Replies

I volunteer time with the mentally challenged. I supose by the standards that some have set, these people should die, because they can't carry on meaningful conversations. Sometimes their own families have farmed them out to foster homes. Some are physically handicapped as well as mentally handicapped. Some are mistreated in their foster homes because hey, its all about money. What's the least amount that can be done while pilfering the most money from the clients.

I have taken them on picnics, to the zoo, to the museum, to carnivals, out to dinner in restaurants, to movies and out shopping. They just want to be treated like people. I've seen them say 'hello' to strangers, only to be ignored. I've also seen the largest grins and smiles on their faces over simple things like zoo animals and seeing a movie in a theater. I took them to a 3D movie and those that can be understood, talked about that for months and months.

It isn't so much that their quality of life is so poor, its that we have gotten to the point that we require so much more stimuli to be happy, than they do. For some of these people, going out for a cup of coffee makes them happy. Remembering their birthdays, elates them. It's the only day that is theirs, and they all look forward to it, no matter how old they may be.

Just because we might not want to live a life so limited, doesn't mean all people would feel that way. If all you ever knew was a severely limited life, that would be NORMAL for you.

Sorry for the ramble, but when they killed Terri, they left the door open for all handicapped people.