Litlle People Portrayal

I think that we are all well aware of how Dwarfism as a disability is being viewed in the current society. I asked around with the topic of Dwarfism and almost everyone have something funny to say. I asked my fellow students and they would have this crazy smile or at least some tries to be positive by stopping themselves to crack a smile. This led me to the conclusion that maybe these individuals (dwarfs) are not being portrayed properly in both the society and the media. It gave me the idea that maybe those who are trying to educate people that people with a disability of Dwarfism are normal people like us are not getting their message across properly. Is it the media? Is it what our parents think of them? No matter the reason, I think that we have seen portrayals of Dwarfism and for someone to laugh or smile just when they hear the word Dwarf or their derogatory name midget. I think that there are more portrayal of them on the negative side, and therefore causes us to have this views against and sometimes results into discrimination against little people.

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To be honest its hard for me to just visualize myself in a disabled perspective. I think that the only way I can feel and see their views if I injured myself to the point that I am disabled. I have not been to any major accident to where I am sent to the hospital. I've only push my body too far and stop right when I know I cannot no more. I've had my braces off for quite some time now and the first time having them just made me feel vulnerable and made me realize how precious my teeth was. It was hard to eat and the fact that I was limited to certain food. I could only eat soft food, nothing too crunchy or hard. Because if it does not hurt me it damages the braces. I know it is probably not close to someone who lost a leg, arm, or vision etc. However, at those times where some part of me was disabled I felt bad that I could not use them at their full capacity. I began to realize how crucial to have them and how valuable they are. I mean losing something is completely different from being temporarily disabled. Losing something are those that are disabled and that is why they are labeled as someone who has a disability. I feel that I am starting to understand what being disabled truly means. I mean sure it has something to do with being unable to do things and their physical appearance, but that one thing does not make them disabled and it is that one thing that makes them disabled and therefore they have the disability of that one thing.

A Message

So I spent my time watching YouTube trying to get an idea of this project. I came across an old presidential candidate platform on disability. Obama states "We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination .... policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities." He also discuss his views on work place discrimination stating that he would hire more federal employees with disability as well as encouraging everyone to do the same. I feel that his message reach a lot of people because his view gave a whole new meaning on what the world suppose to be. I also saw another video presenting a forum in Ohio to address disability issues arising in the community. I do believe that there should be more involvement on individual who are not related to anyone with disability whether friends or relatives. We can enforce and make other hear our voice to help aide this individuals get the education they need, the respect and their right to live with dignity. Funds should be supported to help this plan in moves into motion.

I'm Lost

I haven't been active lately with this blogs. I feel lazy and just try so hard to avoid doing necessary work. I would constantly kill time by just spacing out. I would feel so unproductive due to lack of discipline and motivation. Sometimes I feel like I'm disabled. I guess this goes to show disable as coming in various forms. I asked "How come I know what to do and yet I lack the capacity to perform such task?" and I was advised that it is a mind over matter. Easier said than done. I tried various approach such as thinking positive and negative about the matter, which I need to perform. I would think positive by understanding how easy it is to accomplish it and how I would feel after I get it done. In the negative side on the other hand I constantly remind myself what it would be like if I do not get it done. None of which are durable enough for me to use as a daily method to get me going. I feel that the ability and motivation will just come and all I can do is wait for it. When it does BOOM I will take every chance I get to take advantage of it. I do not think that I am disabled in that I cannot seem to do what I need to do, because at least I pause and think of a way to solve such matter. Many of those special individual takes advantage of the fact that the society views them as disabled and therefore acts as one.

The Fitted Disabled

I live in Detroit for over eight years now and it never cease to amaze me how much homeless are wondering aimlessly never stopping, wasting their energy. I would often find homeless yelling their lungs out, arguing to themselves. They drown themselves with alcohol, which will later cause disruption. I believe that they are the people more suited to be labeled disabled because of their disability to adjust instead of being stuck with whatever problem they had in the past. I am sure that these homeless people were not homeless right from the start they were probably born just like everybody else but they just failed to make the right decision and therefore living the life they have today. People born with a disability are getting through their lives way better than those alcoholic homeless who created disability for themselves by killing their brain cells with their morning alcohol. I walk home and encounter this type of people and I hate how sometimes I have to lie and say "No, I am sorry I have no change on me." They seem normal to me have all the limbs they need, can talk properly I mean it pisses me off to beg for money looking for pity. There are some who work for money such as play an instrument or at the least play music with some plastic drums and stick. I talked about the event where I encountered a homeless on wheelchair during my presentation in class. I was waiting on bus when this lady on a wheelchair approaches me. She looks so innocent and her eyes and her voice just got the best of me. I thought I would not lie today and go ahead and hand her some change. So she went on her way. I'm still waiting for the bus the next think I know she comes back towards me and she seem to have bought something at that one store across the street. So I was like "Okay..." She pass by me and maybe about five steps away from me she stops. You would not guess what she did. She stopped and stood up and she clearly sees that I can see her. She stood up and stretched and pull out a cigar which appeared to be the one that she bought. Then she sat back down and went with her life. I smiled and laughed inside thinking to myself "wow" I did not go and confront her I gave her the money and she has the right to spend it to whatever she desires. I just felt that she played me. She messed with my head and emotion and on top of that she had the nerve to expose everything next to me. I was stunned and it really changed how I viewed people who seemed homeless and perhaps people with disability.

Courage & Talent

I just saw a video on YouTube titled "The Greatest Video On Earth... Ever". I thought that it was a very courageous moves on the girl post a video of her singing, where she is probably well aware that it will raise some attention. I don't know how to explain her situation or her disability and I would rather have people have looked at the video to see for themselves. I wonder what was going through her mind when she posted the video. Was she thinking that she can do it and she is not shy? Did she do it for recognition? Was she trying to make a point? I guess the next question is how did the audience took this video or message. It was undeniable there were numerous if not all were just pure evil and those who sympathize felt as though they were sympathizing for a the wrong reason. They pity her because it is the right thing, and believe that it is wrong to make fun of her. I do not think that there was any innocent post to where "They go good job! Nice!" without thinking to themselves "WOW!" as in bad wow. People can mask this true response but I don't feel content seeing a fake pity. It's true that by posting her video on YouTube will just raise some immaturity and concerns, but I think that if one is to reply or make a comment about something it is better not mentioning anything. I seriously believe that if the girl who posted the video was trying to make a statement I really think that she failed. I think she needed something more serious and she did not take her audience into consideration. Sure YouTube can have unpredictable viewers but the video itself did not have a focus it was just her singing a No One by Alicia Keys.

Disabled and Disability

I feel that this two words are not necessarily different and that they are just complex. If we were to label someone as disabled does it mean that their whole being or their identity is that their disabled? Does having a disability mean that one is disabled Or one is disabled due to a disability? Right at this moment I am confused.

Oxford English Dictionary
disability
Lack of ability (to discharge any office or function); inability, incapacity; weakness. A physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.
disabled
Rendered incapable of action or use; incapacitated; taken out of service.

Those are the definitions. It doesn't quite tell me how their different if anything they seem to mean the same thing. There are many types of disabilities: learning disabilities, health impairments, mental illness or emotional disturbance, blindness and visual impairments, and other disabilities such as dwarfism. One can have the disability of sight or hearing, but this does not really make them disabled because only those specific impairments are disabled. I learned that if one sense fails the rest of the sense heighten. The sense of touch and hearing becomes sensitive. A blind man may be disabled in that they cannot see, however it does not mean that they are totally disabled. Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder can sing, play the piano and stuns a wide range of audience. Can you? Tony Cox a dwarf actor is an inspiration to both little people or not. Sure they are celebrity, but that is now and I can only imagine what they must have gone through to get to where they are today. I have also watched a couple of Maury show where he showed little people and their talent as well as their relationship issues. One of the things the stunned me was their ability to break dance and to do a push up with a woman on top. I mean I can do a little break dance and do push up. However, I feel that what I can do is something not worth bragging about.

These so called "disabled" continues to prove themselves to earn recognition and respect. While I for example prove myself to earn fame. I wish I was friend with someone with a disability if I did I cannot seem to recall. If only I did I could say more. I want to experience or at least have a clear view of their lifestyle, therefore I can learn to appreciate the things I have that they don't.