| One of the amazing things about the internet is the | | | | a handicapped parking space with her little blue tag |
| way it brings us all together. - You hear of people | | | | and sticker. |
| you never would have heard of before, you're | | | | This is a huge attitude problem to me that |
| introduced to new things and new ideas continuously. | | | | unfortunately extends far beyond this woman. I can't |
| The other day, I was surfing the web and stumbled | | | | help but notice that far more people are proclaiming |
| upon a freely hosted website that had been created | | | | themselves victims. They are desperately searching |
| by a boy with Down Syndrome. When I looked upon | | | | for reasons that things should be made simpler and |
| all that was inside this website, I was amazed and | | | | easier on them because they feel they are "owed" |
| impressed by this person. I got to read all about a | | | | or "deserve" it. I see more people, young people in |
| boy who, by this world's standards, was considered | | | | their 40s and 50s, sticking handicap licenses on their |
| severely handicapped, and yet he speed skated, | | | | cars as if there's something there that makes them |
| played tennis and soccer, and rock climbed. He had | | | | "deserving" of an easier route. There are people out |
| pictures of himself competing at sporting events with | | | | there that seem to feel they are owed a different |
| teams and numerous medals that he had earned | | | | set of standards because of their "disability". They |
| competing in the Special Olympics. He didn't hide his | | | | want to be pitied and sympathized over, and I do |
| differences from the world, but instead embraced | | | | not in the slightest understand this. Never in my life |
| them, proudly displaying on his car a bumper sticker | | | | do I want to be pitied, or want anyone else's |
| that read, "Powered by an extra chromosome!" | | | | handouts. |
| By this world's standards today, this boy would be | | | | I've come to the conclusion that there are very few |
| considered very handicapped, and yet he was out | | | | truly handicapped people. The only handicap I see is a |
| there participating in things that even I myself | | | | very poor mindset. That boy with Down Syndrome I |
| couldn't do. This boy had more natural resolve and | | | | believe is one of the very least handicapped people |
| determination than most people I had ever met. All | | | | on the planet. There is nothing on this earth that isn't |
| he knew was how to set the bar higher, create | | | | available to him because he wants to earn things |
| goals and accomplish them, despite how much work | | | | himself, and wants to prove to the rest of the world |
| or effort was needed on his part. Every day this boy | | | | that he is an equally capable member of society. |
| worked to make sure there wasn't a person in this | | | | There is a lesson here that the rest of the world can |
| world that would consider him handicapped, and that | | | | learn. All of these people that want things handed to |
| despite what had been thrown his way, he could not | | | | them, who try to find ways that make them less |
| just accomplish normal things, but exceptional things | | | | capable than everybody else need to wake up and |
| as well. | | | | get some dignity. |
| Later that week I went in town to the local | | | | I am firmly convinced of the amazing things that |
| Wal-mart. I pulled into a parking space, and made my | | | | people are all capable of. Average people do |
| way to the store. On my way past the end of the | | | | extraordinary things every day by doing nothing else |
| Handicapped spaces, I saw a woman pull in with her | | | | but their best, pouring their hearts out into their jobs |
| handicapped sticker and tag. I watched as the | | | | and their lives and trying to be the very best person |
| woman easily got out of the car, closed the door, | | | | they can. When people set their sights on goals and |
| and walked straight into the entrance of the store. | | | | decide that nothing is going to stand in their way, |
| Once inside, she spent a few minutes searching for | | | | truly inspiring things happen. One boy out there has |
| an electric cart. When she didn't find it, she asked the | | | | inspired me to do my best and live my life with |
| greeter about it, and he had one brought to her. | | | | everything I've got. When people look at me, I want |
| After standing in wait for a few minutes and | | | | them to see my abilities, not my disabilities. |
| commenting on a pain she developed if she wa son | | | | I hereby challenge the people out there to step up |
| her legs for too long, she put her purse in the little | | | | and be the best person they can be. I challenge |
| basket, sat down on the electric cart, and shot on | | | | them to set and accomplish goals, and to stop |
| past me and into the rest of the store. | | | | defining themselves by their shortcomings. Right now |
| The more I thought about this, the more I didn't like | | | | there are people with debilitating conditions who are |
| it. Somewhere out there was a boy who's own body | | | | overcoming them and carving for themselves a rich, |
| developed abnormally and made it more difficult for | | | | wonderful life, so why can't the rest of us? If you |
| him to do the things we all do easily, and instead of | | | | have any respect for yourself, stop looking to others |
| asking for someone to make things easier on him, he | | | | to provide for you and do it yourself. Stop taking the |
| was probably on top of a mountain or somewhere | | | | easiest road, and challenge yourself. You'll be |
| on a biking trail. He had problems this woman could | | | | surprised at what you can do. |
| never imagine, but it was this woman who parked in | | | | |