Introduction
“Learning who you are is what you’re here to do.” Mr. Browne, the beloved English teacher in author R.J. Palacio’s book Wonder starts the school year with this precept. He is referring to the Ancient Greek aphorism posted on a plaque of their school’s entranceway which reads: Know Thyself. These two short words of this essential human maxim carry the power to sustain us amidst a variety of assaults which occur on our personal and collective identity. In kidspeak, comments like, “You’re fat, ugly, gross, etc.”; in the media, images of so-called “normal” families, or of celebrity idols, or messages to groups of people who should be hated and feared. The way we see ourselves as valued, as individuals and as members of various societal groups, shapes the way we interact with and receive services from the world. Your views of the distribution of wealth and resources depend upon your culture, race, and environmental factors, but mostly your identity. When facing physical and mental disabilities, how do we view our world? How do we preserve our identity?
Comments: