Thursday, May 24, 2012

disgusted

i was at the town pool today watching my boy have his swim lessons.
in the pool was a young man with special needs and his helper.
he was very hands on 
- i'm not too sure just what he could actually do by himself -
so my little girl was watching them, fascinated.
i was watching the patience and the encouragement that the woman had for him and was quite impressed.

there were two people sitting at the next bench over.
the guy - we'll call him 'Opinionated' - started making comments.
the young man in the pool needed so much help to get out of the pool
(again, i don't know how much was actually needed, and how much was fear or stubborness)
then he needed assistance getting up - i don't think he wanted to stand.

'Opinionated' started saying things like "just stand up." "what a waste of effort"
which to some wouldn't be bad, but he kept on that track.

"Such a waste of money.  
our government could spend the money where it is actually needed like education or the military.  
instead they spend it on those people.  
maybe if they could actually do something for themselves.
they can't even contribute to society.  
or acknowledge the effort people make.
don't waste the money on them.  
but i'm not in the government"

'Opinionated' complained for about the next 10 minutes.
not loudly, just to the person he was sitting with, but they were close enough for me to hear.
about the waste of money and time given to people who can't do things for themselves.
how much was wasted in his schools on them.
how he was deprived of the education he deserved because they got all the special attention and the money.

i honestly was sick to my stomach listening to this.

did i say something?
no.
shake your head at me all you want for not speaking up.
First of all, he was having a conversation with someone else, 
i had a little boy in swim lessons, about to come out and into the dressing room...
and my 3 year old daughter with me, was i wanting to argue the value of that young man's life?  
no i wasn't.
do i hate confrontation? 
yes.
like i said, he wasn't being loud and obnoxious...just having a convesation.

was i going to say anything that would change 'Opinionated's' mind or opinion?  
i would have just told him that he disgusted me.
that everyone had a right to the best life possible.
whether they needed assistance to receive it or whether they fought for it themselves.
God didn't create anyone who didn't deserve a right to life.
that young man in the pool may have needed a lot of assistance.
but you ask the woman who was helping him, encouraging him, whether he contributed to society.

is what he said disgusting to some of you?
i don't know.
maybe you feel the same.
i have voiced how i feel.
it may be only here on my blog, but isn't that was this blog is for?

so, no, i didn't say anything.
i got my girl, who is still excited from watching that young man in the pool and the woman who assisted him, and we went to the dressing room to meet my boy as he came out of his swim lessons.



3 comments:

  1. Opinionated needs a boot to the head... ;)

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  2. I'm actually surprised, given the strong stand our culture takes for people with special needs, that Opinionated actually had the audacity to voice his opinions for so long in a public place where he could be easily overheard. Don't worry, I'm sure someone at some point will say everything you wanted to say to him but didn't, if he keeps running his mouth like that in public places. It's hard to speak up when little kids are with you.

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