The "normal" world is nuts.  Thinking and behaving sanely takes discipline,
energy, and capacity for loneliness.  Repairing generations of indifference,
damage, and disregard takes more than anyone's lifetime.

Do what you can.



----- Original Message -----
From: "Betty Alfred" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2000 12:55 AM
Subject: Re: The Before time


> Yes - the "before time" refers to my predisabilty days.  I know I'm kind
of
> the lone ranger on this listserv, since you all have had CP all of your
> lives.  But still, I feel at home here.  Maybe part of it is that I want
to
> "go to school on you," as my husband would always say to the guy putting
> before him.
>
> My concern is with day to day encounters with nondisabled people.  When I
> meet people and we start chatting, I always try to find a way to work in a
> little bit about disability awareness -- just a little if I can.
Sometimes I
> let it go for practical reasons, or if I have a funny feeling about doing
it
> -- like if I sense that the person is not going to respond well.  But I
found
> out the hard way that thinking these things every waking minute can make
you
> go nuts.  I do a lot -- a lot -- of silly, stress relieving thinking too.
If
> I didn't have that balance, I'd be a basket case.
>
> Scrappy -- I like that.  Scrappy is good.
>
> In a message dated 05/19/2000 11:54:28 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> << I don't understand why disabled people I knew in the "before time"
didn't
>
>  If I understand your reference to before time, it means 'before
disability'
>  right?
>
>  >tell me about some of these things.  Maybe they thought I wouldn't have
>  >listened.  I have become overpowered by that concern myself during
>
>  If that is right, there was no before time for me.  Disabled from birth.
I
>  suspect you are right, IMHO, most would not listened.  Two reasons.  1.
>  Guilt and 2. a feeling of someday I may be the disabled one.  A "There
>  before the grace of God go I" sort of thought.
>
>  >Mainstream media doesn't tell our stories the way they should be told.
I
>
>  The mainsteam world can't tell our stories, partly because it isn't
>  qualified, and partly because they can't be honest, or they my be held
>  accountable.
>
>  In a scrappy mood tonight.
>
>  Peace,
>
>  Vince
>
>   >>
>