Invincibility gone wrong

I’m writing this article in response to a blog that I read on South African Olympian/Paralympian Oscar Pistorius who recently became controversially known for shooting his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp after mistaking her for an intruder.

While this topic has divided opinions, for me, what I was struck by most was that the fortnight before it took place; he was surprising a fan who was born with the same condition as his by turning up to join her at one of her training sessions…Little did she or the rest of the world know that a fortnight thereafter he’d be remanded in custody awaiting to stand trial for murder.

So upon hearing this news in the first place, my heart immediately went out to this little girl and her family because I’m sure that she’d been knocked for six over this but I’m resting assured that her family is supporting in the best way that they can.

My understanding of the blogs (which I’m responding to) is that there have also been a lot of questions surrounding the perception of one’s personality characteristics adopted from malpractice versus whether, if at all, there’s any correlation whatsoever between a person’s disability and the likelihood of violence and/or criminality tendencies that may impend on them if they were to break the law by making life-changing and “unfathomable” choices.

Please note that there’s a difference between being someone’s fan from the start and/or forever and/or seldomly knowing and/or becoming a fan of theirs upon hearing their name somewhere, so I’ll therefore respond to it from this angle – for me, I’m taking Melissa’s side on this because I feel and believe not everyone with a disability is susceptible to criminality and/or violence, nor should it influence public opinion. I do believe that Oscar Pistorius is first and foremost a human being and should be treated like one because based on what I’ve personally read and heard, I do feel this is and was simply a case of “mistaken identity” (until proven otherwise) and my heart equally also goes out both the families of his and Reeva Steenkamp’s as I write this.

I completely agree with Melissa’s viewpoint because for someone like Stella (whom Mellissa is opposing) who is big advocate for disability rights, it seems that her judgment “gloves” come off when it comes to “law-related human invincibility gone wrong” as noted in this quote of:

“We are ill-prepared to cope with the idea of a disabled man charged with murder.”

Which I hereby feel serves as a double-standard for Stella who is such a passionate advocate for equality. He is a man yes and he has a disability yes but does or should his disability influence public opinion? My feeling is that his disability should never play a role in our perception of him.

Conclusively I would argue rather that the reason Oscar as fallen so far was because we had him so high up on the social pedestal, that the hero has become the villain, that is why this case is so captivating.

You’re welcome to formulate your own opinions on the story on this link:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-19/young-oscar-pistorius-and-an-unfathomable-crime/4527424

Written by Maria Makhoul