"In Paris they have special wheelchairs that go through every doorway. They don't change the doorways, they change the wheelchairs. To hell with the people! If someone weighs a couple more pounds, that's it!"
- Itzhak Perlman
About this Quote
In this quote, Itzhak Perlman offers a critique of societal concerns, especially in the context of accommodating the requirements of people with specials needs. The setting of Paris is most likely used as an example, not always to single out the city itself, however to work as a metaphor for wider societal mindsets. Perlman explains that instead of adjusting facilities to meet the diverse needs of individuals, society frequently positions the burden of adjustment on the people themselves.
The idea of "unique wheelchairs that go through every entrance" illustrates a mindset that prioritizes preserving existing structures over making them more inclusive. It's a metaphor for how society often addresses accessibility issues: by creating specialized options for people instead of carrying out universal design concepts that could benefit everyone. This speaks with a more substantial concern of systemic inequality, where lodgings for marginalized groups are treated as special cases rather than standard practice.
When Perlman exclaims, "To hell with the people! If somebody weighs a couple more pounds, that's it!" he's highlighting the absence of consideration for human diversity in societal planning. The remark serves as a hyperbolic focus on how stiff and exclusionary systems can be. Individuals who do not fit into these directly defined classifications-- the metaphorical couple of extra pounds-- are effectively marginalized or neglected.
This review requires a social shift towards inclusivity and universal design. Instead of fitting people into pre-existing structures and norms, the focus must be on adapting environments to fit individuals's varied needs. In essence, Perlman's commentary sheds light on the requirement for a more thoughtful and inclusive method that positions human requirement above maintaining the status quo, especially in urban planning and facilities. It's a call to action for rethinking how society addresses availability, promoting for systemic modifications that honor and appreciate human diversity.
"When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it"
"I've never seen the Osbournes, I've never seen Paris Hilton. I'd rather read than watch reality TV. I'd rather live life than watch somebody else living it"
"Going out in Paris was like going out in the '30s dressed like the Andrews Sisters. It was everything I'd seen in books at my grandparents' house, only it was our generation"
"America is a nation with no truly national city, no Paris, no Rome, no London, no city which is at once the social center, the political capital, and the financial hub"
