An old letter which I wrote, that did not make it into the Straits Times Forum page:
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I find it incredulous that so much public ire has arose over local blogger Wendy Cheng for declaring that loos for the handicapped are not just for the use of disabled people (‘All flushed over toilet blog’; ST, Oct 30). Does she really deserve it?
I wonder how many of those who have raised such a hue and cry are the same people I see everyday using those lifts meant for the disabled at MRT stations.
I had witnessed an unfortunate instance of a wheelchair-bound person having to wait for his turn to use the lift at Bedok MRT station, as the lift was full of able-bodied people. Those people should have checked to see if there were any disabled people around before making use of facilities meant for them, which is what Miss Cheng would have done obviously.
So long as priority is given to the disabled, I see nothing wrong with using their loos and ramps. Only certain facilities like carpark spaces and hawker centre tables should be reserved exclusively for them.
We should channel our furore more appropriately towards blatant smokers, drunk-drivers, bond-breakers, racist bloggers and extravagant charity organisation CEOs, rather than at bloggers who meant no harm with their remarks.
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Maybe talking about facilities for the disabled is a touchy topic? On the other hand, I see space in the Forum page given to inane letters querying about prices of McDonald's Extra Value Meals and Carl's Junior combos.
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I find it incredulous that so much public ire has arose over local blogger Wendy Cheng for declaring that loos for the handicapped are not just for the use of disabled people (‘All flushed over toilet blog’; ST, Oct 30). Does she really deserve it?
I wonder how many of those who have raised such a hue and cry are the same people I see everyday using those lifts meant for the disabled at MRT stations.
I had witnessed an unfortunate instance of a wheelchair-bound person having to wait for his turn to use the lift at Bedok MRT station, as the lift was full of able-bodied people. Those people should have checked to see if there were any disabled people around before making use of facilities meant for them, which is what Miss Cheng would have done obviously.
So long as priority is given to the disabled, I see nothing wrong with using their loos and ramps. Only certain facilities like carpark spaces and hawker centre tables should be reserved exclusively for them.
We should channel our furore more appropriately towards blatant smokers, drunk-drivers, bond-breakers, racist bloggers and extravagant charity organisation CEOs, rather than at bloggers who meant no harm with their remarks.
---------------------------------------------------------
Maybe talking about facilities for the disabled is a touchy topic? On the other hand, I see space in the Forum page given to inane letters querying about prices of McDonald's Extra Value Meals and Carl's Junior combos.
