I'm Back!

Dear readers (if there are any of you left),
I am truly sorry that I have been away so long. There are so many things I could have written about, such as Jared Loughner, the sick man who shot Rep.Giffords, the pathetic state of our economy, and the pathetic state of mental healthcare in the U.S.,  the treatment for spina bifida that has been showing promise, the disaster in Japan, recent examples of racism, etc. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to comment on these issues thanks to mountains of schoolwork and college prep. So, let's move on to something slightly more current.
     Three days ago, TOMS shoes had its annual "Day Without Shoes." I first heard about this day in my Junior religion class last year (the same class that inspired this blog, actually). I thought it was such a brilliant idea, and I fully intended to participate. But then I thought, "Oh, wait. I can't walk around outside without shoes. I can't feel my feet and I could get hurt." Then I realized just how lucky I am to be able to make the decision to put on my expensive ankle/foot orthotics which protect my feet from injury, and wear my shoes to further protect my feet. Millions of people don't have that choice. They don't have any shoes at all, and if they have a disability as severe as mine, chances are that they are either bedridden or dead because they cannot get the surgeries and other medical treatments they need to survive.
        That day in religion class really made me think about how fortunate I really am, and how much I take for granted, especially things like my crutches, wheelchair and leg braces. I have been given so much, and even if I cannot participate fully in TOMS "Day Without Shoes," I WILL find another way to raise awareness about social justice and give back to society.
       Readers, we are so blessed. I challenge you to count your blessings. Next, I challenge you to make a list of ways you can be a blessing for someone else. It doesn't have to be anything earth-shattering, just a simple act of kindness, charity, or activism will do. Donate hair to Locks of Love, join Race for the Cure, help the SPCA, go barefoot for TOMS "Day Without Shoes," volunteer at a hospital, work at a camp for children with  health problems, wear purple on October 20th to speak out against gay bullying, or make a pledge to do something kind to brighten someone's (or some people's) day, every day. In other words, find an issue you are passionate about, and do something about it. We are all so blessed, so let's share our blessings with those who need it the most. God bless.

Never lose hope!

Sometimes it can be hard for those seeking social justice to continue their mission if they feel that they are not making a difference. I know how that is, but I'm here to tell you not to give up or lose hope! Maybe you can't always see how your efforts helped another person, but rest assured that you have made a difference in someone's life. Today, I saw proof that I am able to make a difference.
         For those of you who have been following my blog, you may remember a blog post about homelessness entitled "Dribbling (and other) Lessons with Mr. D." The homeless man from this post, Mr. D, was at my church today! I never thought I would see him again. He remembered me, smiled at me and commented that I seemed to be doing better (today I was walking, rather than using my wheelchair). He seemed to be doing well too; he had cut his hair, gained a little weight, had on warm clothes, etc. I used to worry so much about him, and it was nice to know that he is doing relatively well.
Readers, never doubt that you are making a difference! Good luck with your missions and God bless!

"I am only one, but I am one.  I cannot do everything, but I can do something.  And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”  *
--Edward Everett Hale

*source:
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/304205_inspirational-quotes-on-how-to-make-a-difference

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

       Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day filled with food, laughter and family togetherness. As we celebrate with our families, let us remember those less fortunate than us. Some people have no families with whom to celebrate; others, no food to eat, still others, no place to call a home. Let us remember how much we have to be thankful for. Readers, have a happy Thanksgiving! You are all in my thoughts and prayers during this holiday season.
 Also,  always remember, you have much to be thankful for; food, shelter, and best of all, family and friends. I challenge you to help those less fortunate by volunteering at a soup kitchen or by participating in a food or clothing drive at some point during the holiday season.

It's as Easy as A-B-C: Anti-Bullying Campaign

     Lately in the news, there have been several reports of homosexual teens and young adults who have committed suicide as a result of bullying and harassment. This is tragic, absolutely awful news. Bullying has been an epidemic for a long time, and has shown no signs of improvement. In fact, there has been an increase in bullying, especially cyber-bullying. It breaks my heart to see people ending their lives for any reason, but especially when people are ending their lives because of bullying.    
       So how do we go about fixing this terrible problem? Well, it won't be easy, but it can be done. Not to be harsh, but kids (and teens, young adults, etc.) can be extremely cruel and unaware of how their actions affect others. But I think the solution to bullying lies in how we educate our youth about it. First of all, we must begin from an early age. Kids must learn from the start that it is never okay to victimize someone else. Schools must have strict, clear policies outlining the consequences of bullying. These policies must be enforced. There must also be resources for the victim of bullying. It should be made clear that bullying must be reported to a teacher or guidance counselor immediately. Victims must know that they can seek help.
     Companies often have sensitivity training for employees. I believe students should have similar training each year that they attend school (in order to reinforce the concepts presented, and offer age-appropriate training). This sensitivity training should discuss differences in race, gender, physical and mental ability, and (if age appropriate), differences in sexuality should be discussed. I am not here to argue about the moral issues that some people have with homosexuality. That is another discussion for another day. I am simply here to say that is so wrong to bully and harass people based on anything, including sexuality. There is no excuse to hurt another person.
    I know how much bullying hurts. I was bullied for many years in grammar school and middle school, and it affected me deeply. I internalized much of what was said to me, believing for a good long time that I was ugly, fat (in reality, I'm not obese. I'm actually pretty healthy. And I believe I'm beautiful, even though the bullies tried their hardest to convince me otherwise) and stupid (in reality, I am an honors/AP student, 8th in my class, and have a 4.2 GPA). I also used to wonder if it was true that people would be happier if I was dead (Yep. a bully actually had the nerve to imply that people would throw a party if I died.) I wound up quite depressed. I am not ashamed to admit it. I sought help, and have improved greatly! It was through hard work to gain back my self-esteem that I became okay again. I forgave the bullies, and in fact, I am friends with a handful of the ones who showed remorse. It was a tough battle to fight, but I managed to win. Some people are not so lucky. Some people never recover from being bullied, and in the most tragic cases, take their own lives before they have a chance to try to recover.
       Readers, I challenge you to think before you speak. Try to imagine how your words and actions could affect the other person . If you are a bully, I challenge you to get help and try to behave better. If you are a victim of bullying, speak up NOW before the bullying goes any further. Teachers and parents, be on the lookout for bullies and anyone who seems to be depressed or have low self-esteem. You could save a life.

All Things in Moderation

    In Civics class, we recently learned about Pastor Terry Jones and his threat to burn Qu'rans, the Muslim holy book. He threatened to burn Qu'rans in response to a Muslim New Yorker's plan to build a Muslim Community Center near Ground Zero. The media hype that surrounded this issue made the plan seem much more shocking and problematic than it truly is. What was once a Muslim community center to be built a few blocks away from Ground Zero quickly became characterized as a "mega-mosque on Ground Zero."
     I can see why people would object to a Muslim community center built on Ground Zero, but I honestly don't see the harm in having a Muslim community center near Ground Zero. What difference does it make if the center is built two blocks away or twenty blocks away? I don't think it is disrespectful in any way. Yes, a tragedy occurred there. Yes, that tragedy was the fault of some radical (emphasis on RADICAL) Muslims. But, should good-hearted, mainstream Muslims who wish to have a community center (which my father aptly compared to "a YMCA with a chapel added to it") be prevented from practicing their faith and increasing understanding of their faith in the community? NO! It is absolutely inappropriate for people to be so up in arms about this plan.
      Terry Jones' reaction was particularly inappropriate. Burning the holy book of any faith is already wrong on so many levels. But in Jones' case, with the war in Afghanistan occurring right now, he could have endangered the lives of people all over the world! Besides the danger of his plan, it was also just plain cruel and un-Christian of him. Christians are called to love and respect all people, and burning the Quran is blatant disrespect for people of Muslim faith. As a Catholic Christian, it would insult and infuriate me to see someone burn a Bible, and I am sure Muslims would feel the same way if they saw Qu'rans being burned. Terry Jones' plan was absolutely reprehensible. Thank goodness he didn't go through with it!
    The problem with Terry Jones ( and frankly, with many,but certainly not all, Americans today) is that he holds an extremist view of the Muslim religion and of Muslim people. I firmly believe that there are many, many good Muslims, and to act as if all Muslims are terrorists or that they all support 9/11 is incomprehensible to me. Should all Catholics be held accountable for the crimes committed by pedophile priests? Should I, as a Catholic, be judged as a sinner and a criminal because of what some priests have done? If your answers to both questions are no, then consider this: Why, then, should all Muslims be treated with suspicion and even outright hostility because of the terrible crimes committed by radical Muslim terrorists? Not all Muslims are radicals. Thus, Muslims should not be treated like radical criminals. It is better to hold a more reasonable, moderate view; one that acknowledges the crimes of some Muslims, while remembering that most Muslims are perfectly good people.
       Readers, I challenge you to think before you pass judgements of Muslims or any other group of people. See if you are stereotyping a large group based on the actions of a few within the group. Try to advocate an attitude of respect, love, and moderate views instead of extremist views.

Dribbling (and other) Lessons with Mr. D

        This past weekend, my dad and I decided to go practice basic basketball and volleyball skills. Unfortunately, the first place we looked, a playground, was locked up. The second place, a school had some kind of event going on. The third school was locked up. I was ready to give up, but my dad decided to drive to just one more school. He remembered that they had a nice area to play sports. As it happened, this school was open.
         As my dad and I got my wheelchair set up, we noticed a man, probably in his 30s, wandering around on the campus. We didn't really pay much attention to him, though. I just assumed he was a worker at the school. So, my dad and I started practicing volleyball. The man ignored us at first. As I got tired, however, my serves started going every which way. The man started catching the ball  and bringing it back to me. After a while, he even offered me some advice on how to serve properly. Now, normally I would be pretty creeped out by some random man coming and joining my game uninvited, but for some reason, he really didn't bother me.
           Soon, I was too tired to continue playing volleyball. I asked my dad to show me how to dribble a basketball, because I figured that would be an easier skill to pick up. Boy, was I wrong! When I tried to dribble, I absolutely could not control the ball. The man, who had by now introduced himself (I'm just going to call him Mr. D), showed me the proper technique. He patiently showed it to me again...and again...and again, until I finally got it. As we were talking, I noticed that his clothes looked pretty dingy. I wasn't sure if this meant he had been working all day or what. He also made some reference to "being raised in a bar room," which sounded like a very sad existence. I started to feel sorry for Mr. D. He seemed really  lonely.
       After spending just under an hour practicing with Mr. D, I started to feel absolutely exhausted. I knew it was  time to go home, which made me feel sad. I really enjoyed hanging out with Mr. D. Before we left, Mr. D said, "Can I ask you an honest question?" I was pretty nervous, wondering what he wanted from us. Then he said, " I'm trying to find a hotel to stay in for the night, but I need twelve more dollars. Can you help me?" And that's when it finally dawned on me. The reason he seemed so lonely and rundown was because he is homeless ( unfortunately, my dad and I only had two dollars to offer him)! I had  learned how to dribble from a homeless man!
            It was quite a shock. Realizing that I had had my first truly meaningful interaction with a homeless person was, for lack of a better expression, pretty darn cool. Now, I've given out meal tickets and prepared meals at a homeless shelter. I have given money to a homeless person. But these experiences didn't give me nearly the same amount of joy as just hanging out and playing sports with Mr. D. I think what made this experience so different was  that I was actually interacting with Mr. D, learning about him, and learning from him, instead of just handing him food or money and saying "have a nice day!" What was so great about it was that we were acting as equals. This was an awesome, eye-opening experience I will never forget.
       He was so friendly, and playing sports with me seemed to really cheer him up. I actually heard him brag about me, saying that I was "pretty good" at basketball, when he was speaking to someone else. That made me feel really good, knowing that I had made an impression on him. The woman he was speaking to didn't seem to believe his story, but I smiled and waved at Mr. D as I wheeled past, to show the woman that Mr. D was telling the truth; he really did teach a girl in a wheelchair how to dribble a basketball properly. I was glad to be able to help him, since he had helped me.
               Have you ever felt that there is an attitude about homeless people where it's "us (people with homes) versus them (the homeless)?" I feel that people often act that way. In this case, there was no "us versus him;" it was just us, just a small group of new friends laughing and playing sports and having an actual conversation. I hope that when I interact with the homeless in the future, I maintain an attitude of "Us" rather than "us versus them." I hope I get the opportunity to learn more about the lives and personalities of the homeless people I encounter. Homeless people are humans, just like everyone else, and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Readers, I challenge you to do something to help the homeless; work at a soup kitchen or shelter, or just give someone on the street a few dollars. When you do, try to maintain a caring attitude that maintains the dignity of the person you are helping. You will be amazed at how good it makes you feel.
      

Life is beautiful no matter what!

        So often, women abort, or are encouraged to abort, a baby who will have a mental or physical disability. This is a terrible problem in our society! As it says in my profile, I have a disability called spina bifida. I walk with crutches, and use a wheelchair for excessively long distances. Some people assume that because I have a disability, my life isn't worth living. I intend to show these people that every human has the right to life! Not only the right to life, but the right to thrive.
    Yes, living with a disability can be challenging, but that does not mean that life is not worth living. My life is not perfect (and whose life is?), but it is beautiful. I deal with physical pain,  limitations on my mobility, and some limitations on my independence, but these pains and limitations won't necessarily last forever. I have SO much to live for, despite my challenges. I have a loving family, awesome friends, and more strengths and abilities than any doctor could have predicted. I am an honors student, and have been since middle school. I draw, sing (both solo and with a jazz band), swim, play piano and guitar, and write (obviously). I go on dates. I even play sports! Yes, you read that right. I play sports! Wheelchair basketball and volleyball, to be specific. I will soon learn how to drive and I will be going to college soon.  Doctors predicted I would never walk, never talk, and be a "vegetable" by age 5. Well, I've proven them wrong on all counts.
         Honestly, my disability is such a small part of me. I have never seen my disability, or anyone else's disability, as a reason to say, "your life is not worth living." There is so much more to me than a pair of crutches and plastic leg braces. I am a kind, intelligent person with a good sense of humor. Our society must learn to look past differences and limitations, and try to see the person instead of the disability. The person is what matters. I do not wish to be known for my disability, rather, I would like to be known for my strength, my kindness, or my sense of humor. Heck, I'd rather be known for just about anything besides my disability.
              My story is one of many success stories. People with disabilities can and will thrive in our society if given the chance. What gives us the right to decide if a baby's disability will prevent them from living a "normal" life or a happy life? We don't have that right. Period. Every single person on Earth will face challenges; people with disabilities just happen to have more obvious ones. This doesn't mean that our challenges are insurmountable or that we can't ever have a good life!
           I hope one day society will view people with disabilities in a different light. I hope that one day people will realize that people with disabilities are capable of being functional, thriving, happy members of society! I offer each of my readers two challenges today: when you see someone with a disability, don't stare at them or treat them any differently than you would treat a person without a disability. Remember that they are truly no different than you are. Secondly, never forget: All life is sacred.