| One of the amazing things about the internet | | | | handicapped. |
| is the way it brings us all together. - You | | | | |
| hear of people you never would have heard of | | | | There is a massive attitude problem with the |
| before, you're introduced to new things and | | | | people of this world today. Everywhere I |
| new ideas continuously. The other day, I was | | | | look, I notice more and more people acting as |
| surfing the web and stumbled upon a freely | | | | if they want to be victims. There are people |
| hosted website that had been created by a boy | | | | out there desperately searching to find |
| with Down Syndrome. When I looked upon all | | | | reasons that life should be made easier upon |
| that was inside this website, I was amazed | | | | them just because they feel like they are |
| and impressed by this person. I got to read | | | | "owed" it. It seems that more and more people |
| all about a boy who, by this world's | | | | are slapping handicapped stickers on their |
| standards, was considered severely | | | | cars, at younger and younger ages. People |
| handicapped, and yet he speed skated, played | | | | want to be pandered to, and treated with a |
| tennis and soccer, and rock climbed. He had | | | | different set of standards because of their |
| pictures of himself competing at sporting | | | | claimed "disability". They want to be |
| events with teams and numerous medals that he | | | | sympathized and pitied, and this completely |
| had earned competing in the Special Olympics. | | | | blows my mind. I never in my life want to be |
| He didn't hide his differences from the | | | | pitied, and I never want to feel like I need |
| world, but instead embraced them, proudly | | | | anybody's handouts. |
| displaying on his car a bumper sticker that | | | | |
| read, "Powered by an extra chromosome!" | | | | I've come to the conclusion that there are |
| | | | very few truly handicapped people. The only |
| Here was a person whom everyone in the world | | | | handicap I see is a very poor mindset. That |
| would consider handicapped doing things that | | | | boy with Down Syndrome I believe is one of |
| even I couldn't do. He was a person with | | | | the very least handicapped people on the |
| natural determination and resolve like I had | | | | planet. There is nothing on this earth that |
| seen in few people in my life. This kid | | | | isn't available to him because he wants to |
| literally knew how to do nothing but set | | | | earn things himself, and wants to prove to |
| goals and achieve them, regardless of how | | | | the rest of the world that he is an equally |
| much work was involved. He worked hard every | | | | capable member of society. There is a lesson |
| day to make sure no one thought he wasn't | | | | here that the rest of the world can learn. |
| capable or handicapped, proving that he could | | | | All of these people that want things handed |
| do anything that any other person could do. | | | | to them, who try to find ways that make them |
| | | | less capable than everybody else need to wake |
| Later that week I went in town to the local | | | | up and get some dignity. |
| Wal-mart. I pulled into a parking space, and | | | | |
| made my way to the store. On my way past the | | | | I am firmly convinced of the amazing things |
| end of the Handicapped spaces, I saw a woman | | | | that people are all capable of. Average |
| pull in with her handicapped sticker and tag. | | | | people do extraordinary things every day by |
| I watched as the woman easily got out of the | | | | doing nothing else but their best, pouring |
| car, closed the door, and walked straight | | | | their hearts out into their jobs and their |
| into the entrance of the store. Once inside, | | | | lives and trying to be the very best person |
| she spent a few minutes searching for an | | | | they can. When people set their sights on |
| electric cart. When she didn't find it, she | | | | goals and decide that nothing is going to |
| asked the greeter about it, and he had one | | | | stand in their way, truly inspiring things |
| brought to her. After standing in wait for a | | | | happen. One boy out there has inspired me to |
| few minutes and commenting on a pain she | | | | do my best and live my life with everything |
| developed if she wa son her legs for too | | | | I've got. When people look at me, I want them |
| long, she put her purse in the little basket, | | | | to see my abilities, not my disabilities. |
| sat down on the electric cart, and shot on | | | | |
| past me and into the rest of the store. | | | | I charge the rest of the world to get off of |
| | | | their butts and be the people that God made |
| I have to be honest, something about this | | | | them to be. Right now there is a kid with |
| didn't sit well with me. Before me was a | | | | Down Syndrome overcoming the odds and doing |
| woman who practically announced to the world | | | | things that people have for all his life told |
| that she was "disabled" in order to get a | | | | him he couldn't do, so why can't anyone else? |
| closer spot to the store and a little cart to | | | | If you really care about yourself, stop |
| ride around in so her legs wouldn't hurt her. | | | | asking what other people are going to do to |
| At the same time, however, there was a boy | | | | make your life easier, and start finding ways |
| who was born with a condition that made | | | | to work around your problems and overcome |
| everything he did more difficult, and he was | | | | your obstacles. The world will look at you |
| probably splashing along in a kayak or | | | | differently, and you will be surprised at who |
| something, and doing everything in his power | | | | you'll inspire. |
| to make sure no one thought of him as | | | | |