Trisha,
                I cried when I saw David Roche performed in public.  If his disability is
a gift, then I need to rethink mu attirude about having CP.  I need to stop
buying into my mother's appraisal "CP is a curse" abd society's apprasal
"What is wrong with you?"  I tend to see it as one of the many cards in the
hand I was dealt.  What matters most is how I play my hand.  David Roche
got dealt some deuces but he has played that hand to the utmost!
Vaya con ka diosa,
Mariana

At 10:19 AM 3/11/00 -0500, you wrote:
>I am un_ ashamedly stealing this from the  OUR KIDS site - PS I ask!!  This
>is super - made me cry. Perhaps someday someone can do this for those of us
>are freaks to society by virtue of happenstance - incest - rape, extreme
>abuse - souls can be just as disabled and deformed as bodies can, and just
>as in need love and understanding. May the God of the Once Born - forgive
>them for their ignorance and judgemental arrogance treating us like filth
>and second hand trash. Goddess Bless to my Systers who make the CovenStead a
>safe and loving place - If we only do this for the world.
>
>                                Brightest Blessings
>                                      Trisha
>
>
>>http://www.davidroche.com/index.htm
>>
>>This man, David Roche,  was born with an extensive benign tumor on his
>face,
>>and the treatments he was given in infancy and childhood seem to have made
>>things even worse.  He has no lower lip, the lower portion of his face
>>stopped growing because of radiation treatments, and he is covered with
>>plum-purple burn scars.  He is 55 now, and speaks publically about how
>people
>>with facial deformities (any obvious disability) have to deal with it on
>the
>>outside, which may give them an advantage over those whose flaws are less
>>openly obvious.  He uses his gifts (including, he believes, the gift of his
>>disability) to inspire public speaking and humor on the topics which we all
>>know very well.
>>
>>His worldview will not be to everyone's taste, especially not to the taste
>of
>>those who are in especially bitter phases (we all go through them, and few
>of
>>us set them entirely aside)--but in his words, "My face thus becomes a
>gift,
>>not only for myself, but for others, as their hearts open to courage,
>>inspiration and laughter.  I am proud to be part of the emerging culture of
>>disability.  I believe in the healing power of humor and storytelling."  I
>>enjoyed his site, and the article about him on Salon.com's website, url
>>http://www.salon.com/mwt/col/lamo/1999/05/27/sincerity
>>
>>Just thought some of you would like to see this; I hope my son is as
>>accepting of himself as he is, when he is grown, as this man is.
>