Day in Washington #4 – Suicide Bombers with Disabilities and Medicaid Rehabilitation Option
NOTE: There is a small problem with this podcast in that the audio file was misnumbered as #3. It is still usable but I hope to correct the error soon. You can find the text of the podcast in the comments of this post. Thank you for your patience.
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Day in Washington’ is where I hope to explore and discuss various aspects of disability policy. Each episode will cover a specific issue within disability, and or a disability-related news article. These short summaries offer an easy to understand introduction to disability policy and resources for those interested in further study.
Audio File: Day in Washington #3 – Suicide Bombers and Medicaid Rehab
SHOW NOTES
- Introduction, Date of Podcast
- Did you know 90 percent of suicide bombers have some sort of disability? – Articles from www.FreeRepublic.com and Yahoo News.
- Medicaid Rehabilitation Option
- Closing and Contact information
- Disclaimer
The music on this podcast, Sedona, was provided by 2012 ( http://www.twentytwelverecords.com) and is available at http://www.podsafemusicnetwork.com.
Day in Washington – Podcast #4 (July 16, 2007)
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to a Day in Washington. Day in Washington is your disability policy podcast covering legislative issues of interest to the disability community, spotlighting specific bills and disability related news articles. I’m your host, Day Al-Mohamed working to make sure you stay informed. This is Podcast #4 for July 16th, 2007.
This issue is about a rather interesting article that I found a few weeks ago at http://www.freerepublic.com. Now before I begin let me just say I have nothing to support the veracity of this article and I’m not too sure how I feel about it other than that I had to pick myself back up off the floor after reading it.
Did you know: Almost 90 per cent of [suicide bombers] are people with some form of disability?
So says, forensic expert Yusuf Yadgari. Every suicide bomber’s body in Kabul-based attacks passes through Dr. Yadgari’s morgue. He has so far detected such disabilities as muscular dystrophy, amputated toes, blindness, skin diseases and signs of mental illness in the bodies of suicide bombers.
Okay, I have to admit some skepticism here because I cannot imagine that after such a suicide bombing there would be enough remains to be able to ascertain that someone had any disability. But let’s go on with the article.
Although no statistics are available, anecdotal evidence increasingly backs up Dr. Yadgari’s observations. Security experts argue that the Taliban seek out the disaffected, the poor and the marginalized, a group that certainly would include a majority of the disabled. And non-governmental organizations say reports of disabled people being trained as suicide bombers, although unproven, are common.
“One reason why people entertain the idea is there is complete loss of hope in being able to live a normal life,” said Firoz Ali Alizada, who lost his legs to a land mine and now uses artificial legs and crutches.
“In a culture like ours, disability and the possibility of being out on the street are equated with great shame. A man who is married and has children is suddenly incapable of supporting and feeding his family… He might find it easier to die.”
Full Article: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1829779/posts
Now add to that the following article from Yahoo News.
Full Article at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070510/ap_on_re_mi_ea/hamas_mickey_mouse_11
In Ramalla, Hamas militants have suspended a TV program that featured a Mickey Mouse lookalike urging Palestinian children to fight Israel and work for global Islamic domination.
The character, named “Farfour,” or “butterfly,” but unmistakably a copy of the Disney character, preached against the U.S. and Israel each Friday on a show called “Tomorrow’s Pioneers,” saying things like: “You and I are laying the foundation for a world led by Islamists.
Now, here is the key point that caught my attention from the article, especially in light of the previous one: “The Al Aqsa satellite channel was launched last year. Bearded young men read the news and Islamic music is layered over footage of masked militants firing rockets into Israel. The channel also broadcasts talk shows, PROGRAMS ABOUT THE DISABLED (emphasis mine) and cartoons.”
You have to admit, it does make you think at least a little bit. Well, that is after you pick yourself back up off the floor.
CLOSING
And that is it for this week’s edition of Day in Washington. Please feel free to provide comments and suggestions at http://www.dayalmohamed.com/dayinwashington, I enjoy hearing from you, but for now, this is your host, Day reminding you to stay well and stay informed.
EPILOGUE
Any opinions and perspectives expressed in this podcast should not be taken as the official stance of any group or organization affiliated with the host. In addition, none of the facts, data, or grammar have been checked for accuracy.
The music on this podcast, Sedona, was provided by 2012 ( http://www.twentytwelverecords.com) and is available at http://www.podsafemusicnetwork.com.
The audio file sounds fine to me. (Apart from a repeat of some of this paragraph: “Although no statistics are available, anecdotal evidence increasingly backs up Dr. Yadgari’s observations. Security experts argue that the Taliban seek out the disaffected, the poor and the marginalized, a group that certainly would include a majority of the disabled. And non-governmental organizations say reports of disabled people being trained as suicide bombers, although unproven, are common.”)