"Moving Violations"

Paper Summary:

This essay examines the memoir "Moving Violations," by John Hockenberry. The paper draws its critique from textual evidence, such as common themes and motifs in the book, in order to illuminate its premise that the book is a call for universalism. The paper calls the book, which chronicles the author's experiences as a paraplegic living in both America and the Middle East, an eye-opening tale of disability as a global issue. Arguing that Hockenberry's book is a statement of sameness, even in the face of difference, the paper maintains that Hockenberry wishes to convey through his own experiences that we all have much to learn from one another's differences. Ultimately, the paper concludes, Hockenberry's diverse life experiences have led him to advocate celebrating differences, providing equal opportunities and approaching limitations together as a community.

From the Paper:

"We remember Hockenberry's view is that one is perceived to be weak in America if they are disabled. However, during the Palestinian uprising, one would take one glance at Radwan in his own country and just as people have many times assumed John Hockenberry was some kind of a war hero, one would assume the same of Radwan. In the Middle East, while it was considered weakness to be disabled in America, it was considered a kind of bravery and strength to be disabled in this region of the Middle East. It is evident in Hockenberry's account that many places in Israel are utterly inaccessible for wheelchairs. If the nation were all that mattered to people like Radwan, then it would not matter that his life is made to end in a single heroic act. But what about those to whom it does matter? Hockenberry states his belief that this is the wrong way to go about disability."

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