Question

Find the claim.

From On Being a Cripple / Nancy Mairs

First, the matter of semantics. I am a cripple. I choose this word to name me. I choose this word to name me. I choose from among several possibilities, the most common of which are "handicapped" and "disabled." I made the choice a number of years ago, without thinking, unaware of my motives for doing so. Even now, I’m not sure what those motives are, but I recognize that they are complex and not entirely flattering. People- crippled or not- wince at the word "cripple," as they do not "handicapped" or "disabled." Perhaps I want them to wince. I want them to see me as a tough customer, one to whom the fates/gods/viruses have not been kind, but who can face the brutal truth of her existence squarely. As a cripple, I swagger.

Answer 1

"On Being a Cripple" by Nancy Mairs (1986)

The claim in Nancy's article or short story is, "I am a cripple."

Step-by-step explanation:

Nancy's claim is the assertion about her physical condition. Nancy does not provide any evidence to support her affirmation. Unfortunately, there is no way for the reader to verify Nancy's reason for describing herself as a "cripple." Her claim remains subjective or a matter of the narrator's personal opinion. Nancy can even claim that her physical condition is a divine blessing.

Many imprecise descriptions are coined by society to label some people. Nancy feels that the truth or bluntness about a person's condition cannot lessen the pain nor denigrate the person. There are humorous meanings to be derived when described as a "cripple" without the use of meaningless metaphors.