Choose wisely
Proper choice of words is so important, Gulf News (“Kim Kardashian meets disabled children in Dubai”, Gulf News tabloid!, January 16). ‘Disabled children’ could have been phrased better. In the end, they are children and their disability isn’t what defines them.
From Mr Mohammad Mansour
US
No one’s perfect
It’s unprofessional to have an error such as this. The caption is misleading. I think ‘physically challenged children’ should have been an appropriate expression, instead of ‘disabled’. They have numerous abilities, despite their disability. No one is perfect.
From Mr Oyeleke Benjamin Idowu
Dubai
Incorrect usage
Gulf News, ‘differently abled’ instead of ‘disabled’, would have been a better choice of words and sentiment!
From Mr Sumant Bhalla
Dubai
We apologise to our readers who thought we were being insensitive with our headline. We were only reporting the news of Kardashian’s visit to the Rashid Centre for Disabled, without any spin. But, we would like to add, as stated by the academic Tom Shakespeare, who has achondroplasia and uses a wheelchair: “Negative association will pin itself to any word. Changing parlance will do nothing if there is not a shift in attitudes towards disability.”
Gulf News
Editor’s note: Would you like to raise a query or concern with the newspaper? Is there an issue that you believe needs to be addressed? Something the paper is not doing right or not effectively enough. Write to us at readers@gulfnews.com
