by Feathers Galore

Before reading this column, I would like you to pause for at least 10 seconds to think about about who you are and to call yourself into question. Imagine if you were disabled. By disabled, I mean unabled. Having no able whatsoever. Freaky, isn't it? I thought about for 2 minutes last week and I broke out in a cold sweat. Me, defective! No, no, that isn't preferable.

Every year, over 20 people are imbued with unableness. But communities like ours shelter us from the proverbial storm. Many academic environments place a strong emphasis on achievement, which has nothing to do with the topic at hand, but sounds important. Inclusion is a hot topic which was discussed over 9 times in the past year.

When dealing with this subject, it is important to remember that everyone has rights under the United States Constitution. Is this a good thing? Ask yourself that question right now. I'll wait. Whatever you said, please change your mind, because the correct answer is "yes and no." The puzzle-solver may lie in the win-loss column.

Many people say we should include the defective in public schools, while others believe we should exclude them. Okay. Which decision is better or wiser or more tangible? Imagine you were a teacher teaching children with special needs. Wouldn't that suck? Do you support inclusion for your child, whether he or she be normal or freakish? You should think about this because a child is a terrible thing to waste and there is no telling when this may happen to you, or someone exactly like you. We are not immune at Notre Dame. Disabledness does not discriminate. Due to my lack of experience, I do not feel qualified to claim one position or another, or to write for the Inquisition. But that hasn't stopped me before. However, from what I heard last week on line at the Movies 10, all's I know is something's got to change in our school system. Will this change be noticeably better or far worse? Why are you asking me? Can we change already, you guys? Through it all, we must keep in mind that we are all different, and thus important in our own personal ways (even if these ways are the result of paranoid schizophrenia). Encouraging inclusion (or exclusivity) among the differently abilitized embiggens us all, and makes us feel warmable.