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Disability doesn't make Oscar Pistorius a saint

Article by: WILLIAM SALETAN , Slate
Updated: February 16, 2013 - 2:32 PM

Other athletes have committed violent crimes, but we expected more of Pistorius because he's disabled. We were wrong.

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jarlmnFeb. 16, 13 3:16 PM

No matter our good intentions so to not view the disabled as inferiors, we should also not go so far the other direction, as to deny that they are the same fallible human beings as the rest of us. To assign them automatic halos, is actually condescension, not compassion.

owatonnabillFeb. 16, 13 3:44 PM

Other athletes have committed violent crimes, but we expected more out of Pistorius because he is disabled. We were wrong." "We"? Owatonnabill does not presume to judge Mr. Pistorius before evidence is heard in open court and a jury duly renders a verdict , Mr. Saletan, so don't presume the "we" to apply to anyone but yourself. At this point we have an allegation, not a judgment, and anyone who would not only assume guilt but make that proclamation in a public medium is showing unbelievable arrogance.

armybratFeb. 16, 13 4:27 PM

Many people with disabilities view themselves as being owed something from society and with that they need to play by the rules. Too many people excuse their behaviors because of their disability. We had a guy with MS at our church who was angry with the government because now that he was married the taxpayers would no longer pay for separate apartments for he and his wife. He really felt that he deserved a second apartment, at our expense, because he was disabled.

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