What would you do? You make the choice! Don't look for a punch line;
There isn't one! Read it anyway.
The question is: Would you have made the same choice?
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning
disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech
that would never be forgotten by all who attended.
After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question:
"When not interfered with by outside influences, everything
nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn
things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other
children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?"
The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I
believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally
handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature
presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child."
Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past
a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do
you think they'll let me play?"
Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around for guidance and a few boys nodded approval, why not? So he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."
Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad
smile and his Father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The
boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on
the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with
two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and
Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay as the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and
could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been
out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run
to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second,
gleaming and struggling to make it to second base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him
circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay"
Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned
him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third"
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching
were on their feet were screaming, "Shay, run home!"
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero
who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team.
That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face,
the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity
into this world."
Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his Father so happy and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!
AND, NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY:
We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a
second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about
life choices, people think twice about sharing. The crude, vulgar,
and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion
about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces.
If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are
that you're probably sorting out the people on your address list that aren't
the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message.
Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a
difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day
to help realize the "natural order of things."
So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present
us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do
we pass up that opportunity to brighten the day of those with us the least
able, and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?
A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.
What a great story. I've taught special ed. since the late 60's. These are the kinds of kids I work with every day of the school year. It hurts me when someone calls someone else a "retard." I know it's a very popular thing to say, as is "That's so gay", and a host of others. I don't say anything about it, but it hurts. I don't remember if it's this site or not, but I've seen someone's signature say something like "...............is like winning the special olympics. Afterwards, you're still retarded." Well, special olympics are important to developmentally disabled people. It's all they can do. To mock their efforts is IMO, cruel.
Those less fortunate than us are no less human. They have feelings. Taunts, insults, slights and exclusion hurt. Badly! And yes, they know when they're discriminated against.
Thanks for posting this Rick.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
Mr. V - I also worked one summer w/ developmentally disabled adults in a home. It was difficult, but so rewarding!
I've endured my own discrimination, that's why whenever someone I meet is different in any way I allow myself to observe and not judge. I've been verbally, emotionally and physically attacked just because my illness wasn't understood by others. The difference here is that these kids with special needs never have the oportunity to get well as I have.
Makes you stop and think.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
great story.. but i wonder now if this somehow hit me a little harder than normal because of molly? we all thought that she was deaf, which isn't a world shattering disability, but hard enough. luckily we found out that she wasn't. but i think becvause of her birth and being in my life, i've become more sensitive to these types of things.
i wouldn't have been playing in the first place. if i had i wouldnt' have cared who won so i certainly wouldnt' have cared who played. if i wanted to wonder where my moral social service credits went i would watch closely who i voted for. remembering then those who cut the budgets for those services. after that i would make sure to vote for people who actually have socialist ideals and would provide money and services to people like that.
but maby you were looking for some oh i do good things reply. most people dont give a rats ass about peope that have mental or physical diffrences. its just easier to ignore them.
while i admit i don't care in the sense i would want to spend my own time helping such people. i would certainly support tax measures that would provide moneys to provide with a life and home to live. but it seems right now my tax dollars are being spent else where......................
nice little story by the way.
____________________ Bombing for peace is like raping for love.
Jesus was a liberal a socialist and a hippie
streak wrote: if i wanted to wonder where my moral social service credits went i would watch closely who i voted for. remembering then those who cut the budgets for those services. Oh trust me on this. I do.after that i would make sure to vote for people who actually have socialist ideals and would provide money and services to people like that. Maybe you're a bit confused on exactly what socialism means. so·cial·ism [url=javascriptWin('/cgi-bin/audio.pl?social02.wav=socialism')]
Pronunciation: 'sO-sh&-"li-z&m
Function: noun 1: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods 2 a: a system of society[/url] or group living in which there is no private property b: a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state 3: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done but maby you were looking for some oh i do good things reply. Not me. Everyone's entitled to their opinion.most people dont give a rats ass about peope that have mental or physical diffrences. its just easier to ignore them. I don't know about this. It might be true. I hope not though. Up until fairly recently in history, people with developmental disabilities were kept at home, out of site, locked up in institutions where they sometimes chained to the wall, or restrained in other ways. Sometimes they were killed at birth. That's not my idea of a good life. This started to change in the early 20th century, and has progressed to it's current state.
while i admit i don't care in the sense i would want to spend my own time helping such people. i would certainly support tax measures that would provide moneys to provide with a life and home to live. but it seems right now my tax dollars are being spent else where......................LOL! You got that right. It seems that our priorities now are to invade & take over other countries for no good reason. The hurricanes are going to take a significant bite out of everyone, too.
____________________ If you can't read this, you're illiterate.
As a citizen of the so called "socialist" country, Canuckistan, north of the US border, I have a thought or two on this.
Perhaps it's just part of our culture here, but there is a pretty commonly held belief that all of us have an intrinsic value as part of the whole of this society. It doesn't matter if a person is different by race, disability or even the unfortunate series of events that leads one to become a junkie, they are all Canadians and they matter and deserve whatever support we can muster.
We just appointed a new Governor General. I think that she expresses some of our core values very well.
Codger, I can say as a US Citizen I don't find us all to pull together as often as I'd like to.
There are so many who have the feeling that no one else is going to help, why should I attitude. I personally find it frustrating and sickening to some extents.
I'm absolutely furious about what has been taking place all over this country due to the selfish acts of those who have taken advantage of our hurricane victims. People are targetting their vehicles based on the license plates. People are now flooding the automobile market with flood damaged vehichles and others have the nerve to go to the Red Cross and sign up for money's they don't deserve. People who aren't even from these ravaged areas are stealing from those of us who have donated time, goods and funds. It makes me sick to think these ppl. call themselves United States Citizens.
On 9/11 we saw one of the largest cities in the world get hit with heartbreaking devistation from a foriegn power - The city where many people think no one cares about their neighbor etc. Look at how they pulled together to help and risk their lives to help those that needed them. Strangers, helping strangers, no matter what race, religion & social status. What the hell happened to the caring and compasion down in New Orleans and other places?
This country was founded for the people, by the people - well, where the hell are you all? Say hello to someone on an elevator - smile back when I smile at you - hold the door for someone who is carrying a package or child or anything for that matter. Stop slamming doors shut and stepping on toes to get ahead because in the end, you're doing nothing to help the greater good of this country.
Well, sorry about the rant, but I can tell you that I've given and given even when I don't have to those that need. I never expect anything in return and in many cases have been hurt very badly by some. You'd think I'd be cynical and hateful and choose not to help anymore...well, callme idealistic, but I still hold hope because of a simple few people I have the fortune of knowing on this board.
Thank you to all of you who give without expecting.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
i wouldn't have been playing in the first place. if i had i wouldnt' have cared who won so i certainly wouldnt' have cared who played. if i wanted to wonder where my moral social service credits went i would watch closely who i voted for. remembering then those who cut the budgets for those services. after that i would make sure to vote for people who actually have socialist ideals and would provide money and services to people like that. 
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