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PM’s sight gives ‘concerns’ and the Press forget about the Disability Discrimination Act.
Gordon Brown has the British economy to be concerned about, but it seems that his aides have concerns about his eye sight (Telegraph article here).
Mr Brown’s problems started when he lost the sight in one eye playing rugby aged 16. Recently he has had a cataract operation to try and improve the sight but apparently his aides are still concerned that his vision is hindering him.
It is even more concerning that I found posts on a website asking what happens if Mr Brown looses his sight? Would he still be prime minister?
Why shouldn’t he? President Roosevelt had difficulty walking and standing following Polio, yet he was accepted as president.
Both the Labour party and Downing Street should be used to assisting people with visual impairment (David Blunkett). Yes, it is fair to say people who have visual impairment from an early age generally adjust and adapt better than those where it occurs later on in life, however in the world of equal opportunities, surely the political world should be leading by example and showing that these challenges can be overcome even at the most difficult times.
Political views are irrelevant; hopefully we all agree any disability should be supported and helped to be overcome where possible.
Hugh // Oct 13, 2008 at 2:45 am
Brown –let him get on with running the country.
What frustrates me here is that yet again, the Press has total infatuation with negativity; have all the reporters forgotten the Disability Discrimination Act? Or is that now ‘yesterdays’ news?’
Take Sir Ming Campbell, a fine politician and a man who I have had the good fortune to have met on many occasions over the past 30 years. Ming was constantly plagued by the press over his age when he took over the leadership of the Liberal Democrats in 2006. But rather than focusing on his ability to do the job, the British Press were far more interested in debating whether 64 was the new 54, and whether or not he was ‘too old’ for the job. Ming stepped down as leader in 2007 to swing the focus from his age to the policies of the party instead - something the press should have done all along.
And yet, hardly a peep over John McCain, who, at 72 is running for President.
Black pots and kettles spring to mind. Clearly there is not enough of an ageist story left for the Press now that they have run that argument with Ming.
But getting back to Brown. If he is ‘losing his sight’ my response would simply be, ‘And…??’
If he is indeed running the country with a visual disability, then this surely should have no bearing on his ability to do the job?
Hmm. Please tell someone at No10 to give him a MonoMouse and let him get on with it. I need to sell my house.
Jane Macnaughton // Oct 13, 2008 at 4:09 am
Here’s an interesting comment found on Labourhome.
“we need a PM who is in full possession of his faculties. If he can’t read his briefing papers he cannot do his job properly.”
It’ narrow-minded comments such as these that make me realise how visually impaired people are still battling against the ill-informed prejudiced of this world every day.
Are we not in the 21st century now?
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