up their own concerns about things that may not have affected or offended me personally. This is one of those instances. I was initially touched by by the comments and cartoons suggesting that Dr. Hawking is now free. But when I heard some of the responses pointing out the insensitivity of such comments, I realized, like the OP, that I was viewing this from the narrow perspective of a person without physical disabilities. When I considered what these comments - however innocent or well-meaning - really said to someone in that situation, I knew that I should, in the future, approach this differently. I learned something important that I didnt understand before.
Its a shame you didnt take the opportunity to learn from people who have a different experience and perspective than you do, but instead just said fuck you to them for expressing their view. Telling you that something is offensive is not a personal attack on you and it doesnt deserve such a nasty response. And asking you to be more sensitive is not an effort to restrict your freedom - any more than asking that someone not use racial slurs is.
Being sensitive and empathetic to others is not political correctness run amok as conservatives like to call it. Its just plain human decency.