Tuesday, March 07, 2023

Separate and, in fact, not equal--an email to Rachel Maddow

 

Rachel,  I cannot thank you enough for reporting on the death of Judy Heumann, a wheelchair bound advocate for 
the rights of the disabled who suffered from polio she caught in1948. As a survivor of polio in 1954, six months before the Salk vaccine, I appreciate every day what her efforts mean to me.   I can drive and find a closer parking space and/or a ramp that makes it easier for a disabled person to enter a building which must be navigated.

Polio paralyzed my right leg entirely up to and including my hip.  I am 74 and now realize the difficult impact of losing
entirely the use of that leg.  I am at risk of falling and have broken my right leg femur three times because of it.  I cannot fracture it again.  Thanks to Judy Heumann for making my life and countless others in this nation and even the world just a little bit easier. 

Moreover, we must eradicate the separate but equal concept not only for the handicapped but we need, of course, to eradicate it for every other minority group that still suffers from its paralyzing effect. 

Keep fighting the good fight, Rachel, for all the other minority groups in our land.  Let us make the "John Lewis Voting Right Act" the law of the land once again this time permanently because separate, in fact, never means equal.
 




1 comment:

Natalie Rosen said...

My Letter to Rachel Maddow with a cc: to Maura Healey

I applaud you yet again for a superlative interview of Governor Maura Healy. I am indeed proud to be from the great state of Massachusetts, voted for Governor Healy and will do so again. Both you and governor Healy are articulately brilliant. Thanks for having the governor on and hope we can hear from her again. Of course, I support both of your positions on abortion and support your position on guns as well. I am saddened by the usurpation of the Republican Party by radical right wing extremists and hope Democrats can gain control of both the Federal House and a majority of the seats in state government as well.

Keep doing what you do Rachel. You are the Edward R. Murrow of broadcasting. Although I like all the commentators on MSNBC and watch them all I miss seeing more of you during the week.

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