Compensation

[My father] took me to Windang police station and told them what was going on, I think he was hoping I would tell them who the father was. In those days carnal knowledge was a crime. My father got angrier and angrier he punched me in the face in front of the police who did nothing, about an hour later a lady came to the police station and took me home and told me to pack a bag.

Not everyone can be friends with their past.

For the thousands of Australian women who found themselves young, pregnant, and forced to give up their babies, Australia of the 1950s and 1960s was a painful place. It would be excruciating to go back there.

Continue reading "Can you put a dollar figure on human suffering?" »

Last week, The Punch introduced you to The Angry Cripple, a new anonymous contributor. This week, AC explains that despite the complaints of some, s/he will remain anonymous, and reveals the source of the name.

I’m angry for good reason. I’ve used the word cripple for good reason. And I’m anonymous because I have to be…

Whatever I write, some will agree and others will disagree. Some will be downright nasty. I read on another forum that if I turn out not to be a person who uses a wheelchair, there will be blood.

So, my anonymity will remain. It doesn’t matter who I am. I could be a parent or carer of a person with a disability, a deaf-blind actor, a teacher at a special school, a student with MS, or a person with a severed spinal column.

So get over it. There are plenty of more important things to worry about.

Continue reading "Cripples have many (many) reasons to be angry" »