Have you ever been walking down the street or in the mall and feel like everyone is staring at you? How does that make you feel, like they're judging you right on the spot? I don't know about you, but that's how I feel. I am a seventeen year old junior who just happens to have cerebal palsy. Everywhere I go, it seems like people stop what they're doing just to stare at the way I walk. I've lived with it so far, but as I've matured and have started to think about the life that I'm trying to set up for myself in the future, I've noticed that no matter how well I do in high school and college, people are still going to know me as "the crippled guy" or "the dude with the weird walk". I'm the type of guy who doesn't really care about what others think of me, but something strange happened to me just a couple of months ago. I was talking with a close friend of mine and he was talking about how racisim and discrimination is still very much alive in the world today. As I sat there and thought about it, I realized that he had a point. It seems like everywhere I go and everything I do, people stand there and doubt me just because I have a disability. But still, I always get a smile on my face when I prove them wrong and see the stunned look on their face.
Stares Everywhere I Go
By escalante15 - Posted on March 16th, 2008
let me first off inform you that I am the biggest advocate of equality and equal rights ever...I've gone to bat for things I don't even agree with...
but as for your situation...I agree...people need to quit judging on things like that...it's not like your walking around with a swastika painted on your face...you aren't doing something or being someone that should be discriminated against...it really kills me that people would treat you like that...I'm sure you're probably a really nice person...unfortunately people aren't willing to look past your disability to see that...I know someone with cerebral palsy and she's one of the funniest people I've ever met...but she gets the stares too...so now she just acts insane...giving people a reason to stare...I like her theory...haha
personally I can't exactly say I know what you mean...b/c I don't...but I am involved in some very male dominated activities and often get treated like less of a competitor b/c of that...that's the closest thing I can think of
let me thank you for your comment, it means a lot to me. i know that people often want to understand what people like me go through, but it seems like no matter how hard I try to explain my situation, they still don't get the whole picture. I guess it's true that you can never fully understand something until you experience it first hand. Be that as it may, however, I never let my condition define who I am. For the past two years, I've been a member of our school basketball team, so even though I'm limited in the activities that I can do, I'm still an ordinary teenager.
you are very welcome...it's just the kind of person I am...I hate discrimination more than anything else I can think of...especially when it based on race or a disability b/c it's something that no matter how much you want to change you just can't
I'm glad you don't let it inhibit you...but I feel like saying it doesn't define you isn't quite accurate...it should define you to a point...it should define you as being strong willed and not afraid to stand up to adversity...but it definitely shouldn't inhibit you in any way...
I've seen kids get beat up at my school by some of the most popular jocks for making fun of the disabled or mentally retarded kids...more people just need to be willing to stand up for it
you know, people have told me that, that i'm strong willed, courageous & all that, but to me, it's not anything big. that's just who i am & i would continue to be this way even if i didn't have a disability. however, i appreciate the comment & i am sure that you are a very kind-hearted person. thank you.
"everything i'm not made me everything i am"
-kanye west
you know, people have told me that, that i'm strong willed, courageous & all that, but to me, it's not anything big. that's just who i am & i would continue to be this way even if i didn't have a disability. however, i appreciate the comment & i am sure that you are a very kind-hearted person. thank you.
"everything i'm not made me everything i am"
-kanye west
This is the start of a great blog! Dig a little deeper, add spaces between paragraphs, and you have a five star blog!
It is incredibly unfair that people have such closely held ideas of "normal" that they can't imagine you are able to do all you do. Your comparison of ableism with racism is apt. Both are discrimination and both are reprehensible. Keep proving people wrong!
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
from reading you post and comments you really remind me of my friend Michael... he went through a lot of bullying for being gay and he also didn't consider his will to push through as anything spectacular...
i'm glad to know that i remind you of a friend of yours. you remind me of my friend Cisco, he is always one of the first people to come to my defense when guys are giving my a tough time and always treats me like there is nothing wrong with me. I'm sorry about your friend, I know some gay people as well and it sickens me that people talk stuff about them and act like idiots towards them just becaust they're not what you would consider "normal".
"everything i'm not made me everything i am"
-kanye west