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Hiding a Disability

In: Social Issues

Submitted By ckendzie
Words 717
Pages 3
Hiding a Disability
Craig Kendzie
ETH/316
January 14, 2014
Tammy Matthews

Hiding a Disability
Many people did not know that our former President Franklin D Roosevelt was paralyzed from the waist down. They believed if the public was aware of this that they would not have voted for him due to this shortcoming. He would wear very long pants and his braces were painted black to help disguise his disability. He would also address the public while seated in his automobile. President Roosevelt physical impairment in no way affected his performance in representing this county. It is a shame that society is judgmental and narrow when it deals with the disabled. Watching this short film opens your eyes on how we may or may not be
The issues of this film are important because they address things that are still around today. They may have improved but, deep down people still have these beliefs and thoughts. There are laws and policies put into place to protect the disabled from being discriminated against. First of all that politics are deceitful. It may have worked to the advantage of the handicapped president, but it was not fair to himself or the public. This has no bearing on how he performed his duties however, it goes to show that trickery has been around for a long time. Another issue this film has shown that having a physical disability can cause prejudice and you may not be afforded the same opportunities as others.
The role in external societal pressures have in influencing organizational ethics are immense and may operate off a false preference. This case in specific shows that having a disability was frowned upon. Was this completely accurate? Could it have been the belief of his political campaigners? It is probably a little of both. His disability would in no way would impair his decision making for the government. Another factor could be the perception of other countries views on the United States having a paralyzed president. Also all these views are the interpretation of a few and they have a huge impact. They thought it would be best for the former president to mislead the public rather than being upfront with his disability. Society today has made many efforts to give the disabled the same opportunities as everyone.
These issues are not relevant to the organization, but it greatly influenced their personal decisions. His disability was physical not mental therefore, should have no bearing on what he could do for our country. Some of societies narrow views helped to influence his organization to mislead, or avoid that fact of his condition. They thought they were doing the right thing at that point in time and they may have. People have lied or mislead on a lot worse issues. It did afford him the opportunity to show that his disability would not impair him from performing his duties as president.
They may have been within the legal guidelines with the way they wanted everyone to perceive him but they did not bear well as ethics standpoint. Something may be legal and when violated they can be punished by the law. Tricking the public and convincing a man to hide his impairment is just wrong. There may have been good that come out of this, but they could have chosen a different route. When we conduct ourselves legally and ethically to accomplish our goals, we can feel better and know in our mind we have done the right thing.
Hiding a disability to gain a position is equally unethical as is discrimination against the disabled. Although this organization was within their legal guidelines they were ethically wrong. Society views hold a lot of weight when it comes to how an organization conducts itself. These issues are relevant to the organization and personal decisions. Today people still have these prejudices, but there are laws put in place to protect the handicapped. Also there is a lot of trickery of perception when it comes to politicians. Finally this world will be a better place once we can harmonize the law and ethics when it comes to dealing with all situations. Reference
Liberty Mutual Insurance. (September 18, 2012). Retrieved from http://http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/films/responsibility-%26-politics-appearance-and-reality

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