[Critical-Realism] Disciplinary Action at QUT against Drs Hookham and MacLennan: an important PS to email dtd 25/06/2007.

["Dave Taylor" <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Minister
 
In old age I can but smile ruefully at my own disability - so deep a focus
on correcting content that I cannot see typos!  For the many typos in the
letter sent yesterday, I apologise. 
 
More importantly, watching the TV programme "New Tricks" last night, I
realised it was doing what "Laughing at the Disabled" so insensitively
attempted.  The disabilities of old age and schizophrenia, widowhood and
marital instability were linked to eccentric genius by very talented actors.
One thinks of the two Ronnies, Tommy Cooper, Arnold Schwarzenegger in the
film "Forest Gump".  This was not (to phrase more accurately the claimed
motive of the doctoral candidate) "teaching the disabled to laugh at
cruelty" and incidentally encouraging cruelty.  Identifying with DISABILITY
here is also identification with the possibility of genius.  
 
Is there here a way out of this sorry mess?   Had QUT understood Dr
MacLennan's sensitivity and learned from his objections, they would not have
created problems for everyone.   We all make mistakes, however, and the
biggest one is not to admit it; but it is hard to admit mistakes until one
is clear what one has done wrong.  It is easy for those with relevant
experience (like Dr MacLennan) to intuit that something is wrong, and why;
much more difficult for them to articulate what is right.  I hope the
insight above into what WOULD have been right will make it easier for QUT to
admit its mistakes and move on to reconciliation.  I will write to QUT in
those terms hoping for your support.
 
Yours sincerely
 
D J Taylor
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