Living as a person with disabilities is not an easy thing to manage. First off one must be able to get used to life with that certain disease or birth characteristic, manage everyday life with that life condition. Not only has that, these people had to live with the constant ridicule of other, misunderstanding people of everyday. Whether it may be from funny looks given to them, or complete all out insults, the handicapped is not an easy life to live, but it is not like the government is helping them neither. Some buildings still have those huge steps in their entrances, similar to the ones on those Rocky movies. How in the world is a person in a wheelchair supposed to enter a bank with those stairs in the way? It was even worst half a decade ago, when these poor people did not have a hospital to go to or a school to if they wanted to get a education. But these people fought for what was right, and you know what? I actually respect for the fact that they showed their activism in a peaceful manner.
When I say in a peaceful manner, I mean a PEACEFUL manner. These people actually respect what other human life is and respect them enough to not resort to violence. I am not pointing any fingers at the other groups that may have done that sort of thing, but it is definitely refreshing to see people trying to express their belief in a way in which no one gets hurt, physically at least. What they would usually do is protest in way that the government or the form of authority has to give attention to what they are saying. For example, when a store would deny service to people of this condition, usually it’s because they have this condition, these people would completely boycott any form of patronization towards them. But not only were the handicapped people boycotting, their friends and family as well. Then those friends would tell their other friends, rinse and repeat until eventually, that certain store is out of customers. The funny part is that it actually works and it’s a tried and true method. The government has been trying to better this situation of making the handicapped feel like the equal citizens they are by buildings new schools and hospitals specifically make for their needs and how to make that as little a problem as possible. I must commend the government for doing this a really think it is a good thing they have going, but it kind of seems familiar. Let’s think about it for a second, a term used to describe when one tries to create a system in which a certain group of people is separated from the rest of society. I can’t possibly be segregation, can it? I mean that was YEARS ago and it never happens now, right? Wrong. Segregation in the United States is still alive and strong, and the handicapped are a prime example of this. They want to separate them from ‘normal” society by giving them separate facilities to basically live and work in. Now, I know that some of these people actually appreciate the help given because after all, it’s there to help them, but if they want to study or work somewhere mainstream, they should not be rejected just because of there condition.
I hope that the government is not trying to segregate the handicapped, like they did to the African Americans many years ago. I like to believe that the United States likes to learn from their mistakes and just repeated them with a different test subject and hope for better results. I am glad that the handicapped people know how to protest peacefully and make their word get out there without having to use any violence and ruthlessness.
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