Oh, yes...

Today's poem:

"Yes" has launched dreams and nightmares
Family and wars
It can catch us unawares
Cast us into hell or launch us towards the stars

Today's thought:
"Oh, yes," I wrote in my first post, "I have cerebral palsy and epilepsy," as if it were no big deal.

To some degree, it isn't. I still have the same wants and needs, virtues and vicesn as yo do. Disabilities do not make one better or worse morally or change our desires and fears.

What they do do is change our perceptions.

I was reminded of this yesterday while listening to a blind singer describe how he uses his imagination to perceive things like sunsets. That was on "Weekend Edition" on NPR, www.npr.org

He has to use what he has to perceive the world. We all do. Thus, our limitations alter our perceptions.

Many nondisabled, even those who had disabled loved ones or buds, could not see why "Million Dollar Baby" upset crips like me. And it was hard to bridge that gap. The Schiavo case, discussed tomorrow, was not example. When you have perceptions that vary wildly, dialogue is hard. That's why we tend to talk to only those who share our perceptions. But we shouldn't; we really shouldn't if we want to grow as human beings.

Tomorrow, then, Schiavo and disability advocates.

Keep hoping.