Totally shocking article by “journalist” Rod Liddle in the Sunday Times.
I have emailed the editor, and will be writing to the Press Complaints Commission. Email content below…
“Sir,
As a regular Times reader I am writing to express my distress and extreme disappointment in the content of Rod Liddles column, dated 6th January 2008. Under the heading “A tip for those with doubtful disability ” he states:
“Next time you see a young person in a wheelchair, tip it over and drag the occupant down to the nearest job centre, lecturing him or her all the while on the dignity of labour.”
This statement is offensive in the extreme. Leaving aside the isssues about the many young disabled people who are employed, this is advocating disability hate crime. At present incitement to disability hate crime is not illegal, though it was proposed in this year’s Queens speech.Actual disability hate crime is a crime, alongside race hate crime, and is just such a serious offence. It should be obvious to both the journalist who wrote this and the editorial team that allowed the article to be published that this is as unacceptable as advocating race hate crime. You can imagine the reaction that this comment would receive were the term “young person in a wheelchair” replaced with “black person”, and it would be on a national scale. Unfortunately the disabled community is still behind in terms of the protection afforded to other minority groups, but as the Queen’s speech showed, this situation is changing.
I suggest that you acquaint yourself with the Disability hate crime information from the Crown Prosecution service, available here:
On a personal note, I would like to emphasise the effect on someone in a wheelchair should anyone choose to take Liddle’s advice. It would be a terrifying humiliating experience, leaving a vulnerable person unable to use their own basic rights – that of freedom of movement. The fear of this happening is only going to increase after reading an article such as this.
I will be making a formal complaint to the Press Complaints Commission regarding this article. I am extremely disappointed, not just with the journalist but with the editorial team of the Times for allowing such a hateful, and outdated statement to be published. I will not be buying this newspaper again.
[...] good example of a letter can be found on the Four Wheels Good website comment about Rod Liddle’s article. Try not to use the same words, but get across the [...]
It beggars belief that Rod Piddle cannot see how lucky he is to be a healthy middle class man in today’s society.
To be on the receiving end of venom and persecution such as this, with no ability to challenge it but writing a letter, is a bitter pill indeed.
I hope that every disabled person who read that letter rights to the press complaints commission.
The chronically sick are being persecuted by both political parties and the implications of such a policy will result in disability hate crime (such as Rod Liddle encourages) and fascism.
[...] by Anonymous http://saraworld.wordpress.com/2008/01/09/rod-liddle-in-the-sunday-times/ on January 9th [...]
Brilliant article. Brilliant letter. Hope you get a decent response.