Red and yellow black and white we are... wait a second, are we really?

Why is it that I always miss class on the cool days?
That explains why I was so sure I saw Mr. Peterson's van in MPLS!
I'm tired.
I'm hungry.
I wanna go away.

After watching the video for class last week, I am now blogging about it.

First off, Mr. Peterson is awesome, even though he beat my helicopter in a race.

Handicap. The handicapper general, from that one book (looks up on google)"Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut.

The book tells of a future dystopia where everyone is equal, and because not everyone can be agile, smart, and beautiful; everyone is made crippled, retarded, and ugly.

Unfortunately there are problems that occur in any species, and injuries can happen to anything that is considered "living" What's cool about people, is that we can (for the most part) integrate people with handicaps into society. Automatic door openers don't bother me. Wheelchair ramps dont bother me. Handicapped parking BOTHERS ME.

Why?

Because I see it being abused. Go push carts at wal mart and look at the people using the handicapped parking. Mostly middle aged people who appear to be perfectly healthy (and maintain that appearance in conversation and after getting to know them) that park there because, usually, an old injury. One guy made me really mad, he's got this big ass truck, hell, I'd have a hard time getting in and out of it. He parks (terribly by the way) in the handicapped space, puts his tag on his mirror, hops out, does his shopping (which included a 40# bag of dog food) loads it all in his pickup then climbs in. WTF

It's not that the guy hurt me, and he probably didn't hurt anyone else, but I think (omg I said "I think") Let me rephrase that:

Parking in that space should be earned, not applied for and handed out.

Those parking places, toilet stalls, and elevators are there for somebody who really needs them. What happens if somebody needs that space and can't get it because somebody who doesn't really need it, took it.

Bleh, I'm going in circles. I'm tired, and the seafood isn't agreeing with me, OK?

I think it would be really funny to see somebody try to trip Mr. Peterson... lol, Stick his foot out and get it ran over!

Anyway, my experience with "Americans with Disabilities" has been pleasant, the only thing I don't understand is how to tell somebody that you have no time to talk to them, when THEY don't understand what you mean... But I run into that problem with 'normal' people too.

There was a kid I went to school with, the Watford kids know him, but his name will not be used. I consider him a friend. I have very few friends, as I use the term only for those that are truly, "friends."

He was always a little slower at everything, sometimes painfully slow, but he would finish whatever thing he was working on, and he had an understanding of what he was doing. I know this because I helped him with his algebra homework a few times. But he didn't seem to understand when people would make fun of him. He'd just smile and continue about his day.

It always made me so mad, one day I finally told the other guys to not do that, and for the most part (at least when I was around) they did. But this kid, my friend, would always greet me and ask how I was doing.

He would listen. "...instead of just waiting for their turn to speak?" --Marla Singer, Fight Club. He always invited me to his birthday parties, and it was always awkward, but those were some of the most fun ever. I'm worried about finals, girls, cars, work, and other crap and I sat down with him to play with hotwheels after a day at the go cart place. Sometimes I wish I could have that much fun doing something so simple.

I've often wondered how I'd react to being disabled. Losing a limb, or a lobe of my brain. If you haven't, read the book:

FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON

I can loan you a copy. I think it really helps the reader to understand what its like to know that you were once capable, but now are not.

Like that other guy in high school...

He's the same person, I never particularily got along with him, in fact quite the opposite, but it really hits home that it could happen to anyone at any time.

One problem that I see is a lot of guilt. People feel guilty for other's obsticles. I don't want anybody to have to be in a wheel chair for the rest of their life, but I wasn't the one driving the car. At least they are alive and living in a place where they can be productive members of society, where, for the most part, people accept and even help those who have it harder than the rest.

But guilt? Or pity? Those never helped anyone. If you feel bad about somebody's condition then do something to help fix it. Get involved in your local government. Volunteer for a local charity, meals on wheels, assisted living, whatever... just help.

I don't even know where I'm going, I don't really have a goal for this blog and it is a broad subject that involves everyone.

I think it really boils down to what I've said in other blogs (can't remeember if it was more than one or not) but I always say this, and I'm sure it's been said before.

We are all Americans. There are no African Americans, Norweagian Americans, Latin Americans, Asian Americans, or Americans with Disabilities.

There are only Americans. Treat your fellow Americans with respect, and they will do the same.

For the purposes of this blog, I will expand that statement to include People-kind (see how I used a gender neutral term there?)

Well, (deep subject huh) my fingers hurt, and I gotta hear that album again... in my new car.

Everybody go buy the new Foo Fighers album, Listen to song number... like 6, "these days" you tube it, it makes me want to cry :( but in a wierd way.

--Peace, and if that doens't work, then completely annihilate them.