Common Folk Using Common Sense

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease affecting the exocrine (mucus) glands of the lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines, causing progressive disability due to multisystem failure.

Thick mucus production results in frequent lung infections. Diminished secretion of pancreatic enzymes is the main cause of poor growth, greasy stools, and deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins.

There is no cure for CF, and most individuals with cystic fibrosis die young: many in their 20s and 30s from lung failure. Cystic fibrosis is one of the most common life-shortening, childhood-onset inherited diseases. In most cases, CF causes an early death.

So it comes as a surprise that cystic fibrosis was considered “too white” for a Carleton University fundraiser:

The Carleton University Students’ Association has voted to drop a cystic fibrosis charity as the beneficiary of its annual Shinearama fundraiser, supporting a motion that argued the disease is not “inclusive” enough.

Cystic fibrosis “has been recently revealed to only affect white people, and primarily men” said the motion read Monday night to student councillors, who voted almost unanimously in favour of it. The decision caused heated reaction and left at least one member of council calling for a new vote.

But the rationale for dropping cystic fibrosis as the beneficiary is not correct, Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation chief executive Cathleen Morrison said. CF is diagnosed just as often among girls as boys, although the health of girls deteriorates more rapidly, she said. It is commonly considered an illness that affects Caucasians, but that includes people from the Middle East, South America, North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. ” ‘Caucasian’ as we understand it isn’t just white people,” said Morrison. “It includes people with a whole rainbow of skins.”

Just damn. Good thing someone didn’t mention ovarian cancer research, though, because that’s a disease that really discriminates and is completely non-inclusive. Ditto for breast cancer research and all those terribly non-inclusive pink ribbons. And who really cares if a bunch of little kiddies die of juvenile diabetes?

Left wing Bigotry is still Bigotry.

Cystic fibrosis, Carleton University, Shinearama, Cathleen Morrison

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