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From: Hilary
Date: 08 Oct 2008
Time: 13:19:30 -0500
Remote Name: 92.18.88.183
Hi Tom, Thank you for raising a very interesting question. I agree that the notion that stammering is ‘cool’ is questionable. We are quoted at the end of Cherry Hughes’ article as saying, ‘Stammering may or may not be cool. However, this CD leaves the listener in no doubt that people who stammer definitely are cool!’ The words of the song were written by the children themselves. They were asked to think about what they wanted to say about stammering. I believe that some of the positive views expressed in the song are actually about the experience of group therapy rather than the experience of stammering itself. The positive messages are balanced with lines which raise awareness about the hidden feelings which are so often associated with stammering, e.g. ‘It makes me feel anxious, like I don’t count at all.’ However, I think that the overriding message of the song is that, despite these feelings, it is ok to stammer, and that the children are proud of who they are regardless of their stammering. In conveying this message they are collectively fighting the negative attitudes and steryotypes that have contributed to the development of their feelings of shame and guilt. Their participation in the project gave them the confidence to speak out and I know that they hope that the same confidence will be felt by other children who listen to the CD. I hope that you will enjoy listening to the rest of the CD and that you will feel happier about the content of ‘Stammering is Cool’ when heard within the context of the whole CD. Many thanks again for your comments.